During 2014’s second quarter, silicon photovoltaic (PV) installations in the US went over the gigawatt mark for the third consecutive quarter, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). A gigawatt is equivalent to the amount of power needed for around 750,000 homes.
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While commercial solar power is still in its infancy in the US (the Institute for Energy Research says solar makes up just 0.2% of the net energy produced in the nation), homes and businesses with solar panels are no longer considered an oddity. The SEIA says more than a half-million homes and businesses now have solar installations, and during the first half of 2014, 53% of all new electric capacity was from solar power, CBS News reported
Solar energy costs are also dropping.
After falling 1.3%, neodymium landed at CNY 370,000 ($60,243) per metric ton and making it the week’s biggest mover on the weekly Renewables MMI®. Chinese cobalt cathodes traded sideways last week, hovering around CNY 231,000 ($37,611) per metric ton. Silicon prices held steady from the previous week at CNY 13,900 ($2,263) per metric ton. At CNY 3,480 ($566.61) per metric ton, the price of Chinese steel plate did not change since the previous week.
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Japanese steel plate remained essentially flat from the previous week at JPY 76,000 ($698.05) per metric ton. Following a steady week, prices for Korean steel plate closed flat at KRW 900,000 ($841.99) per metric ton. Closing at CNY 3,480 ($566.61) per metric ton, Chinese steel plate remained unchanged for the week. US steel plate remained essentially flat from the previous week at $869.00 per short ton.
US grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) held steady around $2,978 per metric ton.
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