The New Normal

The COVID-19 pandemic may be winding down in some countries, but its impact will be felt long-after the lockdowns have ended. With so many lives lost our definition of what is ‘normal’ will almost certainly change. In industry, the companies and manufacturers caught off guard, and ill-prepared to maintain production during the crisis must adapt now, or risk severe consequences from a second wave or third wave of the virus. Solar power and renewable energy industries are no exception.

At EKO, we have been working on new remote working systems; helping our customers, partners, and colleagues to schedule online meetings, and webinars, with ease. A useful option before the pandemic, the ability to hold meetings online, to work remotely, should now be regarded as essential. Indeed, many other organisations and event organisers have moved quickly to adopt similar tools.

In North America, the Solar Asset Management (SAM) North America conference, for example, led by Solar Plaza, was held on April 7^th and 8^th. The event, for the first time, was held virtually.

Overall, the conference was a real success. The information from the presenters was, during uncertain times, clear and encouraging. The solar industry in North America was described as “still moving along with little disruption”. Concerns about the supply chain remain, but there was a real sense that each active project has talented people working quickly and efficiently to resolve challenges. Time and again during the conference, online tools and virtual meeting were highlighted as key; enabling teams across countries, and continents, to continue coordinating large and complex projects.

While our headquarters in Japan were quick to adopt new measures once we became aware of COVID-19 issuing face-masks, hand sanitiser, and alternative work schedules, for example, it is fair to say that remote working, has played a significant role. Tools such as Slack, Zoom, and Dropbox, have helped us to maintain production and safety in our offices at home and around the world.

Whatever the ‘new normal’ has in store, we expect remote working, and virtual meetings to now continue as one of the primary methods of communication. If you have any questions about the solar energy business in your region or how EKO Instruments can help you, please reach out to us. We are ready and look forward to supporting you and your projects.

Open for business

At EKO, we were fortunately well prepared to weather the global pandemic, with remote working tools already in place. We were able to remain operational and maintained our manufacturing capabilities while continuing to work with our partners to deliver services and solutions to our customers.

We have launched a new online call booking system and continue to develop new resources.  

Anyone wishing to contact our offices around the world can now book an online video meeting using Calendly and Zoom.

Calendly is a booking tool that allows you to choose the date and time of your meeting. Simply make a selection from the available timeslots, and you will receive an automated email with the details and a Zoom link.

Please click here to access the full list of available meetings with our global team.

Renewable Energy in Asia after Covid-19

CHINA by Caris Chan, Market Director

COVID-19 has hit hard and incredibly fast everywhere, and it looks like we are going to be living with the consequences for some time. But despite the damage, the delay's, the social, economic, and human impact, there are grounds for optimism and a chance, in this next phase, for a renewed drive towards a renewable future.

Solar, wind and hydro prove resilient during COVID-19 crisis

According to a recent study published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), ‘renewables are the only energy source likely to experience demand growth across the remainder of 2020 regardless of the length of lockdown or strength of recovery’.

That the IEA should publish this finding is remarkable, if not surprising to those working in the energy industry today. Renewables are set to thrive despite the old, but the still vocal, argument against them; that solar and wind are intermittent and therefore cannot serve in an energy-on-demand basis in the way that nuclear and fossil fuels can.

COVID-19 has exposed the short-sightedness of that argument, the fast-growing value of renewables in the energy mix, and the inherent weakness of traditional energies. While ‘intermittence’ was the stick used to beat wind and solar, we can now rightly point to the inability of coal, oil, and gas to scale.

The IEA report predicts that annual energy demand could drop by 6% in 2020, wiping off the last five years of demand growth.

• Due to the fall in demand, coal-generated power will decrease by more than 10%
• Gas by 5%
• Due to the restrictions imposed on land and air travel, oil demand will decline by 9%
• While global demand for biofuels is also likely to decrease
• Nuclear is also expected to drop by 3%
• The report nonetheless has stressed the importance of the priority dispatch, which has helped the renewables to remain unfazed by the pandemic.

Solar manufacturing expansion plans for Q1 2020 top 500GW

Meanwhile, the solar industry announced unprecedented plans for capacity expansion in the first quarter of the year - some 500GW - easily surpassing any total annual plans in the history of the sector, according to preliminary data compiled by PV Tech.

PV Tech’s preliminary analysis of upstream manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in the first quarter of 2020, across ingot/wafer, solar cell and module assembly segments combined, exceeded a staggering 500GW.

While solar manufacturers across China couldn’t escape the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with production and supply-chains hindered for several months, most have now achieved a full return to work and resumption of production with the strong support of local government.

While the postponement of solar energy projects may cast doubt on pre-pandemic growth plans for new solar installations, there is certainly room for optimism. Pandemic-induced restrictions are easing, the cost of production continues to decrease; and, despite a 50% cut on the PV subsidy for 2020 compared to 2019, the fact that it has been announced 2-months earlier gives the industry certainty as manufacturers prepare to scale production back up. All-in-all the signs are that the PV industry can expect a rapid return to growth while moving towards economic self-sustainability.

