Page 13 - AsiaElec Week 02

AsiaElec
NEWS IN BRIEF
AsiaElec
demand growth in 2020 is proof of the continued and exponential growth of solar PV installations in the last decade,” said Edurne Zoco, director of clean technology and renewables at IHS Markit.
“If the 2010s were the decade of technology innovation, steep cost reductions, large subsidies and dominance by a few markets then 2020 marks the decade of emerging unsubsidised solar, diversification and expansion of solar installation demand
across the globe, new corporate entry players, and increasing competitiveness versus conventional energy sources.”
The organisation’s market outlook suggests that the European Union solar market will set new installation records in both 2022 (24.3 GW) and 2023 (26.8 GW).
Another key geography is India, which is now home to the single largest PV generation site in the world. Pavagada Solar Park boasts a nameplate output of 2050 MW.
IHS said of the wider PV prospects in India: “Following a flat year in 2019 due to policy uncertainties and the impact of import duties on solar cells and modules, installations are expected to grow again and surpass 14 GW in 2020. Lower module prices and a large pipeline of projects are expected to spur the return to growth.”
HYDROGEN
UK’s Logan Energy secures Chinese hydrogen fundintg
UK clean energy firm Logan Energy has
secured GBP1mn ($1.3mn) of investment from Kelvin Capital to back a hydrogen power joint venture in China.
Edinburgh-based Logan will work with Henan Lanxing Power Equipment Co on plans to cut carbon emissions by pushing hydrogen and fuel cell development. Logan technology uses electrolysis of water to convert electricity from wind, solar, hydro and tidal power into hydrogen, which can then
be stored in fuel cells. Its projects in the Uk and Europe have used energy cells to power heating and cooling systems in buildings.
The Chinese partnership will create eight new jobs in design, production, servicing and business development.
China is aiming to create a “hydrogen society” to meet climate and pollution goals and hopes hydrogen will account for 10% of its energy use by 2040.
Bill Ireland, CEO of Logan Energy, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Lanxing have invested in Logan Energy. This demonstrates our standing in the industry and specifically the need for competent integration specialists in the rapidly expanding global hydrogen market.
FUEL CELLS
Honda, Isuzu power up fuel
cell partnership for heavy-
duty trucks
Japan’s Honda Motor Co (7267.T) and Isuzu Motors Ltd (7202.T) on Wednesday said they
would jointly research the use of hydrogen fuel cells to power heavy-duty trucks, looking to expand fuel cell use by applying the zero- emission technology to larger vehicles.
As part of a two-year deal, Isuzu will
test Honda’s fuel cell powertrain, which
was designed for passenger cars, in Isuzu’s commercial trucks, the companies said, which could pave the way for using the technology in a wider range of vehicles.
Automakers are looking to develop more electric vehicles (EVs) to comply with tightening global emissions regulations.
Many see battery-powered EVs as a solution for passenger cars in urban settings, but a growing number see hydrogen fuel cells as an effective way to power trucks, buses and other big vehicles.
“Although we have done extensive R&D into passenger FCVs (fuel cell vehicles), we have not been able to study how best to apply the technology to commercial vehicles,” a Honda spokesman told reporters at a briefing.
Fuel cell vehicles generate their own electricity using hydrogen stored in onboard tanks.
This enables them to travel longer distances and refuel more quickly than battery EVs, while using less costly energy storage systems.
“We think that FCV technology is well suited for heavier trucks which travel
longer distances, and this partnership will enable us to examine this further,” an Isuzu spokeswoman said, adding that the truck maker was also developing various lower- carbon powertrains including battery-electric technology for shorter-distance vehicles.
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