PV Tech’s COVID-19 tracker

By PV Tech
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Image credit: Fusion Medical Animation / Unsplash

Over its first few months of existence, the COVID-19 crisis has already wreaked major havoc across the world, and the solar industry has not been immune.

From hampered flows of raw materials for manufacturers to component delays for developers, both upstream and downstream PV players have already felt the weight of the pandemic as it continues its global trek, infecting hundreds of thousands and sparking talk of a worldwide recession.

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Only time can confirm what the long-term implications will be from what remains a still-maturing crisis. For now, however, PV Tech will keep an eye on reports on the ground and sound out industry players to share here the latest news and developments as they come, starting with the most recent. 

If you have a COVID-19 statement to share or a story on how the pandemic is disrupting a solar business anywhere in the world, do get in touch at [email protected] or [email protected].

Our sister titles Energy.Storage.News and Solar Power Portal have also launched similar trackers to map out COVID-19 impacts on the energy storage sector and the UK solar industry.  

March 2020

COVID-19 outbreak sparks temporary delay for Portugal’s solar auction

27 March 2020: Portugal is “ready to go” with its first solar auction of the year but will hold off until the COVID-19 crisis has had the time to abate, a top government official has told PV Tech.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

GCL-SI suffered COVID-19 outbreak at major manufacturing operations in Jiangsu, China

27 March 2020: ‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member GCL-SI has said COVID-19 cases forced a partial shutdown of its factory in Jiangsu, China, until production went back to normal.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Vattenfall Solar Team step on the gas in hope to compete in car race in July

27 March 2020: A team of university students is ramping up efforts to deliver a solar car despite the COVID-19 outbreak, amid hopes the vehicle will be able to join a solar race in the US in July.

See here to read Vattenfall’s statement in full

The COVID-19 emergency has created 'enormous challenges' for the students working to finish the solar car in time for the US race, Vattenfall said. Image credit: Vattenfall

Two Tesla employees contract COVID-19 – Reuters

27 March 2020: A couple of staff at Tesla have reportedly tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, according to company emails cited by Reuters.

See here to read the Reuters story in full

Community solar specialist offers COVID-19 relief to New Yorkers

27 March 2020: New York-based Astral Power is to donate US$50 to households joining its community solar programme in the state, coupled with another US$50 for a business or charity of their choice.

See here to read Astral Power’s statement in full

BayWa: COVID-19 impacts ‘not possible’ to predict after RES unit’s strong 2019

27 March 2020: BayWa AG has refrained from making performance predictions for 2020 while COVID-19’s implications remain unclear, following a strong year for its renewable energy unit.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

SEIA survey: Outlook goes ‘bad to worse’ for US solar as layoffs intensify

27 March 2020: US solar body the SEIA has ramped up calls for policymakers to back the sector against the COVID-19 crisis, after finding 40% of the firms it polled reported staff cuts.

See here to read the SEIA’s statement in full

Italian green energy reps call for COVID-19 reprieve as red tape starts to bite

27 March 2020: The global campaign to protect renewables from the COVID-19 crisis has now extended to one of the worst-hit countries, amid calls for action against permitting bottlenecks.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Enel acts to insure global workforce of tens of thousands

27 March 2020: Energy giant Enel will roll out a new insurance policy among its global workforce of over 68,000 people, in a bid to back those needing hospital stays after contracting the virus.

See here to read Enel’s statement in full

UK installers shut up shop due to COVID-19 as ‘key worker’ confusion reigns

26 March 2020: PV Tech’s sister title Solar Power Portal spoke to various PV installers today, with many confirming they would be closing their doors to new systems for the foreseeable future.

