Commerce to Consider New Off-Grid Panel Exemption From Solar Cells Order
The Commerce Department will consider a potential new exemption for certain off-grid solar panels from the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on crystaline silicon photovoltaic cells from China (A-570-979/C-570-980), it said in a notice initiating a changed circumstances review. The proposed exemption was requested by Source Global, and is purportedly not opposed by U.S. producers of solar panels.
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Specifically, Commerce will consider partially revoking the solar cells order for off-grid crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels in rigid form with a glass cover, with each of the following physical characteristics, whether or not assembled into a fully completed off-grid hydropanel whose function is conversion of water vapor into liquid water:
- (A) A total power output of no more than 180 watts per panel at 155 degrees Celsius;
- (B) A surface area of less than 16,000 square centimeters (cm2) per panel;
- (C) Include a keep-out area of approximately 1,200 cm2 around the edges of the panel that does not contain solar cells;
- (D) Do not include a built-in inverter;
- (E) Do not have a frame around the edges of the panel;
- (F) Include a clear glass back panel;
- (G) Must include a permanently connected wire that terminates in a two-port rounded rectangular, sealed connector;
- (H) Include a thermistor installed into the permanently connected wire before the twoport connector; and
- (I) Include exposed positive and negative terminals at opposite ends of the panel, not enclosed in a junction box.
Commerce will consider whether “substantially all” domestic producers (i.e., representing at least 85% of U.S. production) support the proposed exemption, after which it will issue the preliminary results of this changed circumstances review.