Last week, the US Department of Commerce imposed tariffs of between 31 and 250% on solar imports from China. Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) has issued a statement calling for all parties to work together on measures to eliminate trade and investment barriers to solar energy.
Earlier this month, Chinese vice premier Wang Qishan and state councillor Dai Bingguo met with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and treasury secretary Timothy Geithner, in Beijing to discuss Sino-American strategic and economic relations. On May 17, the US Department of Commerce announced in a preliminary hearing that China had been exporting to the US at less than fair value.
A report published by Reuters has advised that the Constitutional Court has endorsed a Czech tax on solar power producers as part of the government’s push to cut budget deficits and subdue the solar boom in the country. The ruling means that solar plants which came online in 2009 and 2010 are affected.
Following his defeat to be premier of North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday by the Social Democrats (SPD), Norbert Roettgen, once seen as a potential successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, was fired by Merkel today from his position as her environment minister. Reuters reported that Merkel has nominated Peter Altmaier, parliamentary whip for her conservative party, to replace Roettgen.
The UK Solar Trade Association (STA) has called for a delay to planned feed-in tariff cuts in a bid to boost installed capacity figures. In a letter to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) the association asks for the proposed July cuts to be held off until figures pick up.
Italy could alter its subsidy cuts deadline from July 1 to October 1, reports Deutsche Bank. At a technical meeting of state regions conference last week, former undersecretary of industrial activity, Stefano Saglia, announced the current Conto Energia 4 would remain in place until the €7 billion limit were reached if this change was to occur.
The German Federal Council has determined that that the bill earlier adopted by the German Parliament for the reduction of solar subsidies will be going to a mediation committee, which will allow for the federal and state governments to negotiate finding a comprise. If the members do not find a resolution, the Federal Council has the ability to file an appeal against the bill, which could override Parliament’s decision with an absolute majority vote.
Socialist François Hollande has been elected as President of France, bringing further concerns and hopes to the country’s already flagging solar industry. Dubbed “Mr Normal”, he has promised a 25% reduction in nuclear facilities by 2020, an investment in alternative energy generation and improving energy efficiency.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, has announced it will omit net-metering purchase prices from the new feed-in tariffs due to be implemented in July. Instead, the government has decided that in order to avoid confusion, current rates will be extended for three months until June and kept separate from the feed-in tariff.
As Phase 1 of India’s National Solar Mission reaches half way, India stops to take stock of its progress with an independent report conducted by the National Resources Defence Council (NRDC) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEQ). The report has been drawn from extensive discussions with stakeholders and research and analysis of national, state and international programs, with the aim of aiding the government in overcoming obstacles to achieving the Mission’s goal of 20GW by 2022.
