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PR Newswire

JinkoSolar to Report First Quarter 2020 Results on June 15, 2020

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SHANGHAI, June 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (“JinkoSolar” or the “Company”) (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced that it plans to release its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 before the open of U.S. markets on Monday, June 15, 2020.

JinkoSolar’s management will host an earnings conference call on Monday, June 15, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 p.m. Beijing / Hong Kong the same day).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

Hong Kong / International:

+852 3027 6500

U.S. Toll Free:

+1 855-824-5644

Passcode:

55108006#

Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call.

A telephone replay of the call will be available 2 hours after the conclusion of the conference call through 23:59 U.S. Eastern Time, June 22, 2020. The dial-in details for the replay are as follows:

International:

+61 2 8325 2405

U.S.:

+1 646 982 0473

Passcode:

319334664#

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of JinkoSolar’s website at http://www.jinkosolar.com.

About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, and other countries and regions. JinkoSolar has built a vertically integrated solar product value chain, with an integrated annual capacity of 11.5 GW for mono wafers, 10.6 GW for solar cells, and 16 GW for solar modules, as of December 31, 2019.

JinkoSolar has over 15,000 employees across its 7 productions facilities globally, 14 overseas subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Australia, and global sales teams in China, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Ukraine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Poland and Argentina.

To find out more, please see: www.jinkosolar.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends, “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company’s operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JinkoSolar’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Ms. Ripple Zhang
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
Tel: +86 21-5183-3105
Email: ir@jinkosolar.com

Mr. Christian Arnell
Christensen
Tel: +86 10 5900 2940
Email: carnell@christensenIR.com

In the U.S.:

Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Christensen, Scottsdale, Arizona
Tel: +1-480-614-3004
Email: lbergkamp@ChristensenIR.com

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Source: JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

PR Newswire

Digital Solutions Optimize Performance in Global Homes & Buildings Market Following Minor COVID-19 Setbacks

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Technology-based offerings in Homes & Buildings industry segments to find growth opportunities amid pandemic, finds Frost & Sullivan 

SANTA CLARA, California, May 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, Global Homes and Buildings Industry Outlook, 2020, reveals that the penetration of advanced technologies that provide energy and cost benefits and value-based outcomes will drive the global homes & buildings (H&B) industry in 2020. However, an additional report, Impact of COVID-19 on Global Homes and Buildings Industry, 2020, notes industry revenues are expected to drop by 3.5% from 2019 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frost & Sullivan - Global Homes & Buildings
Frost & Sullivan – Global Homes & Buildings

For further information on these analyses, please visit: http://frost.ly/44v

“While the coronavirus is expected to negatively impact the homes & buildings industry, markets for HVAC, refrigeration systems, and fire safety products will continue to witness demand for their solutions and services, given their necessity in critical end-user industries such as hospitals and residences,” said Anirudh Bhaskaran, Senior Industry Analyst for Homes & Buildings at Frost & Sullivan. “The cleaning aspect of FM services will also grow, as there will be an increase in demand for the disinfection of commercial and industrial spaces.”

Bhaskaran added: “There is an increased level of awareness among building managers and customers about value creation from IoT and AI-driven solutions. Participants in traditional markets such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), fire safety, and facility management (FM) are integrating digital offerings into their solutions, which will play a vital role in optimizing a building’s performance.”

For further revenue opportunities, vendors in this industry should:

  • Create a cross-functional COVID-19 task force to reinforce confidence in employees and partners, and gain trust among customers.
  • Provide services to critical end-user segments that are considered “essential.”
  • Increase the adoption of AI and machine learning algorithms in building technology solutions to enable cognitive abilities in buildings and reduce human intervention.
  • Design modular, upgradeable, and reusable products to help reduce waste.
  • Offer building management solutions at attractive prices and business models.

