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Sunday, May 16, 2021
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U.S. Commerce Department Imposes Punitive Measures to Chinese Solar Panel Producers

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Solar energy becomes increasingly important in a time when fossil fuel reservoirs run dry and pollution reaches alarming levels, even as the main polluting industries moved overseas. As production costs dropped, solar panel sales increased in the last several years. But the world market of solar panels gets more competitive and legal battles are being taken to clarify what it means to be a fair market competitor. U.S. based solar power technology companies claimed that Chinese solar panel producers do not operate fairly because they receive state funding and sell at sub-cost levels.

On Friday, the U.S. Commerce Department intervened by setting preliminary anti-dumping tariffs for some Chinese and Taiwanese solar panel producers. A month ago, anti-subsidy measures have been taken by U.S. regulators, so now a second step is being taken against Asian producers selling solar panels on the U.S. market. The Commerce Department’s June decision set duties from 10.74 up to55.49 percent. The World Trade Organization announced in July that the U.S. infringed global trade rules through its punitive 2012 tariffs on Chinese solar panels. Two different views on how production and distribution should take place clash, leading to increased tensions between the U.S. and China.

The development of solar powered solutions runs at a fast pace. In April, a solar powered plane to fly around the world was announced.

Prices rise as Chinese solar panel producers face anti-dumping taxes

U.S.-based SunPower, among other solar panel companies, will gain from the future anti-dumping tariffs. But the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy, formed mostly out of solar panel installers, is not happy with the new measures, according to Reuters. The decision will hinder the development of alternative energy deployment and will affect consumers who will face escalated prices, the coalition argues.

Chinese solar panel producers face punitive comercial measures

By adding the anti-subsidy and anti-dumping penalties, Trina Solar will pay a total of 29.3 percent. Green Energy will pay a total of 47.27 percent, according to Internet Business Times. This June punitive decisions increased the prices with around 10 percent, hitting Chinese solar panel producers. In the meantime, U.S. and European producers start recovering.

The recent decisions will affect the global solar panels market. Without constant certainty regarding the evolution of prices, few developers can afford the risks involved in initiating new projects. Moreover, analysts cited by the New York Times say that the punitive measures against Chinese solar panel producers will not be beneficial on the long term, because low-cost production might as well move to another country like Mexico, for example.

New Solar Powered Plane Is Planned to Fly Around the World

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solar powered planeIn a world focused more and more on alternative energy and means of powering up all sorts of machines to run on solar power, a solar powered airplane is not either a surprise, or a novelty. A team from Switzerland has been working on a solar powered plane for about five years now, coming up with a prototype that was able to fly in the middle of the night, between two continents, and across the United States, according to the team’s reports. But recently, the same people responsible for the first Solar Impulse plane have unveiled Solar Impulse 2, an upgraded version which they intend to keep in the air for an indefinite amount of time.

The new cutting – edge solar powered plane represents a true breakthrough in the industry of clean energy – powered machines, pushing the world closer to the goal of saving energy. The new aircraft version was presented at the Payerne Air Force Base in Switzerland and the specialists emphasized on the upgrades they achieved from the previous model: Solar Impulse 2 comes with 7,200 solar cells distributed on the immense wings of the aircraft, thus being able to store the solar energy more efficiently. The plane is as light as a car, measuring in weight only 2.3 metric tons (2.54 tons), while its wing span is now 8 meters longer compared with the first prototype and, according to experts, even longer than the wings of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet: 72 meters (236 feet).

The airplane reaches slow speeds, but next year, the team plans to take a trip around the world in their brand new solar powered plane. The trip will be made in several stages, but the essential feature of it is that it will be able to stay up in the air for several days in a row, while it covers the transoceanic distances. All in all, the pilots involved in the project estimate that the trip will encompass an average of 20 flying days spread on a time – span of several months. The technology and research behind this solar powered airplane is supported by more than 80 specialized companies, and if all things work well, we will be the witnesses of a new era in using clean energy even for flying and not just for driving.

Toyota i-Road Electric Car Starts Consumer Trials

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toyota i - RoadNot so long ago, we have talked about the new developments made by scientist in the field of wireless electricity and its applications to our everyday life, also mentioning briefly Toyota’s efforts to shape the world as we know it – alternative energy wise – and put in the streets electric cars and all sorts of vehicles that will definitely change our perspectives on driving and on protecting the environment. Today it’s time to hit the road, as Toyota i – Road electric car starts consumer trials and the two – seater electric car is amazing, fun and so practical, you may soon wonder how come you never thought of driving this car – looking – like – a – motorbike vehicle until now.

If your feet are burning to step on the gas (so to speak, as this little wonder is fully electrical), you may want to know that only a few select testers will be chosen to put the i-Road on the street and assess its usability, practicability, urban level of satisfaction and safety, but if the feedback will prove positive, Toyota may release the buzzers for mass consumption soon enough. But since the Toyota i – Road electric car starts consumer trials, how long until we will be able to buy it from our local showroom?

i – Road technical specs

The i-Road two – seater is apparently even smaller than the first generation of the SMART Fortwo, with less than 2.5 meters in length and less than 1 meter in width, it should be a no – brainer to avoid any traffic jam and to park it virtually anywhere. If we forgot to mention, the i – Road has only three wheels, the two fronts measuring 80/80R16 and the third in the rear being designed at 130/70R10. As small as it is, this car can reach a top speed of 28-37mph (45-60km/h), which is not bad, considering it is an electrical car with a full autonomy of around 30 miles (50 km) – by autonomy meaning a one way drive with a single charge – allowing people to reach decent destinations in a fairly acceptable amount of time. The testers claimed the driving experience is one of a kind and the car’s features are more than enjoyable. Even if the Toyota i – Road electric car starts consumer trials only on the streets of Tokyo starting this week, we all hope that getting to work fast, easy and clean will never be easier once the i – Road hits the streets.

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