Gold producer DRDGold has decided to build a solar power plant and an energy storage facility in Ergo in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint and address uncertainty about electricity supply and costs. The Johannesburg- and New York-listed company's board of directors has approved the first phase of capital expenditure, which includes upgrading the existing supply line at the Brakpan/Withok tailings storage facility to 88kVA, building an initial 20MW photovoltaic power plant, and 10 It is a 10MW energy storage facility. This will be an important driver in the already far-reaching environmental, social and governance (ESG) space of DRDGold.

Recently, the Brazilian government introduced new regulations to introduce a new pricing mechanism for the country's distributed photovoltaic electricity prices. In this framework, net metering tariffs will be introduced for PV systems below 5,000 kW until 2045. The new regulations are expected to take effect in 2023. According to the new regulations, until 2045, distributed photovoltaic systems with an installed capacity of less than 5,000 kilowatts in Brazil will use "net metering tariffs". Rodrigo Sauaia, executive chairman of the Brazilian Solar Energy Association, said that the new regulations strengthen Brazil's regulation of distributed photovoltaic systems and the stability of policy implementation. "In the future, distributed generation in Brazil will account for an increasing proportion of total power generation and will gradually exceed the power generation of utility-scale photovoltaic systems." It is understood that at present, the total installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation connected to the grid in Brazil is 13 million kilowatts, of which the installed capacity of distributed photovoltaics has reached 8.4 million kilowatts. The industry generally believes that the new electricity price mechanism will promote the surge of distributed photovoltaic projects in Brazil, and related companies are expected to maintain stable profits.

According to VNS News, Vietnam still faces many difficulties in the utilization of renewable energy in 2022, as the number of renewable energy that has been put into operation in recent years has taken a heavy toll on the power grid. Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade will not add any wind and solar energy to its plans this year due to a lack of input facilities to feed wind and solar energy to the national grid. At the National Load Dispatching Center's 2021 review meeting on Jan. 10, deputy director Nguyễn Trọng Hưng said that total electricity generation and imports, including rooftop solar, are expected to reach 275.5 billion kWh this year, up 7.9 percent from 2021. Total hydropower production is expected to be 82.5 billion kWh, an increase of 3.8 billion kWh from 2021, Trung said. 3,407 MW of conventional power sources expected to be operational in 2022, including large thermal power plants with a capacity of 600 MW each, such as Nghi Sơn 2 and Sông Hậu 1, which will no longer have wind, farm solar and rooftop solar on the grid this year connected to the grid. Trung further stated that with the increase in the commissioning rate of renewable energy, the issue of real-time stability of the power system is still a huge challenge, adding that "the use of renewable energy in 2022 still faces many difficulties because of the increased commissioning of renewable energy in recent years. The amount of renewable energy is hitting the grid.”

Robert Habeck has headed the newly created Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK for short) since December. On Tuesday (January 11), the green politician released his "climate protection balance sheet" and laid out plans for the coming months. "We are starting with a severe deficit. Previous climate protection measures were inadequate in all sectors, and the climate targets for 2022 and 2023 are foreseen to be missed," he told a news conference. The new measures will be implemented through two separate legislative acts. First, what Habeck is calling an "Easter multiple plan" that will include provisions that can be implemented quickly, is expected to be introduced in the spring and will pass parliamentary processes in early summer. In addition, the two branches of the German parliament, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, will decide on a "summer package" of further measures in the second half of the year. Habeck is targeting the state aid needed for the European Commission to ratify the two climate protection laws this year. At the heart of the new German government coalition comprising the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the Freedom Party (FDP) is to increase the share of renewable energy in total electricity consumption to 80% by 2030. This goes hand in hand with higher targets for photovoltaics and wind power. By 2030, PV installed capacity is expected to increase by around 140-200GW. In Habeck's opening balance, it is planned to gradually increase the annual expansion to 20GW by 2028. It should remain stable at 20GW per year through 2029 and 2030. For the current year, the ministry has only assumed a slight increase of around 7GW. The minister wants to ensure strong growth in demand for photovoltaics through a new version of the German Renewable Energy Act, the so-called EEG. In a legal amendment due in the spring, a route will be set for larger tender volumes. "Starting at a very ambitious level from the outset, the technology-specific capabilities will continue to increase," the minister said. But higher bid volumes alone will not be enough, solar should be unlocked through "broad single measures" that include raising current acreage limits in bids to provide more ground for solar parks while adhering to conservation standards. The government has also agreed to make PV systems mandatory in new commercial buildings, while in new residential buildings, the coalition wants PV systems to become the rule. Lowering electricity prices is also critical for the new federal government, especially to more forcefully electrify the heating and transport sectors. Therefore, in the coming year, the EEG surcharge should be financed through the federal budget and no longer through electricity bills paid by consumers. The government hopes heat pumps and electric cars will become more attractive, which should also be sparked by the Easter multiple plan.