Global Homes and Buildings Industry Outlook, 2020 and Impact of COVID-19 on Global Homes and Buildings Industry, 2020 are a part of Frost & Sullivan’s global Building Management Technology Growth Partnership Service program.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Global Homes and Buildings Industry Outlook, 2020
MF45-19

Impact of COVID-19 on Global Homes and Buildings Industry, 2020
K4ED-19

Contact:
Jaylon Brinkley
E: jaylon.brinkley@frost.com    
T: 210.247.2481

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PR Newswire

Sungrow Received UL9540 Compliance Certificate for C&I Energy Storage System ST556kWh-250UD in the North American Market

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HEFEI, China, May 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Sungrow, the global leading inverter solution supplier for renewables, announced recently that the Company’s energy storage system (ESS) had received the UL9540 certificate issued by TÜV Rheinland for North American C&I energy storage market, demonstrating that this competitive ESS solution meets the comprehensive and stringent local requirements in system safety and compliance, and forecasting more installations that it will be involved in.

UL9540 Compliance Certificate for C&I Energy Storage System ST556kWh-250UD
UL9540 Compliance Certificate for C&I Energy Storage System ST556kWh-250UD

As one of the world’s largest energy storage markets, North America holds the most rigid standards for the energy storage system. The ESS ST556kWh-250UD is completely in compliance with UL9540, UL9540A, and the updated National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) criteria NFPA 855, NFPA 70, which are well recognized & authoritative proof of system with high quality, safety and reliable performance.

Optimized to the growing demand for C&I energy storage market in the North America, Sungrow rolled out this all-in-one solution in September 2019 with competitive system design for the best in class energy density and low LCOE, consisting of the stellar PCS (Power Conversion System) SC60HV, lithium batteries, energy management system, HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning), the fire suppression system and more devices.

More specifically, equipped with 556kWh of Samsung SDI Mega E3 lithium batteries, the system can be of higher power density and cost-saving. Featuring the optimized three-level technology, the energy conversion efficiency of the PCS can be higher. Also, allowing up to six units of the system to operate in parallel on the AC side makes the configuration more flexible.

Safety is the most important parameter in many customers’ minds. The E-stop function enables fast acting and arc protection for better safety management. Housed in an outdoor cabinet, the PCS and batteries are designed compartmentally. The battery compartment integrates HVAC overhead to guarantee that the battery works at a constant ambient temperature, ensuring longer battery life and safety.

Furthermore, the outdoor cabinet design is more aesthetic in appearance and ideally address the demands for C&I applications. With a high anti-corrosion capacity of C5, the system can be resilient to harsh conditions, like costal and high-pollution industrial areas.

“The UL9540 certified solution ST556kWh-250UD with compact design, small footprint and optimized thermal performance, guarantees minimized system operation overhead and warranty claim hassles in response to the high demand of peak shaving, frequency regulation and demand charge management,” said Hank Wang, President of Sungrow Americas. “We are delighted to bring forth more innovations to the North American storage market together with the comprehensive technical-support, sales and after-sale service.”

As one of the pivotal energy storage players with 23-year track record, Sungrow is active in over 900 major energy storage projects across the globe with zero security incidents by the end of 2019, ranging from islands to high altitude plateaus, from ports to residential applications. Given the cutting-edge technology, the amount of installations as well as orders of Sungrow ESS surpassed 500 MWh in the North America by May this year. Landmark projects include the first 1500V DC-coupled PV-plus-storage project in Florida (1.5MW/3.836MWh), and a 15MW/32MWh project in Massachusetts.

About Sungrow

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd (“Sungrow”) is the world’s most bankable inverter brand with over 100 GW installed worldwide as of December 2019. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters, with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions. With a strong 23-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power installations in over 60 countries, maintaining a worldwide market share of over 15%. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting www.sungrowpower.com.

