Solar PV cost inflation, Big Oil’s ‘emissions intensity’ ruse + LOTS MORE

💥Energy Flux💥Thursday 17th June 2021

There’s an ominous new macro narrative for solar PV. Precipitous cost reductions of the last decade are being undone by rising costs of raw materials and polysilicon. Fuelling the uncertainty is geopolitical heat over use of forced labour at some Chinese polysilicon factories, which could trigger a re-evaluation of the cost competitiveness of solar in power markets around the world.

And, oil companies such as Norway’s Equinor want flexibility on emissions this decade to capitalise on the anticipated oil boom. Shareholders are agitating to spoil the party, but the Norwegian government is wielding its clout at the state-controlled company.

Those are the lead stories in today’s edition of Energy Flux, which looks like this:

💥Solar PV enters uncertain new chapter

💥Equinor clings to flexible ‘emissions intensity’ targets

⚡Transition lines – Decarbonisation stories you need to read

🧠Energised minds – Critical thinking on crucial energy issues