The Czech Republic is showing growing interest in rooftop solar systems against the backdrop of rapidly rising energy prices. Due to higher energy costs and government grant programs, the current return on investment in these systems is about eight years or less for most households. ČEZ, a major energy provider in the Czech Republic, announced that it installed 2.5 times as many photovoltaic panels last year as it did in 2020. Meanwhile, sales of batteries and heat pumps doubled over the same period. According to the Czech Solar Energy Association, the main type of solar energy production currently in the Czech Republic is through small rooftop solar panels. The association said the main increase in home PV installations occurred in the second half of last year, when energy prices started to rise. Martin Sedlák, project director of the Modern Energy Union, a pro-green NGO, said: "The Czech Republic is most interested in purchasing solar panels and batteries to maximize the performance of photovoltaic systems. potential." “The most typical system costs around CZK 500,000, but cheaper systems can also be found for around CZK 430,000. The Nová Zelená úsporám (government-funded scheme) accounts for about 50% of this investment. %. “12 years ago, the return on PV combined with batteries was about 12 years. At current prices, the return on investment is closer to eight years, and may be shorter if electricity is used in large quantities. However, it depends on each household’s Personal consumption." Another option is to buy a solar-assisted heat pump, which uses solar energy to heat water. This is the most cost-effective photovoltaic application, says Pavel Hrzina of the Czech Technical University's Department of Electronic Technology. “You put your module on the roof and connect it directly to the boiler with a simple regulator. A system like this would only cost you a few hundred thousand kroner, which is not at all considering the cost of building materials today What. It supplies the household with hot water for about 10 months a year." He further explained that solar panels have become cheaper to recycle in recent years, which also helps make photovoltaics more attractive. The panels are currently degrading at a rate of about 0.25% per year. While recycling batteries is currently much more difficult, the scientist believes that this problem could also be solved in the next few years. “Battery chemistry is more complex, and there are not many batteries that need to be recycled at the moment. We will have to wait until there are real batteries that need to be recycled. However, some companies are already asking how to do this.” According to the energy study, solar energy has the potential to cover nearly 27% of the total energy consumption in the Czech Republic, with about half covered by rooftop solar panels and the other half by solar panels mounted on the exterior walls. Solar energy accounted for around 2.8 percent of total energy production las...

CanaryMedia of the United States published a year-end feature titled: "The US Solar Industry in 2021: Huge, Complex, Alternative". The U.S. solar market has managed to achieve a decade of steady growth despite changing global economic conditions and changing U.S. domestic energy policies. Even in the "alternative" year of 2021, solar expansion continues. Based on results from the first three quarters, analysts estimate that the U.S. will deploy 19 GW of utility-scale solar and nearly 4 GW of distributed solar in 2021, both of which set U.S. records. The solar industry is booming despite high installation costs, worker shortages, supply chain issues and complex import duties. Solar growth in the U.S. has been phenomenal and sustained. In addition to the 23 GW expected to be deployed in the U.S. in 2021, research firm S&P Global Market Intelligence also forecasts 44 GW of PV to be commissioned in 2022, almost double the amount in 2021 some time. According to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie, the cumulative installed capacity of solar PV in the United States has exceeded 100 gigawatts. S&P researchers say U.S. demand remains strong, with 17.4 gigawatts of generating capacity under development or under construction. The continuous downward trend in PV prices has come to an end For the first time in the memory of many solar analysts, the price of solar system hardware has risen in an industry where prices have continued to fall. All commodity materials used to make solar modules are facing upward price pressure, including polysilicon, silver, copper, aluminum and glass. High prices for polysilicon, the main ingredient in crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, are jeopardizing some solar projects, with Bloomberg New Energy Finance's solar team noting that spot polysilicon prices have surged from a low of $6.30 a kilogram in 2020 to $37 a kilogram by the end of the year. Global logistics woes are forcing delayed deliveries and higher prices for PV materials and modules. Shipping costs have risen by 500%, according to some analyst estimates. Solar power remains the lowest-cost source of electricity generation in many places, but power purchase agreements are being renegotiated due to razor-thin margins. Still, strong demand for solar means PV projects are more likely to be temporarily delayed than cancelled. The increase in solar input costs and power purchase agreements is in line with the increase in the cost and price of all new generation. Driving U.S. Solar Manufacturing Can the U.S. become a solar powerhouse without a domestic solar supply chain? Can the US solar industry regain its productive dynamism? U.S. solar manufacturers have largely lost the war with China. Of the nearly 400 GW of PV module production capacity worldwide, the U.S. currently has just 7.5 GW of PV module production capacity, according to Wood Mackenzie. Determined U.S. policymakers are trying to push legislation through subsidies ...