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PR Newswire

Frost & Sullivan Assesses the Top 21 Global Risks that Threaten the Next Decade

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Inability to mitigate global risks such as rise of infectious diseases like COVID-19 can adversely impact businesses, societies, and economies

SANTA CLARA, California, May 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, Global Future Risks—Future-proofing Your Strategies, 2030, provides a compelling analysis that will help stakeholders understand the impact of future risks through the short, medium and long terms, and equip them to act on clear growth opportunities. The study presents over 80 growth opportunities arising from 21 risks, which will help policymakers, businesses and individuals take immediate tactical and strategic actions and draw plans to lower impact. Unpreparedness to address these challenges, which are looming across the globe, will adversely impact businesses, societies, economies, cultures, and personal lives.

Global Future Risks
Global Future Risks

For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/43o

“Risks are now increasingly interconnected, which, if amplified, can trigger a ripple effect across industries, regions, and diverse stakeholder groups. Therefore, mitigating them will involve measures to quantify relevant risks, estimate the probability of occurrence and the adoption of a cohesive, interdisciplinary, and multipronged approach,” said Murali Krishnan, Visionary Innovation Group Senior Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

Krishnan added: “With an estimated 200 billion connected devices by 2030, the risk of sophisticated cyberattacks will escalate. Therefore, companies should invest in future-casting tools that help identify the impact of such risks to their business, thereby detecting vulnerabilities and avoiding disruptions.”

“Over 40 million Americans are at risk of flooding from rivers, nearly 300,000 have lost their lives to the COVID pandemic, and close to $1 billion in costs will be borne annually by economies as they become victims to cyberattacks. The stakes are high, claiming both lives and resources. Businesses must look to invest in early warning systems that help future-proof them against the known and the unknown. Understanding risks and its levers can become a growth opportunity if used as a tool to create value,” noted Archana Vidyasekar, Visionary Innovation Group Research Director at Frost & Sullivan.

To tap into growth opportunities emerging from the short-, mid- and long-term risks, organizations can focus on the following areas:

Short-term risks

  • Privacy and disinformation risks: Organizations must adopt a “privacy-by-design” approach, which goes beyond accepted privacy standards and assumes global regulatory compliance.
  • Rise of infectious diseases: Advanced technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) and CRISPR-based diagnostics will enable new approaches in the treatment of infectious diseases.
  • Water crisis: Innovation in agricultural practices such as vertical farming and optimized crop selection can play an important role in reducing the ongoing water crisis.

Mid-term risks

  • Urbanization: Urbanization stress will trigger the demand for smart solutions such as intelligent grid control and electrification, smart buildings, and smart storage solutions.
  • Climate change risks: Organizations will emphasize investments in buildings with net-zero energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions will increase minimally.

Long-term risks

  • Artificial intelligence (AI) as a threat: AI can be a strong reason for the polarization of jobs across the world, but investing in collaborative computational capabilities can help allocate an ideal division of tasks between humans and robots based on their distinct capabilities and deployment costs.
  • National identity crisis: Great business opportunities exist in providing digital authentication of eGovernment services such as digitization of birth, marriage, and death certificates, passports, and driving licenses.

Global Future Risks—Future-proofing Your Strategies, 2030 is the latest addition to Frost & Sullivan’s Visionary Innovation research and analyses available through the Frost & Sullivan Leadership Council, which helps organizations identify a continuous flow of growth opportunities to succeed in an unpredictable future.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Global Future Risks—Future-proofing Your Strategies, 2030
K3FB

Contact:
Francesca Valente
P: +54 11 4777 5300
E: mailto:francesca.valente@frost.com
http://ww2.frost.com

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PR Newswire

XAG Deploys Drones to Seed Burned Land for Australian Fire Recovery

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  • XAG joined hands with DELWP and HDLN on the first-ever post-fire drone seeding operation on Cobrico Peat Swamps, Victoria in Australia.
  • Drones with intelligent spreading system were used to distribute seeds directly into the fire-ravaged, difficult-to-access areas.
  • The trial project in Lake Cobrico demonstrates the best practice of drones to regenerate peat swamps after a wildfire in a safe, cost-effective manner.

