WCA July 2013

World’s largest battery to relieve grid

Beijing’s tunnel power

Hokkaido, in the northern part of Japan, is the largest prefecture, and second largest island. Cheap, abundant land has made the area an attractive destination for renewable energy projects which, since July 2012 and the introduction of the feed-in tariff scheme, have experienced significant growth. According to figures released by Japan’s ministry of economy, trade and industry (METI), a total of 1,394MW of renewable energy capacity was added between April 2012 and January 2013, and this expansion has put the power grid under enormous pressure. To relieve this, Japan is set to build what is believed to be the

The State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) has awarded a contract to Nexans for the supply of a high-voltage power cable system to support the future development and extension of the power transmission infrastructure in Beijing. The new power link in the Haidian district, known as the Pilot Project, will be Beijing’s first intra-city installation of 500kV cables using XLPE insulation. Nexans will design, manufacture and install a 7km circuit to be laid in an underground tunnel, and will supply all related high-voltage power accessories. The single-core XLPE cable will feature Nexans’ largest copper cross-section to date at 2,500mm 2 . A total of 21km of cable will be laid as three separate 7km lengths, and is due for completion at the end of 2014. Nexans recently acquired power cable business Shandong Yanggu Cables Group, which will strengthen the group’s position in China.

❍ ❍ A view of Hokkaido island, set to be home to the world’s largest battery. Photograph courtesy of www.japan-guide.com

concentration of solar and wind farms in Hokkaido. The battery is expected to be completed by March 2015, and will use the majority of the $299.5 million fund that the government had set aside for battery projects.

world’s largest battery at an electrical substation in the region. The battery will have a storage capacity of roughly 60 mega watt hours, in a move to stabilise the electricity supply generated by the high

Petition of insolvency against Wuxi Suntech Power Holdings

such proceedings, the Chinese court would typically appoint administrators to Wuxi Suntech to administer the restructuring, including negotiations with existing bank lenders and other creditors. Wuxi Suntech will apply to the court to continue operations under the supervision of the administrators. Wuxi Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd – China Website : www.suntech-power.com China’s boost for local prices Bloomberg reports that China’s state reserves manager signed agreements with six smelters to buy 300,000 metric tons of aluminium, at $2,434 per ton, in an effort to support local prices. Data provider SMM Information & Technology Co said on its website that the State Bureau of material reserve will pay around four per cent more than the spot price for the metal to be delivered during April and May. “The stockpiling plan could help tighten the market in April and May,” Huang Fulong, an analyst at Citic Securities Futures Co, said by telephone from Shenzhen. “The agreed price was slightly lower than [the] market expected.” SMM believes the sellers include Aluminium Corp of China Ltd (Chalco), China Power Investment Corp, Yunnan Aluminium Co and Henan Shenhuo Coal & Power Co. The reserves manager last bought 100,000 tons in November.

Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd has announced that a group of eight Chinese banks has filed a petition for insolvency and restructuring of its Chinese subsidiary, Wuxi Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd, in the Wuxi Municipal Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangsu Province. Wuxi Suntech notified the court that it will not file an objection and the company expects the court’s decision shortly. Wuxi Suntech is Suntech Power Holdings’ principal operating subsidiary in China, engaged in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells and modules. The company has additional cell and module production facilities at wholly owned or partially owned subsidiaries in Wuxi, Shanghai and Luoyang and, in the event the court approves insolvency and restructuring of Wuxi Suntech, it will continue production of solar products to meet existing customer orders. “While we evaluate restructuring initiatives and strategic alternatives, we are committed to continuing to provide high quality solar products to our global customer base,” said David King, Suntech’s CEO. “During this period, we will continue to work closely with all of our stakeholders and take the necessary steps to put Suntech back on track for growth.” The insolvency and restructuring procedure is designed to facilitate an orderly restructuring plan for both Wuxi Suntech and its creditors. In

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Wire & Cable ASIA – July/August 2013