Recently, the Korea Energy Agency announced the results of the second PV tender planned for 2021. The tender allocated all 2.2GW of the planned allocation at an average price of KRW 143.12/kWh ($0.119/kWh), a 5% increase from the average price of the previous 2GW first PV tender held in May 2021. In this tender, 500kW-3MW photovoltaic projects accounted for 39%, about 860MW; projects above 3MW accounted for 32%, about 700MW; 100-500kW projects accounted for 18%, about 400MW; projects below 100kW accounted for 11% %, which is 245MW, and the winning bidder will enjoy a fixed rate for 20 years. South Korea deployed 2.8GW of PV in the first three quarters of 2021, down 14% from 3.3GW in the same period in 2020, according to data released by the Korean Energy Agency. On the one hand, the local government has expanded the restrictions on project site selection, resulting in the extension of project licenses; on the other hand, due to the oversupply of the market in the past three years, the market price of solar REC in South Korea has plummeted, falling by more than 50% in 2018 and 2019, making it dependent on subsidies The development of the Korean photovoltaic market is limited, and many small photovoltaic companies are facing bankruptcy. As of the end of September 2021, South Korea's cumulative photovoltaic installed capacity reached about 18.4GW

Catherine Pommier, head of innovation at Ad'Occ, an economic development agency in the Occitane region of southern France, revealed at the French Energy Forum (EnerGaïa) that the agency is planning to attract investors to build a solar module factory. The agency’s goal is to start with an initial production capacity of 2GW and has been established in the Pyrénia industrial area near the Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées airport in the Hautes-Pyrénées province (Tarbes) An area was used as the site of the facility. Pommier said that Occitane is one of the regions with the highest level of photovoltaic installed capacity in France. The current installed photovoltaic capacity is 2.5GW. It is expected to reach 7GW by 2030 and 15GW by 2050. To achieve these goals, it will be necessary to Establish a complete production ecosystem in the value chain. At present, two Spanish solar glass suppliers and six extruded aluminum manufacturers in Occitane have been identified. It is reported that France also has a solar module super factory under development, that is, the Norwegian solar module manufacturer REC plans to build heterojunction photovoltaic modules in the eastern part of the ZACEuropole II industrial zone in Hambach near Sarreguemines in the Moselle region of northwestern France. factory. Occitany is one of the regions with the highest level of installed photovoltaic capacity in France. It is currently 2.5 GW and is expected to reach 7 GW by 2030 and 15 GW by 2050. Pommier concluded, "These goals will require the establishment of a complete production ecosystem across the entire value chain," but he did not disclose more details.

EDF New Energy Company (EDF EN), a subsidiary of EDF Group, announced that in a recent tender in Peru, the company successfully won the bid and won a 100 MW photovoltaic and 100 MWh battery energy storage hybrid power project . The company will be responsible for the development, construction and operation of the hybrid solution, which will be connected to the microgrid in the town of Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon region. At the same time, EDF signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the state-owned power distribution company Electro Oriente. The company said that according to the contract, by 2026, the renewable energy company will provide electricity at a price that is more competitive than diesel. EDF Renewable Energy said that new solar and battery projects will help remote towns offset 40% to 50% of diesel power generation.

A developer of a mixed-use industrial park in Togo, West Africa initiated a tender for a large-scale solar plus energy storage project, and the park has issued a letter of intent (EOI). Pan-African infrastructure developer Arise Integrated IndustrialPlatforms (Arise IIP) is working with the government of the Togolese Republic on the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA), a 400-hectare special economic zone near the country’s capital, Lomé. The area will house an industrial and logistics center, providing access to West Africa through the coast. Arise IIP issued a notice on July 8 inviting EOI to add a 200MW battery energy storage system (BESS) and related 161KVA substation infrastructure for grid connection for a DC photovoltaic power station with a capacity of 390MWp. According to the notice, these projects "mainly provide PIA with long-term reliable and sustainable power." Participants have two options, either bidding for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts and five-year operations and maintenance (O&M), or signing a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Arise IIP in the form of a joint venture. Applicants need to have at least one similar project experience, and have the financial ability to start the work immediately after receiving the contract, and have sufficient materials, technical resources and personnel suitable for project work. The bidding documents will be provided between July 20 and 30, 2021, after which there will be 12 weeks to submit bids. This project is the largest of its kind announced on the African continent so far. Previously, it was a number of small solar plus energy storage projects, including grid-connected and micro-grid projects. The most recent project locations are mainly located in Madagascar, Somaliland and Mozambique. . South Africa has also made history by bidding for energy storage projects exceeding 1GWh to make renewable energy projects dispatchable as the country seeks to quickly purchase energy capacity to make up for supply shortages.