See here to read the Solar Power Portal story in full

Tesla’s shuttered solar facility to become COVID-19 ventilator factory

26 March 2020: The US solar facility Tesla closed down this week due to COVID-19 is to get a new lease of life as a factory for ventilators used to treat virus patients, CEO Elon Musk has said.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

First Solar’s factories roll on in US, Asia as COVID-19 lockdowns multiply

26 March 2020: First Solar has opted to keep its factories in US and Asia open for now following an assessment that some are not covered by lockdown plans enacted in either region.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

COVID-19 drives down demand as lockdown affects usage patterns

26 March 2020: As the UK goes into lockdown, the country’s power demand profile is changing due to the shutdown of offices and industry, PV Tech’s sister publication Current± reports,

See here to read the Current± story in full

Scatec Solar: ‘Too early to predict’ COVID-19 impacts on project completion timelines

26 March 2020: IPP Scatec Solar has stuck to its Q1 2020 production forecasts despite the COVID-19 crisis, adding it remains too early to predict potential impacts on project completion dates.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

COVID-19: Smart meter rollout paused following government guidance

26 March 2020: The pause button has been hit on the smart meter rollout in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic, PV Tech’s sister publication Current± reports

See here to read the Current± story in full

US COVID-19 stimulus package passes without solar ITC extension

26 March 2020: Attempts have failed to include a solar tax credit extension in a significant stimulus package the US has adopted to shelter the economy against the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Indian renewables enshrined as ‘essential’ activity during national lockdown

26 March 2020: India has acted to ensure continued operations and movements in the renewable sector, now deemed “essential” as the country enters a 21-day national lockdown.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

“In the current scenario of COVID-19 outbreak and nationwide lockdown announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister, there will be need to ensure uninterrupted power generation (including generation from Renewable Energy Power Plants” – India’s green energy ministry MNRE

Neoen slashes 2021 targets due to COVID-19 after buoyant solar year

26 March 2020: The COVID-19 crisis has forced Neoen to revise its earnings target for 2021 to adjust to potential delays, amid claims its long-term renewable install ambitions will not falter.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Juwi: COVID-19 putting the brakes on renewable project licensing

25 March 2020: A player behind major solar projects in Europe, the US and others has warned about COVID-19’s impacts on project permitting, warning it could add to delays on other fronts.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Solar and storage installs considered ‘essential services’ in locked-down California

25 March 2020: Green energy reps examined state rules and concluded renewable installs and O&M can be viewed as an “essential service”, PV Tech’s sister title Energy.Storage.News reports.

See here to read the Energy.Storage.News story in full

COVID-19 prompts solar tender recalibration across key European markets

25 March 2020: France and Germany are to alter solar tender rules in a bid to adjust to a reality of project delays, with industry lobbying so that auctioning does not stop altogether in the short term.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

France’s new solar auction dates as COVID-19 forces delays

Solar segment Old tender dates New tender dates
Ground-mount solar 3 July 2020 3 July 2020 (one-third of 1GW), 3 November 2020 (two-thirds)
Solar repowering of old nuclear sites 31 July 2020 30 September 2020
Rooftop solar 6 July 2020 6 September 2020
Innovative solar 3 April 2020 3 June 2020
Solar for non-interconnected zones 12 June 2020 12 August 2020
Self-consumption 18 May 2020 18 July 2020
Source: French PV body SER-SOLER

Solar asks for ‘essential industry’ treatment as COVID-19 sweeps globe

25 March 2020: Spanish and Aussie reps have called for renewables to be given ‘essential industry’ classification as national lockdowns on ‘non-essential’ business activity proliferate worldwide.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

First Solar supplier LPKF Laser maintaining production despite COVID-19 crisis

25 March 2020: Germany-based LPKF Laser & Electronics AG has told PV Tech its factories plants in Germany are able to operate at normal capacity levels, despite the continued impact of COVID-19.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Solar the only energy source to rise in China during two-month lockdown

25 March 2020: Chinese solar generation rose 12% while thermal, hydro, nuclear and wind power all saw drops as shutdown plans were rolled out in January and February, new official stats show.

See here to browse the release from China’s National Bureau of Statistics in full

Encavis brushes off COVID-19 concerns with strong 2020 financial outlook

25 March 2020: German solar and wind firm Encavis has maintained its 2020 targets despite COVID-19, amid claims impacts would be “limited” even if delays affect two major PV projects in Spain.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

“Even in these difficult times, we feel well positioned to achieve our long-term goals … Even a delay in construction progress on the two major Spanish [PV] projects in the course of 2020 would at most have a negative effect on earnings per share (EPS) for 2020 of EUR 0.01”—ENCAVIS AG

Enel unit forced to close HJ plant in Sicily on wider shutdowns across Italy

25 March 2020: Enel has been forced to close the solar manufacturing operations of its 3SUN unit after new Italian government directives ordered the shutdown of non-essential facilities.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Survey flags ‘immediate and potentially devastating’ impacts for US energy storage

25 March 2020: A national poll found US energy storage firms are witnessing delays and could face job losses as COVID-19 takes hold, PV Tech’s sister title Energy.Storage.News reports.

