According to a recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than half of all new electricity generation capacity— 153 Gigawatt (GW)— created last year was derived from renewable sources. The increase, a 15% uptick since 2014, is comprised predominantly of solar and wind power. 

Photo from Washington Post.

Information originating from the National Energy Administration (NEA) showed that in 2016 alone, China implemented 34.24 gigawatts (GW) of additional solar energy. With a confirmed goal of 110 GW by 2020, project deployment is centered predominantly in the east, with large-scale endeavors overshadowing a previously-planned carve-out for distributed generation. Industry experts believe that the figure is likely to be exceeded by the final date, and may soon eclipse the American market for clean energy.

SolBid’s Clean Energy News has followed the ITC Section 201 Solar Trade case since the initial proposal. At the time of our last discussion, the administration was in place to announce the final ruling by January 26th. Three days early, on January 23rd, the President signed the proclamation placing a tariff on imported solar cells and modules for a period of four years. The import tariff, which was implemented February 7th, is set at 30% with a 5% declining rate per year.

Apple has been a longtime advocate for green energy, especially solar. This spring, the company stated that all of its facilities, including offices, retail stores, and data servers, run on 100% renewable energy sources. Now, the latest news from their headquarters shows Apple's attempt to take responsibility for the company's global emissions. Executives recently announced their commitment to addressing climate change by investing in the China Clean Energy Fund.