WCA July 2013

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10 Wire & Cable ASIA – July/August 2013
Hokkaido, in the northern part
of Japan, is the largest
prefecture, and second largest
island.
Cheap, abundant land has
made the area an attractive
destination for renewable
energy projects which, since
July 2012 and the introduction
of the feed-in tariff scheme,
have experienced significant
growth.
According to figures released
by Japan’s ministry of
economy, trade and industry
(METI), a total of 1,394MW of
renewable energy capacity
was added between April
2012 and January 2013, and
this expansion has put the
power grid under enormous
pressure.
To relieve this, Japan is set to
build what is believed to be the
world’s largest battery at an
electrical substation in the
region.
The battery will have a storage
capacity of roughly 60 mega
watt hours, in a move to
stabilise the electricity supply
generated by the high
concentration of solar and
wind farms in Hokkaido.
The battery is expected to be
completed by March 2015,
and will use the majority of the
$299.5 million fund that the
government had set aside for
battery projects.
World’s largest battery to relieve grid
❍
❍ A view of Hokkaido island, set to be home to the world’s largest
battery. Photograph courtesy of
Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd has announced
that a group of eight Chinese banks has filed a
petition for insolvency and restructuring of its
Chinese subsidiary, Wuxi Suntech Power
Holdings Co Ltd, in the Wuxi Municipal
Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangsu Province.
Wuxi Suntech notified the court that it will not
file an objection and the company expects the
court’s decision shortly.
Wuxi Suntech is Suntech Power Holdings’
principal operating subsidiary in China, engaged
in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells and
modules.
The company has additional cell and module
production facilities at wholly owned or partially
owned subsidiaries in Wuxi, Shanghai and
Luoyang and, in the event the court approves
insolvency and restructuring of Wuxi Suntech, it
will continue production of solar products to
meet existing customer orders.
“While we evaluate restructuring initiatives and
strategic alternatives, we are committed to
continuing to provide high quality solar products
to our global customer base,” said David King,
Suntech’s CEO.
“During this period, we will continue to work
closely with all of our stakeholders and take the
necessary steps to put Suntech back on track
for growth.”
The insolvency and restructuring procedure is
designed to facilitate an orderly restructuring
plan for both Wuxi Suntech and its creditors. In
such proceedings, the Chinese court would
typically appoint administrators to Wuxi Suntech
to administer the restructuring, including
negotiations with existing bank lenders and
other creditors.
Wuxi Suntech will apply to the court to continue
operations under the supervision of the
administrators.
Wuxi Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd – China
Website:
Petition of insolvency against Wuxi Suntech Power Holdings
China’s boost for local prices
Bloomberg reports that China’s state reserves
manager signed agreements with six smelters to
buy 300,000 metric tons of aluminium, at $2,434
per ton, in an effort to support local prices.
Data provider SMM Information & Technology
Co said on its website that the State Bureau of
material reserve will pay around four per cent
more than the spot price for the metal to be
delivered during April and May.
“The stockpiling plan could help tighten the
market in April and May,” Huang Fulong, an
analyst at Citic Securities Futures Co, said by
telephone from Shenzhen. “The agreed price
was slightly lower than [the] market expected.”
SMM believes the sellers include Aluminium
Corp of China Ltd (Chalco), China Power
Investment Corp, Yunnan Aluminium Co and
Henan Shenhuo Coal & Power Co. The
reserves manager last bought 100,000 tons in
November.
Beijing’s
tunnel
power
The State Grid
Corporation of
China (SGCC) has
awarded a
contract to
Nexans for the
supply of a
high-voltage
power cable
system to support
the future
development and
extension of the
power
transmission
infrastructure in
Beijing.
The new power
link in the Haidian
district, known as
the Pilot Project,
will be Beijing’s
first intra-city
installation of
500kV cables
using XLPE
insulation. Nexans
will design,
manufacture and
install a 7km
circuit to be laid in
an underground
tunnel, and will
supply all related
high-voltage
power
accessories.
The single-core
XLPE cable will
feature Nexans’
largest copper
cross-section to
date at 2,500mm2.
A total of 21km of
cable will be laid
as three separate
7km lengths, and
is due for
completion at the
end of 2014.
Nexans recently
acquired power
cable business
Shandong Yanggu
Cables Group,
which will
strengthen the
group’s position
in China.