See here to read the Energy.Storage.News story in full

Oman’s largest PV project bags financial close despite COVID-19

24 March 2020: A consortium including Saudi firm ACWA Power, Gulf Investment Corporation and Alternative Energy Projects Co. has closed financing for a 500MWac solar system in spite of the COVID-19 outbreak.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

SEIA fears COVID-19 crisis could impact 50% of US solar sector

24 March 2020: US solar body the SEIA has warned the industry’s 250,000 direct workers need support as COVID-19 could impact as much as 50% of the sector.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

“We are also faced with a reality we can’t ignore: the solar industry could lose up to half its workforce as a direct result of COVID-19”—Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association

Semiconductor specialist Applied Materials flags ‘major disruptions’ from COVID-19

24 March 2020: Semiconductor and specialist solar equipment maker Applied Materials has withdrawn its business outlook for its FYQ2 as COVID-19 hits its supply chain and manufacturing.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Analysts: COVID-19, mild winter bring Germany’s climate goal within sight

24 March 2020: Germany’s climate efforts may gain an unintended boost from the COVID-19 crisis this year but long-term progress needs a new green growth plan, a think tank has said.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

COVID-19: UK power sector reacts to 'extraordinary circumstances' created by pandemic

24 March 2020: PV Tech’s sister title Current± has compiled recent reactions to the pandemic from UK energy players including Ofgem, National Grid, EDF, Energy UK, E.On and others.

See here to read the Current± story in full

Fraunhofer ISE continues laboratory project with many staff home working

24 March 2020: Fraunhofer ISE expects to maintain much of their R&D activities despite COVID-19 restrictions as many engineers are said to working from home. 

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Latin American solar colossus held up by COVID-19 delays in Argentina

24 March 2020: Media reports indicate Argentina’s lockdown measures are delaying the commissioning of the 300MW Cauchari solar project in Argentina, billed as one of Latin America’s largest.

See here to read the Energía Estratégica story in full

Green energy reps help Italy identify key supply chain players in COVID-19 response

24 March 2020: ANIE Federazione, the trade union group encompassing Anie Rinnovabili (see here for last year's PV Tech interview), has helped Italy design steps to protect key supply chain activities from the COVID-19 fallout.

See here to read ANIE Rinnovabili’s statement in full

Panasonic halts operations at Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory

24 March 2020: Japanese electronics giant Panasonic is to send some 3,500 workers home after deciding to suspend operations from the Nevada Gigafactory it runs alongside Tesla, according to media reports

See here to read the Reno Gazette Journal story in full

India confirms green energy deadline extensions to counter COVID-19 fallout

23 March 2020: Renewable developers from one of the world’s largest solar markets will be able to apply for time deferrals as they grapple with the COVID-19 fallout, under newly approved government plans.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Voltalia confident about renewable plans in 2020 despite COVID-19 spread

23 March 2020: Voltalia has maintained its renewable growth forecasts for 2020 despite the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, noting however there is a chance the emergency could delay some contracts.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Lawyers: Contract small-print and national laws to impact ‘force majeure’ attempts

23 March 2020: Contract arrangements and legislative frameworks may dictate the success of attempts to invoke a ‘force majeure’ clause due to the COVID-19 crisis, lawyers have said.

See here to read Gowling WLG’s post in full

UK solar calls for support amid fears of ‘disruption for months’ from COVID-19

23 March 2020: A webinar recently held by the UK’s Solar Trade Association (STA) warned the solar sector will face significant challenges due to COVID-19, as the challenges shift from manufacturing to logistics and demand.

See here to read the Solar Power Portal story in full

Make PV roll-out across key buildings part of COVID-19 response, Australia told

23 March 2020: Australia should sponsor solar across homes and key buildings to guarantee cheaper electricity for the citizens grappling with the COVID-19 crisis, the industry has said.

