NEWS I ROUNDUP
Trina Solar announces 2.1 MW off-grid project in Tibet
TRINA SOLAR LIMITED has announced that it has entered into a supply agreement with Longyuan (Tibet) New Energy Co., Ltd. (“Longyuan (Tibet)”) to supply an off-grid solar system project in the Northern Tibetan region of Naqu. The agreement marks an important milestone for Trina Solar in the domestic market, where the Company is expanding its commercial presence.
The 2.1 MW project is Trina Solar’s largest off-grid system project in China in recent years, following the construction of approximately 40 standalone power stations in 2002 in the Chamdo region of Tibet.
“We are very pleased to have been selected by Longyuan (Tibet) for the Naqu project,” said Jifan Gao, Chairman and CEO of Trina Solar. “Quality irradiance in this highly elevated region underscores its suitability for such a project. We are committed to providing quality products and excellent service in
implementing this project, which we believe can benefit the local population.”
“This off-grid project, which differs from utility scale projects in terms of set-up and components, will use our specially- designed PC20 off-grid modules,” said Mark Kingsley, Chief Commercial Officer of Trina Solar. “We believe the off-grid market has the potential to bring another dimension of growth to the Company. These installations, believed to be one of the largest off-grid module orders in China, are especially suited for Tibet’s environment owing to its clean air, excellent sunlight, and challenges of rugged topography to extend traditional distributed power. We are especially pleased to be supplying our solutions in the Tibet Region, where our legacy projects from ten years ago are still improving lives.”
Naqu Prefecture is located in Northern Tibet, bordering with Xinjiang and Qinghai, with total area of more than
Solar investments broke records in 2011
Solar power investments broke records last year, surpassing wind power investments, according to a report by energy experts GlobalData.
The new report states that global renewable power investments reached $209 billion in 2011, as the industry witnessed changing geographical opportunities. Renewables received high investments in the US, while changing economic conditions in Europe affected available funding. However, government policies continue to prove themselves as a major factor in the renewable power market, encouraging the worldwide switch from carbon-emitting methods to clean power generation.
In 2011, solar power investments seized a huge 49% share of global renewable power investments, compared to the 34% share given to wind power. A drastic decrease in solar PV module prices, due to oversupply issues, resulted in an increase in capacity installations. Venture financing and private equity investments
projects. The renewables industry is also expected to see growing investments in the Asia-Pacific region, as low-cost equipment manufacturers tempt the market with competitive pricing, while some countries in the Middle East and North Africa, such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria and Jordon, are being tipped as upcoming solar power investment destinations for major market players.
were also high for solar technology developments. With solar power prices approaching grid-parity, asset financing investments in this area have witnessed a higher growth rate than other renewable generation technologies.
Renewable power investments from Europe are anticipated to drop in 2012, as the region’s credit crisis continues to damage economic stability. However, North America will continue to demonstrate high investments in both solar and wind power, particularly towards the development of new wind power
China looks to become a future investment giant in the solar market, as the state government has planned financing of around $100m to develop projects throughout 40 African nations, where large prospective demand markets are enabling China to expand its production targets.
As a result, China’s solar module manufacturers are planning to increase their production capacity drastically, adding 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of module production capacity in the country by 2012.
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400,000 square kilometers. It is situated on an altitude of 4,500 meters. The territory possesses basins, lakes, rivers and forests, and as one of the few crop- producing areas of Tibet. With an average 2,900 sunlight hours per year, the region is highly suited to PV solar generation. Naqu is one of the Tibetan areas lacking distributed grid power. Trina Solar hopes that the new off-grid project will alleviate the electricity shortages of the farmers and herdsmen, thereby improving the quality of life, while promoting local economic and social development in the region.
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