COBRICO, Australia, May 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In a collective effort to restore Australia from wildfire devastation, XAG has joined the first-ever post-fire drone seeding operation on Lake Cobrico, Victoria. This project was funded by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and managed by Heytesbury District Landcare Network (HDLN). It is the first time that agricultural drones are used to re-establish native vegetation within a fire-ravaged peat swamp in Australia.

XAG Drone Seeding to Help Vegetation Regeneration in Australia
XAG Drone Seeding to Help Vegetation Regeneration in Australia

Due to the increasingly frequent, large-scale bushfire, Australia has been facing an unprecedented decline in biodiversity as well as substantial increase in greenhouse gas emission. Particularly, as one of the world’s largest terrestrial carbon reserve, peatlands have been experiencing drainage and fires, which contributes to 5% of global carbon emission. Immediate actions should be taken based on partnership to restore the country’s damaged ecosystem.

This April, XAG sent 3 sets of its P Series drones, equipped with JetSeed granule spreading system, to distribute native seeds directly on Lake Cobrico. Within only two days, approximately 40 hectares of burned land was replenished with new plants, using a blend of 12 different seeds. In the next six months, XAG and HDLN will closely monitor the result of drone seeding, which will be compared with that of the other area where plants are going to be natural regrowth. It is expected that the project would be replicated across the region and state, especially within the areas where traditional techniques are inapplicable.

Lake Cobrico is a swamp wildlife reserve located near Warrnambool in Southwest Victoria. Part of the peatland was severely damaged during the 2018 St Patrick’s Day Fire, with the vegetation and deeper soil layers left in ruins. In areas of high burn severity, the ecosystem itself might be unable to regenerate naturally and requires human intervention, such as direct seeding, for fire recovery. Re-establishment of native vegetation can slow down erosion and sedimentation, and suppress invasive weeds after a wildfire.

XAG drones allow seeding to be done on Lake Cobrico, where landowners and managers used to find it difficult to restore the wet, inaccessible fire-impacted areas. During the operation, the drones accurately followed the pre-set flight route, while harnessing high-speed airflows to project seeds from 2-3 metres above the ground. Also, seeding rates could be precisely controlled and adjusted in real time to ensure that the proper amount of seed was distributed evenly into the targeted bare land. This has not only limited the exposure of staffs and ground vehicle to rugged terrain, but also avoided using either too much or too little seeds.

HDLN co-ordinator Geoff Rollinson said in an interview with Cobden Timboon Coast Times that, drone technology provides access to all areas despite the complex landforms. “This project wouldn’t be able to go ahead in the normal manner because some areas of Lake Cobrico are unstable,” he said. XAG is the first business in Australia to obtain swarm flight approval from Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), therefore operation of up to five drones by one pilot is made possible to increase efficiency.

By innovatively using drones for direct seeding, XAG has transformed the way ecosystem restoration works are conducted. Seeding by hand or ground equipment is inapplicable to Lake Cobrico where part of the peat swamp is difficult to access; this approach might also disturb the vulnerable post-fire vegetation and soil. Aerial seeding by plane or helicopter can cover a larger area, but besides costly, it might result in seed drift and uneven distribution that might adversely affect a successful outcome.

The trial project in Lake Cobrico demonstrates the best practice of drones to regenerate fire-impacted peat swamps in a safe, cost-effective manner, without human or mechanical trampling on vegetation cover. XAG’s drone seeding solution is now recommended by DELWP and HDLN as a ‘well-designed and sustainable option for environmental restoration works.’

Bushfires are a natural part of Australia’s ecosystem, in which many plant species develop to become fire-resistant. However, the 2019-20 Australian bushfires, as one of the most severe, has brought devastating, long-lasting impact on the world’s biodiversity. Over 17 million hectares of land was burned across the nation, with an estimated one billion animals killed in the raging fires.