See here to read the CEC’s statement in full

Vattenfall presses on with continuity plans to help guarantee security of supply

23 March 2020: Swedish energy giant Vattenfall is pressing ahead with a strategy it has drawn up in the past few weeks to ensure continued supply energy in the markets it operates in.

See here to read Vattenfall’s statement in full

Enel: COVID-19 ‘no material impact’ so far on renewables supply chain

20 March 2020: Enel Group has sought to downplay the potential impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on its growth during 2020, the first year of three during which it plans to add 14GW-plus to its green energy portfolio.

See here to read the full PV Tech story

Tesla to shutter Buffalo PV panel plant for now after COVID-19 controversy

20 March 2020: Silicon Valley giant Tesla has decided to temporarily close down factories in two US states after coming under fire over the exposure of its staff to the COVID-19 pandemic.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

SEIA: More than one-in-ten PV firms report layoffs as COVID-19 takes hold

20 March 2020: US solar representatives have warned the COVID-19 fallout affecting all economic sectors is also seeping into the PV industry, with many forced to resort to layoffs.

See here to read SEIA’s statement in full

COVID-19 triggers delay for Abu Dhabi solar-plus-storage colossus – reports

20 March 2020: A project billed as the largest PV venture ever undertaken anywhere worldwide is being delayed by the COVID-19 emergency, according to media reports.

See here to read the Energy & Utilities story in full

China solar exports fall over 57% month-on-month following COVID-19 shutdown

20 March 2020: As expected, the extension of the Chinese New Year due to the COVID-19 crisis and restrictions to travelling and manufacturing re-starts had a sizeable impact on PV module exports from China in February, according to the latest official figures. 

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Coalition calls on US Congress to expand green energy incentives as COVID-19 sets in

20 March 2020: Clean energy trade bodies and groups in the US have called on lawmakers to extend and improve tax incentives to help the green energy industries surmount the COVID-19 pandemic.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Jetion’s Thailand PV factory ‘not affected’ so far by COVID-19

19 March 2020: Chinese solar manufacturer Jetion Solar claims to have managed to keep its cell and module production line in Thailand safe so far from any disruption from the COVID-19 emergency.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Investor US Solar Fund plays down COVID-19 impacts on PV pipeline

19 March 2020: Investor US Solar Fund (USF) has said COVID-19 impacts remain minimal for now, with supply already guaranteed for the PV portfolio it has taken over since its IPO last year.

See here to read the PV Tech story in full

Brazil’s energy minister tests positive for COVID-19

19 March 2020: The government official spearheading solar-friendly policy changes at one of Latin America’s top markets has contracted COVID-19.

See here to read Brazil's government statement in full

Melbourne official: Put green energy at the heart of Australia’s COVID-19 relief plans

19 March 2020: A leading official at Australia’s second largest city has called for the federal government to place renewables at the core of the country's COVID-19 relief plans.

See here to read Wood’s statement in full

Expert: Scale of green energy fleet will help UK grid cope with shutdown plans

19 March 2020: The UK's power grid should have “no challenges” keeping the lights on as the country moves to close down schools this week and encourages remote working, according to professor Phil Hart.

Speaking before confirmed COVID-19 cases passed the 2,600 mark in the UK, Hart – director of Energy and Power at Cranfield University – said computer relocation and additional household loads have an “extremely small chance” of upsetting the grid, particularly as offices close down.

According to the professor, the scale of renewables in the UK system will be “helpful” during the crisis. “The size of renewable plants is generally much smaller, and the national power system will be better able to handle withdrawal of multiple smaller sites,” he remarked.

The risks to the UK’s power supply remain, Hart went on to say, “very minimal” as long as the country avoids cuts to basic full supply and stations do not watch all staff fall ill. If maintenance regimes are not met at individual plants, there is a risk some may have to be shut down as the crisis wears on, he said.

Analysts: Short-term fixed PPAs best bet for green energy players in COVID-19 era

19 March 2020: Renewable energy developers grappling with COVID-19 economic uncertainty would be well advised to resort to short-term fixed power purchase agreements (PPAs), analysts have said.