Key Numbers

2020 PV Subsidy Policy

• The PV subsidy for 2020 is about US$212 million (RMB 1.5 billion)
• 1/3 of the total amount will be allotted to residential rooftop solar projects, about US$70.69 million (RMB 500 million)
• 2/3 of the total amount will be allocated to auction projects (distributed, and utility PV projects), about US$141.38 million (RMB 1 billion)

• The PV subsidy budget has been cut by 50% from US$424.14 million (RMB 3 billion) in 2019

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) ‘Guided Electricity Prices’ for utility-scale and distributed PV projects 2020

• The guided electricity prices for utility solar power are US$0.05 (RMB 0.35), US$0.06 (RMB 0.40) and US$0.07 (RMB 0.49) for zones 1, 2 and 3
• The subsidy for residential PV and specific distributed PV projects has been substantially reduced by US$0.014 /kWh (RMB 0.1 /kWh) and US$0.007 /kWh (RMB 0.05 /kWh), respectively

Open for business

At EKO, we were fortunately well prepared to weather the global pandemic, with remote working tools already in place. We were able to remain operational and maintained our manufacturing capabilities while continuing to work with our partners to deliver services and solutions to our customers.

We have launched a new online call booking system and continue to develop new resources. In summary, EKO China is open for business; ready to support you as we all work towards a brighter, solar-powered, future for China.   

Anyone wishing to contact our offices around the world can now book an online video meeting using Calendly and Zoom.

Calendly is a booking tool that allows you to choose the date and time of your meeting. Simply make a selection from the available timeslots, and you will receive an automated email with the details and a Zoom link.

Please click here to access the full list of available meetings with our global team.

NEW Cost-Saving Package Measures DNI, DHI, and GHI

EKO Instruments Europe B.V. (The Hague, Netherlands) today (24/06/2020) announced the launch of the MS-90 Plus⁺, a new total solar irradiance measurement solution combining the companies industry-leading MS-80 Class A Pyranometer, an original C-Box smart interface, and the unique internal rotating mirror design of the MS-90 DNI Sensor.

Solar PV generation increased 31% in 2018, ahead of wind and hydropower, and with annual average growth of 16% still on track between 2018 and 2030[i] there has been growing demand for accurate, cost-saving, alternatives to larger solar monitoring stations.

The MS-90 Plus⁺ was developed as a practical solution to the increasing diversity of solar power plant locations and Photovoltaic (PV) applications. Taking up much less space, the MS-90 Plus⁺ can easily be deployed on rooftops or other inaccessible areas.

Dr Mário Pó, lead scientist at EKO Instruments Europe, described the MS-90 Plus⁺ as “a truly viable alternative to a full solar monitoring station” thanks to the unique internal rotating mirror design of the MS-90 DNI Sensor at the heart of the new system. The distinct shape of the mirror reflects sunlight to a high-speed pyroelectric detector, measuring direct radiation without the whole unit tracking the sun as a much larger solar monitoring station would.

“This approach is not only cost-effective, but without external moving parts, it also means that the MS-90 Plus⁺ is an incredibly robust solution for difficult to reach installations where regular maintenance may be difficult or impossible” explained Dr Pó.

The MS-90 Plus⁺ also includes an integrated GPS receiver, enabling the C-Box to calculate diffuse irradiance based on the DNI data from the MS-90 and the GHI data from the MS-80; plus, a MODBUS 485 RTU output for easy connection to any digital data acquisition system.

“As solar power continues to grow, the need for alternative monitoring solutions is coming up against the over-riding requirement for accuracy” explained Kees Hoogendijk, Managing Director of EKO Instruments Europe. “That’s why we’ve developed the MS-90 Plus⁺. It’s a new angle on accuracy, combining the build quality and accuracy of different EKO sensors into one, compact, and efficient solution.”

Renewable Energy in Asia after Covid-19

INDIA by Huzefa Motiwala, Country Manager

The renewable energy sector in India, already grappling with various issues such as delays to funding and uncertainty over government policy, faces a significant new test with COVID-19. However, despite these challenges, the overall situation is showing signs of improvement.

Green shoots include signs that the government, responding to the economic impact of the pandemic, are considering higher subsidies for renewable projects. Such an investment would help to re-invigorate industry and provide secure energy sources for the future; coupled with past efforts to introduce necessary regulatory support mechanisms, the sector is well placed to weather the current crisis.

According to a report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), India is set to achieve 145GW of renewable energy by close of FY 2021/22, a strong indication that the country is on track to meet its ambitious renewable energy goal of 175GW by the end of 2022.

Moving past the lockdown

Before India entered lockdown on the 23rd March 2020, the country had never before experienced a health crisis of the type and scale posed by COVID-19. While the original ‘Phase 1’ lockdown was due to expire on the 14^th April, subsequent extensions mean that restrictions remain in place, albeit with differences around the country and some relaxing of the rules.

As part of its approach to re-opening the economy, the government has defined renewable energy construction projects as a priority, making them some of the first commercial ventures to re-open. With project planning, preparation, and clerical work completed remotely during the lockdown, many new and existing projects stand ready to go.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Natural and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has stated that projects already under-construction before the pandemic and affected by disruptions to the supply chain are considered as having suffered a ‘natural disaster’, which may lead to relaxed timelines and additional support. Deadline extensions, in particular, offer great relief to developers, shielding them from the risk of penalties and encashment of bank guarantees.

