Feb. 1—HONG KONG — China has reportedly banned the export of several important technologies needed to make solar panels, according to a report in the Hong Kong-based Asia Times on Tuesday.
The report said that the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China added the solar panel technologies to its Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted from Expert in China, and said the ban would affect a number of Chinese companies that have moved solar panel production to countries likie Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam in order to get around U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels.
Affected by the ban are larger silicon wafers, which are more cost-efficient, as well as machines needed to make those larger wafers, the report said. China is currently the world's leading producer of solar wafers, modules and panels, with nearly four out of every five solar panel bought in the world currently made in China, the report noted.
While an analyst quoted in the report said the primary target of the ban is India, which has taken steps in the last few years to promote domestic solar panel production, the ban on some high-technology solar exports may also have an effect on Hanwha Solutions' proposed expansion of its Qcell solar panel manufacturing plant in Georgia.
The South Korean company, which owns a major stake in silicon producer REC Silicon, recently announced a $2.5 billion investment in its Dalton, Georgia production facility, and REC announced Tuesday it has reach a preliminary agreement to supply Hanwha with solar-grade polysilicon.
"We are assessing the situation, but are confident in our investment plans," wrote a Qcells spokesperson to the Columbia Basin Herald.
On Dec. 30, 2022, China's Ministry of Commerce published a request for public comment on proposed changes to the prohibited technology catalog, which is 18 pages in Chinese, and the public was given until Jan. 30 to respond, according to a machine translation of the webpage.
Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com.
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ChatGPT and interest in artificial intelligence stocks have helped more than double the value of C3.ai shares this year.
California wildlife officials have called off the search for a mountain lion that attacked a 5-year-old boy who was on a hiking trail in rural Northern California, saying there was little chance of capturing the animal. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Friday that DNA testing confirmed that a mountain lion was responsible for the attack last Tuesday in San Mateo County, south of San Francisco. “This lack of access, combined with worsening weather and the nomadic nature of mountain lions has diminished the chances for a successful capture," said Capt. Patrick Foy, a department spokesman.
Wind speed and weather data has been used to track its possible path.
Brazil sank a decommissioned aircraft carrier in the Atlantic Ocean off its northeast coast, the Brazilian Navy said, despite warnings from environmentalists that the rusting 1960s French-built ship would pollute the sea and the marine food chain. The 32,000-tonne carrier had been floating offshore for three months since Turkey refused it entry to be scrapped there because it was an environmental hazard and the ship was towed back to Brazil. The carrier was scuttled in a "planned and controlled sinking" late on Friday, the Navy said in a statement, that would "avoid logistical, operational, environmental and economic losses to the Brazilian state," it said.
Manni Alam, an 8-year-old spearfisher from Australia, has gained viral attention on TikTok after he nonchalantly responded when a small shark appeared to have bitten him.
“Cue Mariah Carey ‘Cause we belong together.,’” Colorado officials said.
Rain has returned to the Bay Area after a short 16-day dry spell. Stronger storms and gusty winds are expected this weekend.
A giant wave capsized a boat off the coast of Oregon as a rescue crew attempted to save a stranded mariner on Friday, February 3, authorities said.Video released by the US Coast Guard (USCG) shows a student rescuer in training jumping into choppy surf six miles west of the mouth of the Columbia River, it said.As the rescuer swims towards the boat, a giant wave crashes onto it, capsizing it and sending the boater tumbling into the water.The USCG said multiple units responded to a mayday call from a disabled 35-foot vessel Sandpiper, which was taking on water on Friday morning.The rescue swimmer, a student of the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School, was deployed to the water where twenty-foot waves and extremely high windspeeds were reported, the USCG said.The boater was rescued by the swimmer after the wave hit and both were hoisted to safety. The boater was taken to hospital with minor injuries.Astoria Police Department later said they had arrested the boater, who they named as 35-year-old Jericho Labonte.Police said Labonte had posted a video of himself on Facebook earlier that week placing a dead fish on the front porch of the Goonies’ house. Labonte was wanted for wanted on charges of theft, endangering another person, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and criminal mischief. Credit: US Coast Guard via Storyful
A 30-degree temperature rebound is on the way for much of Eastern Canada in the coming days, but it comes at a catch.
Mount Washington recorded a national wind chill record of 108 degrees below 0 on Saturday, while the actual temperatures were negative 47 degrees with a wind speed of 89 mph.
A polar air mass that swept over Canada helped form icicles and snow-capped rocks at the base of Niagara Falls on Friday.
Other wild winter weather in the Northeast included sea smoke and steam devils.
The researchers’ report was dedicated this year to P-22, the iconic mountain lion euthanized late last year.
Fire Engineer Matt Halleck — a training officer in Hillsdale — said there's not much firefighters can do to extinguish electrical vehicle fires.
A freight train derailment in Ohio near the Pennsylvania state line left a mangled and charred mass of boxcars and flames Saturday as authorities launched a federal investigation and monitored air quality from the various hazardous chemicals in the train. About 50 cars derailed in East Palestine at about 9 p.m. EST Friday as a train was carrying a variety of products from Madison, Illinois, to Conway, Pennsylvania, rail operator Norfolk Southern said Saturday. There was no immediate information about what caused the derailment.
Here’s how much relief you could get on your next gas and electricity bill.
Be careful when you hit the beach. A new list from Travel Lens on the 10 'deadliest' beaches in the US is heavily Florida-centric.
The life of Los Angeles’ most famous mountain lion followed a path known only to the biggest of Hollywood stars: Discovered on-camera in 2012, the cougar adopted a stage name and enjoyed a decade of celebrity status before his tragic death late last year. The popular puma gained fame as P-22 and cast a spotlight on the troubled population of California’s endangered mountain lions and their decreasing genetic diversity. Now, with his remains stored in a freezer at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, wildlife officials and representatives from the region’s tribal communities are debating his next act.
Scientists in Nepal discovered traces of these rare and “cryptic” cats.