See here to read New Streams Renewables' statement in full

Australia: C&I tax relief measures described as ideal opportunity to invest in solar and storage

19 March 2020: Australia's Smart Energy Council hosted a webinar: 'COVID-19 and the Household/Commercial Solar and Battery Storage Market', this morning. It focussed mainly on general themes of practising social distancing and follow recommendations from medical experts, as well as acknowledgement of the general disruption to daily life expected in the country and across the world. Council head John Grimes did say that solar (and storage) is perhaps “the best industry you can be in right now,” and while acknowledging the difficult times ahead for all, said companies should be “marketing hard”. 

Other key industry points included: 

  • Market reports on supply and demand are a mixed picture. Regional areas appear to see continuing or even stronger demand than usual, while urban areas less so, but this could be for a variety of reasons, whether it's because rural communities see the value of resiliency or are simply not as affected by the situation already is too early to call. 
  • Some stocks of equipment may be held up in customs, so wholesalers, installers and others should be patient and keep lines of communication open and well-used. 
  • The Australian Dollar has fallen over the past month against US and Euro currencies, so changes in the base price will have occurred. 
  • Commercial and industrial (C&I) tax deductions offered by the government for companies with up to AU$500 million annual turnover to make capital investments present an opportunity for purchases of 30kW to 100kW sized commercial PV systems as well as for batteries. As one participant noted, unlike other equipment purchases, solar systems are not a sunk cost and can offer a return on investment. 
  • Some companies are indeed stocking up on PV and battery equipment right now the same way that many private citizens are stocking up on essential supplies at home. 
  • Residential solar retailers and installers were recommended to add battery storage into their quotes, boosting the value of each sale even though volumes of sales may fall. 

Germany urged to throw lifeline to PV players facing COVID-19 delays

18 March 2020: Operators of one of the world’s largest solar markets have urged authorities to ease subsidy timetables so that projects facing COVID-19 hold-ups do not end up missing out.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

Californian panel supplier reports ‘minimal impact’ on South Korean factories

18 March 2020: Oakland-headquartered PV panel supplier Solaria Corporation has said it will be able to meet demand for its products without “significant disruption,” despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

See here to read Solaria’s statement in full

COVID-19 clouds build over US solar after upbeat 2019

17 March 2020: US solar representatives are working to shed light on COVID-19 crisis impacts as reports on the ground indicate supply chains are being disrupted, stoking uncertainty for a sector just emerging from a strong 2019.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

Lawyer warns over 'fallacy of force majeure’ as Indian PV hit by supply delays

17 March 2020: Solar developers invoking force majeure clauses to win time as the COVID-19 emergency takes hold will need to “prepare well” to ensure success, an energy lawyer has said.

See here to read Choudhury’s piece on Bar and Bench in full

Dutch solar urges for one-year SDE extension as supply bottlenecks build

17 March 2020: Dutch solar representatives have urged the government to grant subsidy-backed players another year to deliver projects, amid talk of hold-ups with key components.

See here to read Holland Solar’s statement in full

COVID-19 concerns spark delay for trial over Tesla-SolarCity tie-up

16 March 2020: Court proceedings planned this week to examine whether Elon Musk and other leading Tesla figures misled shareholders over the SolarCity purchase have been postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

US’ top nonprofit solar installer ramps up safety as Bay Area issues ‘shelter in place’ order

16 March 2020: The largest non-profit solar player in the US has tightened its response to the COVID-19 outbreak amid temporary office closures as lockdown measures kick in.

See here to read GRID Alternatives’ statement in full

IEA: Don’t let COVID-19 distract from ‘historic opportunity’ of energy transition

16 March 2020: Countries scrambling to respond to the global COVID-19 emergency should not allow the crisis to derail the green energy shift the world needs in the long run, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said.  

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

BayWa r.e. parent adopts headquarter visitor ban amid pledge to help keep lights on

15 March 2020: The parent company of green energy developer BayWa r.e. is to restrict access to its headquarters in Germany, amid a pledge to use its various businesses to help underpin energy supply as the COVID-19 crisis deepens worldwide.