Facing great environmental challenges caused by the fire disaster, Australia has been going through a bumpy pathway to long-term recovery. New technologies can empower government and land managers to restore the fire affected regions under safer operating conditions. XAG’s smart agriculture solutions, including drone surveying, remote sensing, and precision chemical application, have been gradually adopted in Australia. If drone seeding techniques can be scaled up for ecosystem restoration across the states, it would help to accelerate the footstep of Australia’s fire recovery.

About XAG

Founded in 2007, XAG is a world-leading agriculture technology company with 12 years of technical experience in unmanned aerial system (UAS) and 6 years of practical experience in innovative field applications. Up to 1 January, 2020, XAG has over 50,000 agricultural drones in operation, having empowered 7 million farmers with precision crop protection services on 25 million hectares of farmland. With a global mission to advancing agriculture, XAG is devoted to building digital farming infrastructure, developing precision farming equipment, such as robots, drones, AI and IoT, and creating smart agriculture ecosystem.

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PR Newswire

Sungrow Rolls Out the Latest Three-phase Inverter SG25CX-SA for Brazilian 220V Market

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SAO PAULO, May 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Sungrow, the global leading inverter solution supplier for renewables, launched the Company’s three-phase 1000Vdc commercial inverter SG25CX-SA for Brazilian 220V grid system, showcasing its commitment to the flexibility and reliability of regional grid voltage requirement in commercial and industrial (C&I) applications.

Sungrow three-phase inverter SG25CX-SA
Sungrow three-phase inverter SG25CX-SA

Sungrow’s three-phase inverter SG25CX-SA with unparalleled performance is ideal for Brazilian 220V grid condition which accounts for 55% of diversified local grid voltage modes. Equipped with multiple MPPTs, the 25kW inverter is accessible to be installed in diverse commercial PV plants and guarantees optimal power generation even in the shade. It can be compatible with bifacial modules, offering higher yields and lower LCOE as well.

Particularly with an ingress protection level of IP66 and an anti-corrosion grade of C5, it’s able to accomplish the feat with stunning efficiency with improved resilience. Designed with smart forced air-cooling technology, the inverter can operate without derating at scorching weather conditions. With Built-in PID (potential induced degradation) recovery function, the SG25CX-SA can significantly reduce power loss.

It enables remote firmware update, touch free commission and can co-work with Sungrow’s intelligent monitoring system iSolarCloud, which offers a graphical readout of timely plant production, as well as the status of the PV array and inverter via portable smart devices.

“We are enthused to bring forth another standout innovation SG25CX-SA, a typical three-phase inverter for 220V grid for Brazil, maximizing ROI for our customers at unforeseen levels,” said Rafael Ribeiro, Country Manager of Sungrow Brazil. “Along with the rapid development of the comprehensive technical support, sales, after-sale service, we’re confident to navigate more in this vibrant emerging market,” he added.

Since entering Brazil in late 2010s, Sungrow has been making big moves with inverters supplied across the country, including an 80MW project in Brazil and hundreds of distributed generations in partnership with local distributors. Sungrow took the first place in market share across Brazil in 2019, according to IHS Markit.

About Sungrow

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd (“Sungrow”) is the world’s most bankable inverter brand with over 100 GW to be installed worldwide as of December 2019. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters, with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions. With a strong 23-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power installations in over 60 countries, maintaining a worldwide market share of over 15%. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting www.sungrowpower.com.

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PR Newswire

Delta Obtains Highest Platinum Rating for Zero Waste to Landfill (UL 2799) for “100% Diversion, with 8% Thermal Processing with Energy Recovery”

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TAIPEI, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Delta Dongguan Plant has successfully obtained UL 2799 zero waste to landfill certification with a platinum rating. Platinum is the highest level of the certification, which confirms that none of the waste generated by the Dongguan plant goes to landfill. The plant has achieved 100% diversion, with 8% thermal processing with energy recovery. This honor not only commends and recognizes Delta’s long-term efforts in waste reduction and management, but also Delta’s specific actions to increase the chance of resources being reused and to improve the waste management system through certification.

