WiredInUSA March 2016

Canadian Solar Inc has started the commercial operation of three solar photovoltaic power plants in Japan, totaling approximately 6.2MW. The portfolio of projects includes the 2.3MW Ashikita solar power plant in Kumamoto City; the 2.2MW Minamishimabara power plant East; and the 1.7MW Minamishimabara plant West in Nagasaki prefecture. “The completion and commercial operation of the additional three solar projects, totaling 6.2MW, brings our total megawatts of projects in operation in Japan to approximately 21MW,” said Dr Shawn Qu, chairman and chief executive officer of Canadian Solar Inc. “We remain on track to execute on our plan to deliver more clean solar energy to the Japanese market.” The Ashikita plant and Minamishimabara plant – East achieved commercial operation in December 2015. The electricity generated from the plants will be purchased by Kyushu Electric Power Co under 20-year feed-in-tariff contracts. Power from the Minamishimabara plant – West, will be similarly purchased by Kyushu Electric Power Co under a 20-year feed-in-tariff contract. Clean power in Japan

A bar to rebar

In a move that reflects the concern at over-capacity in Chinese mills, an EU commission has imposed tariffs up to 13 percent on Chinese rebar. Chinese exporters expanded their share of the EU rebar market to almost 36 percent in the 12 months up to March 2015, from 7.9 percent in 2013 and zero in previous years, the commission reported. The duties are aimed at Chinese exporters of high fatigue performance steel concrete reinforcement bars, which are, allegedly, being sold in the EU at below cost. The targeted companies include Jiangyin Xicheng Steel Co, Jiangsu Yonggang Group Co and Zhangjiagang Shatai Steel Co. The duties, which came into effect in early February, are initially for six months and may last for up to five years. With EUanti-dumpingprotection already in force on Chinese goods ranging from stainless steel and electrical steel to wire rod and steel wires, the new measures reflect European concerns that Chinese mills have the capacity to flood world markets.

wiredInUSA - March 2016

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