See here to read BayWa AG’s statement in full

JinkoSolar expects no ‘material’ COVID-19 impact in 2020 after record 2019

13 March 2020: JinkoSolar believes it could take shipments past the 20GW mark in 2020 after breaking financial and operational records last year, amid claims COVID-19 will not “materially” hurt its business.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

BloombergNEF cuts global solar demand forecast on coronavirus concerns

12 March 2020: BloombergNEF (BNEF) has reduced its global solar demand forecast for 2020, due to the impact related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

Canadian Solar coy on coronavirus impact on China manufacturing operations

11 March 2020: ‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Canadian Solar has provided some limited insight into the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to its substantial PV manufacturing operations in China.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

Vivint’s demand ‘holding up nicely’ despite talk of COVID-19 impacts on US players

11 March 2020: Vivint Solar scored in 2019 rises of solar system installs and revenues, with analysts predicting the coronavirus crisis is not likely to major dent uptake of PV systems.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

IEA: Coronavirus-driven oil rout will ‘test’ renewable pledges of O&G majors

10 March 2020: The crash of oil prices as the global coronavirus crisis intensifies may challenge the plans by oil and gas (O&G) giants to finance a shift to renewables, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

Depleted, not defeated: Reporting from PV Expo Tokyo 2020 – Part 1

10 March 2020: As listeners to the most recent edition of the Solar Media Podcast will have heard, this year’s edition of World Smart Energy Week in Tokyo – incorporating PV Expo, International Smart Grid Expo and several other co-located industry shows – took place under WHO rules.

See here for a compilation of highlights of Tokyo’s World Smart Energy Week

Tariff ceilings and COVID-19 worries haunt 500MW solar tender in Gujarat

10 March 2020: Indian utility Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) has garnered just 430MW of submissions in its latest 500MW solar tender.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

PODCAST: Coronavirus contingencies, cutting-edge solar tech and BP’s net zero bid

4 March 2020: The latest episode of the Solar Media Podcast sees editors Liam Stoker and Andy Colthorpe discuss how the clean energy economy is responding to the coronavirus, while Andy reports from PV Expo in Tokyo, which itself felt the effects of the virus outbreak.

See here to listen to the podcast in full

February 2020

Taiwan and India extending PV power project completion dates as COVID-19 impacts

27 February 2020: Taiwan has extended PV power project completion dates as a result of component shortages caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in China, while India is expected to advise on policy changes soon. 

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

China solar exports witness 35% year-on-year slide in January

26 February 2020: Exports of solar products from China in January 2020 were around 35% lower than in the prior year period, according to an accumulation of official export data, recently released. 

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

Coronavirus delays 135MW solar duo by Philippines utility

25 February 2020: As global efforts to contain the coronavirus step up, the disease continues to affect the solar industry, with a subsidiary of major Filipino utility Meralco announcing that the commissioning of 135MW of solar projects has been delayed due to the virus outbreak.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

Enphase readies COVID-19 contingencies as revenue, shipments jump again in Q4

19 February 2020: Microinverter supplier Enphase Energy reported yet another jump in both shipments and revenue in Q4, with recent supply deals in the US and Europe expected to grow sales even further.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

India mulls solar project deadline extensions to help with coronavirus delays

19 February 2020: India is considering extending solar commissioning deadlines in order to counter the disruption caused by the coronavirus on Chinese solar imports, the renewable energy secretary said on Tuesday.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

Coronavirus outbreak in China impacting solar industry in Korea, India and Taiwan

14 February 2020: Manufacturing delays and supply chain constraints in China, caused by the coronavirus outbreak are starting to impact both upstream PV manufacturers and downstream installers in countries such as South Korea, India and Taiwan.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

SunPower expects ‘minimal’ COVID-19 impacts after 2019 bounce-back

13 February 2020: SunPower Corp. is expecting losses in the hundred-million-US-dollar region this year despite its comeback to profitability in 2019, a year when it moved to spin off its manufacturing business.

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

China’s solar industry getting back to work as logistical constraints emerge

12 February 2020: China’s PV industry is tentatively starting to get back to work after the extended New Year holiday period, due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

CPIA to seek Chinese government support for solar industry as coronavirus spreads

3 February 2020: According to reports, the CPIA (China Photovoltaic Industry Association) is expected to seek Chinese government support for the sector as the coronavirus continues to spread. 

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

January 2020

Coronavirus expected to impact solar industry supply chain – ROTH Capital

31 January 2020: ROTH Capital Partners has told investors that the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus in China is likely to impact the solar industry supply chain, due to extended work stoppage in eight provinces, many being key solar manufacturing hubs, through February 9th. 

See here to browse this PV Tech story in full

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