Mr. Rock Huang, Delta’s president of global manufacturing, highlighted, “Delta sorts waste generated as well as supervises, keeps abreast of, and tracks the process and processing results in line with its corporate mission ‘To provide innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow.'” In addition to requiring all departments to reduce the generation of waste, Delta actively strives not to generate waste, and to allow resources to be recycled effectively for environmental protection. This time the zero waste to landfill platinum rating obtained by the Dongguan plant recognizes that Delta has made tremendous progress in waste management. For the future, Delta will build on this certification achievement and continue to expand this model to all of its plants around the world.

Delta pursues the sustainable utilization of resources and the prevention of resource depletion. In 2017, it passed a review by the internal Corporate Social Responsibility Committee and set a target of reducing waste intensity by 15% by 2020 with 2015 as the base year. At the end of 2019, a total of 187 waste reduction projects were implemented, saving 4,051.7 tons of waste. Waste reduction activities include the replacement of cartons with plastic rotary boxes, a closed loop of paper, secondary use of metal scraps, improved plastic utilization, and reduced waste plastics, which demonstrate Delta’s specific achievements in waste reduction and management.

UL 2799 is a certification standard of zero waste to landfill. It requires all waste flows within an enterprise to be in regulatory compliance, inspected, and audited to confirm that waste has been properly reduced, recycled, and energy recovered, rather than landfilled or incinerated without energy recovery. Companies that achieve a diversion rate of 80 percent or greater qualify for the validation. Delta obtains the highest platinum level for zero waste to landfill with a 100% diversion rate – 92% from waste reduction and recycling, and 8% from thermal processing with energy recovery. 

About Delta

Delta, founded in 1971, is a global provider of switching power supplies and thermal management products with a thriving portfolio of smart energy-saving systems and solutions in the fields of industrial automation, building automation, telecom power, data center infrastructure, EV charging, renewable energy, energy storage and display, to nurture the development of smart manufacturing and sustainable cities. As a world-class corporate citizen guided by its mission statement, “To provide innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow,” Delta leverages its core competence in high-efficiency power electronics and its CSR-embedded business model to address key environmental issues, such as climate change. Delta serves customers through its sales offices, R&D centers and manufacturing facilities spread over close to 200 locations across 5 continents.

Throughout its history, Delta has received various global awards and recognition for its business achievements, innovative technologies and dedication to CSR. Since 2011, Delta has been listed on the DJSI World Index of Dow Jones Sustainability™ Indices for 9 consecutive years. In 2017, Delta was selected by CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) for its Climate Change Leadership Level for the 2nd consecutive year.

For further information about Delta, please visit: www.deltaww.com 

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Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund to Be a Major Component in the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s New Infrastructure Funds Index

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GUELPH, Ontario, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Canadian Solar Inc. (the “Company”, or “Canadian Solar”) (NASDAQ: CSIQ), announced today that Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (“CSIF”) (TSE: 9284), listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (“TSE”), will be included in a new Infrastructure Funds Index to be launched by TSE on April 27, 2020. Canadian Solar Projects K.K. is the sole sponsor and Canadian Solar Asset Management is the asset manager of CSIF.

The Infrastructure Funds Index is an Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) related finance product offered by the TSE. According to the TSE announcement, CSIF is expected to be a major component of the new TSE Infrastructure Funds Index, along with other sponsored funds from Marubeni and Itochu in Japan.

Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar, commented, “We are very happy to learn that Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) will be included in the new Infrastructure Funds Index by the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). This event trails 50 years of Earth Day celebrations and reflects the growing importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives globally. We are proud to be part of ESG focused investment ecosystem. We want to Make the Difference in Japan as we continue our solar development worldwide.”

Canadian Solar opened its first office in Tokyo in 2009 and has since expanded its operations to 9 offices in 5 prefectures. The Company has successfully delivered over 5.5 GW of premium quality modules to its residential, commercial and utility-scale customers, including its own utility-scale projects.

