Asia Report: DOC Extends Solar Trade Case Deadline to March 2

Renewable Energy World Editors
January 30, 2012 | 6 Comments

Solar players on both sides of the Pacific have been warily anticipating the Feb. 13 deadline when the Department of Commerce was set to announce whether it would impose duties on solar cells and modules coming in from China.

Now, it appears the wait will be extended for the second time. The new deadline for the DOC’s preliminary determination is March 2. In a development on Monday, the DOC determined that there has indeed been a surge of Chinese imports meant to enter the U.S. market ahead of the ruling. If the DOC decides to impose countervailing duties, they could be retroactively extended back to Dec. 3.

According to SolarWorld, which led the trade petition that kicked off the investigation, the Department of Commerce requested the extension at least partly because of slow response times from Chinese companies.

MORE ON CHINA-U.S. FRICTION

China Trade Statistics: In a week when President Obama mentioned the strained trade relationship between China and the United States, the American group of solar manufacturers that brought a trade investigation against China released statistics that it says proves China manufacturers flooded the U.S. market at the end of 2011 to get ahead of pending tariffs.

Allegations of Economic Espionage in Wind Industry: American Superconductor expects to begin a breach of contract suit this month in the Beijing Arbitration Commission against Sinovel, China's largest wind turbine manufacturer, seeking a total of $790 million to cover current and contracted shipments of wind turbine components and software.

Wind Investigation Hurts Both Sides: An article in the international edition of People’s Daily contends that the trade investigation aimed at Chinese and Vietnamese-made wind towers imported into the U.S. will have a negative effect on both the American and Asian markets.

IN THE NEWS

Asia’s Blistering PV Growth: Asia-Pacific markets together added 2.8 gigawatts (GW) of solar PV installations in 4Q11 on the way to a total of 6 GW for the entire year, an eye-popping 165% growth, thanks in large part to a massive run-up in China's domestic sector, according to calculations from Solarbuzz.

A CIGS Leader: Japan’s Solar Frontier is seen as the emerging leader in the CIGS market with a strong manufacturing base and a growing project presence in California and India.

China Need Not Fear India Tariffs: Chinese manufacturers slowed marketing efforts in India due to the growing wave of module import opposition in the U.S., fearing that the Indian government would also impose import duties. But Chinese solar module makers should not fear India tariff or trade barriers that could restrict or affect exports to the fast-growing market.

500-MW Wind Plan in India: Welspun Energy has inked an agreement with New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh with a proposal to install 500 MW of wind energy capacity.

Solar Owners in Japan: Japanese small solar panel owners — householders and small businesses — sold 50 percent more power to utilities last year than in 2010.

A LOOK AHEAD

Indonesia’s Hydro Future: State-owned utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has identified 96 potential hydroelectric power sites in Indonesia, sources report. Of those locations, about 60 percent would be developed by PLN, while the remaining would be offered to independent power producers.

Gallium Nitride Breakthrough: Japan’s Sumitomo Electric Industries and France’s Soitec announced that they have completed their lab work on producing gallium nitride wafers and are moving into pilot production.

India’s Solar Future: A government agency is working to create a solar atlas to help developers identify the most ideal places in which to build their projects.

Korean Biomass Proposal: South Korean investors are looking to establish a biomass pellet plant in Sarawak to expand its share in the global biomass feedstock market.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Falling Costs Drive Solar Growth in India

“The only challenge to solar is cost and that is on the favorable side…While you are exploring greater capacities of thermal power projects, the fact remains that coal is getting to be a scarce commodity, and that is going to drive the prices of commercial power higher.”
Inderpreet Wadhwa, head of Azure Power.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Jan. 16-23, 2012 Asia Report: China Has Strong Words Over U.S. Wind Investigation
Jan. 9-16, 2012 Asia Report: China, South Korea Leaders at World Energy Summit
Jan. 2-9, 2012 Asia Report: SolarWorld Plans to File European Complaint
Dec. 26, 2011 to Jan. 2, 2012 Asia Report: Wind Tower Trade Case Sparks New Questions
Dec. 12-19, 2011 Asia Report: China Takes Sharp Turn in Push for Solar Energy
Dec. 5-12, 2011 Asia Report: Two Views on Durban Deal
Nov. 28-Dec. 5, 2011 Asia Report: Mixed Signals Over Emissions
Nov. 21-28, 2011 Asia Report: China Strikes Back

6 Comments

Ralph Perez
January 31, 2012

A different slant? China is creating jobs in US as reported in

china daily usa epaper 2012-01/18

Lets hope they get a several factories going that produce for us the quality, inexpensive, price competitive, "plug and play" installation that US manufacturers are presently failing to produce.

Phil Manke
January 31, 2012

Citizens may use this opportunity to wake up to the idea that we are part of a world larger than our separate leverged economy. The "one per-center's" fear this recognition while needing to cause it to happen on their own terms. Peaceful, distributed energy production will loosen their strangle hold on the money flow as they like it now, and to their peril. The ugly conservative parasitic vampires have had an illegal and dynamic run on our GDP for far too long. Unfortunately, but as planned, they also own the media, so don't expect any revelations from the MSM any time soon.
........On the other hand, if things seem good, keep producing more cannon fodder for the upcoming conflict fallout for decisions of the gouls and zombies sucking your life substance while you helplessly watch and dream their proffered illusion. They are the dead, waiting for their ego's promises to be completed. I wish their journey good speed. Their excuse is that if their life path, if not noble, is at least large and excessive. How could you and God not like that.

Ron Peterson
January 31, 2012

Oil is being imported with no tariff (AFAIK), so why should solar cells have a tariff?

If the idea is to increase employment, a value added tax on all imports would be a better idea.

John Cotten
January 31, 2012

One of the things to remember, China has had several of these cases filled against them for dumping, and to my knowledge lost of all them. The hardwood flooring industry being one of the most recent. Several areas over the past 12 years have filed and won cases on anti-dumping. To short, this is nothing new with China, people act like we are plowing new ground, and we are a long way from it where China is concerned. Some are willing to bury the US to get cheap panels, forgetting that if folks don't have jobs, there is no money to buy and install solar systems.

Marin UD
January 31, 2012

Also if is so important why cant get any help for an invention that will help US industry or be protected agains big corp stealing ideas,example of idea I have for 4 years of photovoltaic(other call it solar)film producing continous energy inside the walls or doors produced here and no china imports but politicians rather fight wars then be smart.
Someone once said many Napoleons dies in suburbs.

Thomas Krohg
January 30, 2012

If this is such a big deal, why are these imports getting federal, state, and local subsidies,as well as a kick from utility companies? I have a small 1.5 kwh system from solar world. I could have doubled my size using an import, but, it was more important to me to see Bob working, than it was to see a chineese kid get exploited for. 80 cents a day. My main argument here is don't give the imports the subsidies.

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