China Renewable Energy Industry Report: Jun. 13

China to drop domestic content subsidies for wind power sector
After a complaint filed by the U.S. with the World Trade Organization (WTO), China agreed to give up a subsidy scheme for wind power manufacturers using made-in-China parts.

In December 2010, the United Steelworkers union in the United States took a stand against China’s special fund for wind power manufacturing, which provides subsidies for sector firms that use “home-made” components. In a case filed with the WTO the U.S. labeled the fund as illegal.

“Subsidies requiring the use of local content are particularly harmful and are expressly prohibited under WTO rules,” said Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative. According to him, when these subsidies are dropped, U.S. companies will be able to manufacture wind turbine components at home and take them to the Chinese market.

According to the United Steelworkers union, domestic renewable energy product makers in China are also benefiting from preferences in bidding, export credits and forced transfers of technology. The union also accused China of giving unfair advantage to its renewable energy firms with its continued policy of curbing exports of rare earth metals. Prices for rare earth minerals marked a considerable surge since Beijing cut exports by 40 percent in the summer of 2010.

Centrotherm’s selective emitter boosts Dongfang Magi Solar’s cell efficiency
German solar power technology producer Centrotherm Photovoltaics said on June 6 its technology had helped Chinese firm Dongfang Magi Solar reach average cell efficiency rate of above 18.5 percent.

Dongfang Magi Solar is using a laser-based selective emitter that Centrotherm developed in co-operation with German technology company Rofin-Baasel Lasertech GmbH.

The two companies have been cooperating since September 2009. Their solution not only improves the efficiency of solar cells but also reduces manufacturing costs, Centrotherm said. The company sees sales potential in the double-digit million-euro range for the selective emitter technology this year.

The selective emitter is currently being installed at several other Asian customers. In addition, turnkey production lines for mono- and multicrystalline silicon solar cells equipped with selective emitter technology have been completed, Centrotherm said.

China Longyuan wind power output jumps 49.25 percent in May 2011
Wind farm developer and operator China Longyuan Power Group Corp said on June 7 that its wind power output for May had increased by 49.25 percent on the year to 1,252,492 MWh.

Output from other renewables more than tripled to 15,450 MWh from 4,746 MWh a year back.

China Longyuan’s total power generation for May stood at 2,287,945 MWh, growing 31.81 percent in annual terms. Coal power installations produced 1,020,003 MWh.

Since the beginning of the year the company has produced 11,086,511 MWh. The wind power segment alone has brought 6,155,944 MWh.

JinkoSolar, PowerGuard seal warranty services agreement
U.S. wind and solar products insurer PowerGuard Specialty Insurance Services will now provide warranty services to the customers of Chinese solar products maker JinkoSolar Holding Co Ltd.

Jinko said on June 3 that, as part of the agreement with PowerGuard, its panels have back-to-back coverage under a five-year limited product warranty. The terms also include a tiered performance guarantee for 25 years, divided into a 10-year warranty for 90 percent power performance and a 15-year warranty for 80 percent performance.

“This solution is an important way that solar panel producers can provide a greater degree of business certainty and allows developers of solar parks to finance photovoltaic installations more easily and with increased flexibility,” said Larry Liu, senior vice president and technology practice leader at insurance broker Marsh China, which facilitated the deal with PowerGuard.

Canadian Photowatt Ontario to make Hanwha SolarOne modules
Chinese solar products maker Hanwha SolarOne earlier this month said Photowatt Ontario, a unit of Canadian ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc, has agreed to produce modules for the Chinese firm in Ontario.

Under the agreement, Photowatt will manufacture some 160 megawatts of photovoltaic modules in four years at its photovoltaic module factory in Ontario, using cells supplied by Hanwha SolarOne. The deal has an option for additional module volumes of up to 160 megawatts.

Hanwha SolarOne will distribute the modules in the Ontario market, satisfying the domestic content requirements of the Ontario feed-in tariff and micro FIT program. Shipments of the first modules under the deal are seen to start in October.

GCL-Poly, Goldpoly to establish 300 MW wafer plant in China
GCL-Poly New Energy Ltd, a unit of Chinese silicon wafer maker GCL-Poly Energy Holdings, has teamed up with solar cell maker Goldpoly New Energy holdings Ltd to build a 300 megawatt wafer plant in China. The plant will meet Goldpoly’s needs.

GCL-Poly said on June 7 the move would enable the company to enter the southeastern region of Mainland China and to enhance its business coverage to Taiwan and the emerging markets in Southeast Asia. Goldpoly has an output capacity of 200 megawatts of cells.

Xinyi Glass submits application for spin-off, listing of solar glass unit
Hong Kong-based float-glass products maker Xinyi Glass Holdings said on June 7 it had filed an application with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for the separate listing of its solar glass unit Xinyi Solar Group.

The company said it had not yet decided on the offering size, structure, timetable and other details on the spin-off and listing of its subsidiary. It said it may sell some 25 percent of Xinyi Solar’s stock.

In 2010, Xinyi Glass’s revenue rose by 60.8 percent on the year to US$817.4 million. Of these, Xinyi Solar brought US$139 million, compared to US$26.7 million a year before. The unit, which makes ultra-clear photovoltaic raw glass and ultra-clear photovoltaic processed glass, has become a key driver for Xinyi Glass’s growth thanks to the global rush towards renewable power generation.

China offers Pakistan US$15 billion for hydropower project – report
China Three Gorges Project Corporation (CTGPC), constructor of the world’s largest dam on the Yangtze River, has offered Pakistan US$15 billion to finance the building of several dams on the Indus River, a newspaper report said.

Pakistani daily The Nation cited unnamed official sources as confirming the Chinese proposal and saying the new project could help Pakistan tackle power shortage and limit the effects of floods on the river.

The sources also said that this proposal more proof of China’s interest in Pakistan, where, apart from hydropower, the PRC is investing in the development of natural gas, oil and coal.

According to the report, CTGPC has also offered to give Pakistan another US$50 million for the survey to lay the groundwork for the Indus hydropower project.

Huaneng Renewables secures US$762 million in Hong Kong IPO
Huaneng Renewables, a wind power unit of China Huaneng Group, said on June 9 that the net proceeds from its initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong amount to HK$5.93 billion (US$762 million).

Huaneng Renewables plans to use 57.8 percent of the proceeds to expand its wind power business, some 19.2 percent to pay back bank loans obtained for the construction of wind projects, and some 23 percent for the acquisition of wind power projects at home or abroad.

The company offered 2.486 billion shares at HK$2.50 (US$0.321) per share. Huaneng has granted an over-allotment option for the purchase of additional 373 million shares in 30 days from the IPO.

China Singyes Solar gets US$30 million from share offering
China Singyes Solar Technologies announced last week that it had raised some HK$232.8 million (US$30 million) through the sale of 35 million shares, or 7.13 percent of its stock capital.

The company will use the proceeds to bolster its manufacturing capacity, develop new production plants in Hunan and Zhuhai and for general working capital. The shares were priced at HK$6.8 (US$0.891) apiece.

At the same time, China Singyes Solar said that on June 9 it had issued 35 million shares to its biggest shareholder Strong Eagle at the price of HK$6.8 each. Following both transactions, Strong Eagle’s share in the company has been diluted from 40.04 percent to 37.38 percent.