Central & East Asia

Indian independent power producer (IPP) ReNew Power has signed an offtake agreement with tech giant Microsoft for 150MW of solar capacity in India.

Price monitoring institutions released the latest prices across the PV industrial chain on 15 December, all showing a downward trend.

Polysilicon supplier Tongwei continues to expand its solar footprint, revealing plans this week to set up a 25GW module manufacturing base in the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone, in China’s Jiangsu province.

Japanese-headquartered financial services group ORIX Corporation has taken full ownership of Spanish renewables firm Elewan Energy after acquiring a further 20% stake in the company.

Newly granted patents for solar cell architecture that reduces silver costs and increases power generation could see the new technology draw closer to commercialisation.

Silicon wafer prices declined last week, according to figures from the Silicon Industry Branch of the China Nonferrous Metal Industry Association.

Having been rebranded with a new ethos and mission, Qcells’ ambitions are supported by a suite of clean energy products as it consolidates its position in the solar PV sector.

Yonz Technology discusses the benefits of aluminium module frames, the impact of larger panels and how standardisation can lower costs.

A subsidiary of PV cell producer Aiko Solar intends to participate in the capital increase of Qinghai Lihao Semiconductor Materials to improve the supply chain.

Having installed PV modules from Chinese manufacturers, McDonald’s China has opened a “zero-carbon restaurant” in Beijing, the company’s first of its kind in the country.