For running projects, the MNRE has clarified that the ‘Must Run’ status for renewable projects remains unchanged during Covid-19 lockdown period and should not be curtailed but for grid security reasons.

Open for Business

A rapidly expanding economy before the pandemic, infrastructure and renewable energy projects will remain core to the post-COVID-19 recovery and future growth.

In the short to medium term, I expect that the utility-scale segment of the market will continue to be dominated by commercial and industrial consumers. The growth in rooftop installations also continues to look promising for at least the next few years.

As the country continues to re-open the pace of progress on existing projects will only increase. And with many new projects now in the pipeline, waiting to be finalised and executed, there is ample cause for optimism about the future.

Though we continue to work remotely, EKO India is open for business; ready to support our distributors, partners and customers as we all work towards a brighter, more renewable, future for India.   

Anyone wishing to contact our offices around the world can now book an online video meeting using Calendly and Zoom.

Calendly is a booking tool that allows you to choose the date and time of your meeting. Simply make a selection from the available timeslots, and you will receive an automated email with the details and a Zoom link.

Please click here to access the full list of available meetings with our global team.

Innovation by EKO, since 1927

Weather is often changeable; rain one-minute, blazing sun the next. Climate meanwhile takes a longer view. It’s the weather of a particular place seen over years, decades, maybe even centuries.

EKO Instruments was founded in a spirit of innovation, with a commitment to accuracy, at the heart of what we do. For over 90 years, that commitment has helped to drive the development of industry-leading solar energy sensors, and scientific instruments for environmental research.

Today, many of our customers' study weather and climate, in some cases looking towards the past to help predict the future. At EKO, looking back at our history helps us to look ahead; inspiring ideas for the future.

1955 

EKO Instruments successfully developed Japan's first pyranometer at the request of the ‘Japan Meteorological Agency’.

1985

Working with the Electronic Technology Research Institute (now the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology), we successfully developed a new solar cell evaluation system for large outdoor arrays, the ‘IV curve tracer’.

1990

We developed the world’s first UV-B UV Radiometer.

2014

We opened the Ami Solar Park solar power plant, followed a year later by a second site at Inashiki. These plants not only generate electricity but provide a unique facility for comparative verification testing.

2016

We launched a new generation sensor, the MS-80 Class A Pyranometer. A patented design with unmatched zero offset, ultra-fast response, and Quartz diffusor, the MS-80 is an industry leader that we continue to develop with the new variants utilising the latest technologies.

2020

At the turn of the year EKO Instruments announced a global pledge to phase out all possible single-use, and non-recyclable plastics from product packaging by the end of 2022; a major challenge but one made with an eye to the future; reflecting on our shared responsibility and desire to contribute to the preservation and protection of our natural environment. We are also working on the new ‘MS-S’ Series of ‘Smart’ sensors, and the accompanying ‘Hibi’ app. Watch this space!

Looking Ahead

Whether it's developing a new generation of sensors, the next game-changing innovation in accuracy, or the apps and tools to make our instruments easier to use; we continue to look ahead to the future.

Find out more. Join us at events around the world, subscribe, and follow us on social for all of the latest news and exciting announcements from EKO Instruments.

Customer Story

PV Diagnostics (Mumbai, India) specialises in onsite testing services, providing quality control and diagnostics for solar power plants across India. The MP-11 I-V Checker is a portable, all-in-one measurement solution designed to deliver accurate on-site I-V performance measurements of PV modules and arrays.

In 2017, needing a new instrument for on-site measurement, PV Diagnostics decided to launch a comparative study of I-V Curve Checkers. EKO Instruments’ M-11 was chosen to face-off against two competitors, both similar devices, but with some key differences.

Each device was assessed independently, on-site, and in real working conditions. Features ranging from ‘accuracy’, through ‘robustness’, and ‘ergonomics’ were ranked from high to low. ‘Battery time’, ‘sensor range’, ‘sweep time’, and ‘wait time’ was also scored by the engineers testing each device.

The MP-11 scored high in each category. It was accurate; it was robust; it was fast and portable. It also had onboard memory, an in-built display, and supported integration with an external pyranometer; features not all shared by the competition.

“Three years ago, we had a tough choice to make. The volume of on-site tests that we conduct, plus the distances and geography we have to cover, we couldn’t afford to make a mistake” explained Pranav Maheshwari, an Engineer at PV Diagnostics. “Comparing different devices the way we did was a great way to establish beyond doubt that the MP-11 was the best option for us, and we haven’t been disappointed”.

Three years later and PV Diagnostics now operates seven MP-11 units, have measured more than 250k I-V curves, and describe the MP-11 as ‘the most effective device for on-site I-V curve measurement’ and ‘the easiest to use while conducting field measurements in large quantities’.

The MP-11 is distributed in India by Meteoxperts Solutions (Delhi, India). Find out more about EKO I-V Measurement devices and request a quotation at eko-asia.com.