Canadian Solar started developing its own solar power plants in Japan in 2012, and has since developed, built and connected 297 MWp of solar projects, with an additional 63 MWp currently in construction and 218 MWp under development. Globally, Canadian Solar has built a strong track record developing and connecting over 5.6 GWp in solar PV plants.

In 2017, Canadian Solar launched the initial public offering of CSIF and listed its stock units on the TSE. CSIF was the first global IPO of a Japanese infrastructure fund. With approximately JPY 49 billion of assets under management as of the end of December 2019, CSIF is a leading infrastructure fund player on the TSE and ranks among the largest listed funds on the TSE Infrastructure Funds Index in terms of market capitalization and assets under management. The Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. has assigned CSIF with a credit rating of A- with stable outlook in 2019, and the highest green rating (“Green1”) grade in 2017. Canadian Solar has a 14.7% partial ownership in CSIF and intends to play a key role in its growth strategy.

About Canadian Solar Inc.

Canadian Solar was founded in 2001 in Canada and is one of the world’s largest solar power companies. It is a leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules and provider of solar energy solutions and has a geographically diversified pipeline of utility-scale solar power projects in various stages of development. Over the past 19 years, Canadian Solar has successfully delivered over 40 GW of premium-quality, solar photovoltaic modules to customers in over 150 countries. Canadian Solar is one of the most bankable companies in the solar industry, having been publicly listed on NASDAQ since 2006. For additional information about the Company, follow Canadian Solar on LinkedIn or visit www.canadiansolar.com.

Safe Harbor/Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are made under the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by such terms as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include general business and economic conditions and the state of the solar industry; governmental support for the deployment of solar power; future available supplies of high-purity silicon; demand for end-use products by consumers and inventory levels of such products in the supply chain; changes in demand from significant customers; changes in demand from major markets such as Japan, the U.S., India and China; changes in customer order patterns; changes in product mix; capacity utilization; level of competition; pricing pressure and declines in average selling prices; delays in new product introduction; delays in utility-scale project approval process; delays in utility-scale project construction; delays in the completion of project sales; continued success in technological innovations and delivery of products with the features customers demand; shortage in supply of materials or capacity requirements; availability of financing; exchange rate fluctuations; litigation and other risks as described in the Company’s SEC filings, including its annual report on Form 20-F filed on April 25, 2019. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance, or achievements. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of today’s date, unless otherwise stated, and Canadian Solar undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

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Source: Canadian Solar Inc.

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Icelandic Genomes Elucidate Neanderthal Heritage of Europeans

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Archaic genetic fragments comprising nearly half the Neanderthal genome are circulating in the European gene pool today

The average European carries more than 500 such archaic fragments, including SNPs linked to prostate cancer risk, iron retention, blood clotting speed, and height

REYKJAVIK, Iceland, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Scientists at deCODE genetics and colleagues from the Max Planck Institute and universities in Denmark and Iceland today publish in Nature the first study to use whole-genome sequence data from across a population to shed light on the present-day legacy of interbreeding between modern and archaic humans more than 50,000 years ago. In general terms, the findings support previous estimates that most people outside of Africa have approximately 2% archaic ancestry, predominantly the result of repeated contact and interbreeding between groups of Homo sapiens and multiple Neanderthal individuals. The results also show more significant than expected genomic fragments from Denisovans, another archaic human species that interbred with both Neanderthal and Homo sapiens.

Yet the principal significance of this study lies in the unprecedented magnitude of data that was used to understand the nature and impact of this archaic legacy. In its first phase, the study utilizes whole genome sequence (WGS) data from 28,000 Icelanders, nearly ten percent of the entire population, and 286 sub-Saharan Africans in the 1000 Genomes project. A limiting factor in previous studies has been an overreliance on searching modern genomes for sequence fragments derived from just three archaic individuals for whom we have good quality sequence data: two Neanderthals and one Denisovan. The authors here turn this approach on its head, using the African sequences as a baseline for Homo sapiens with no introgression from Neanderthals, and against which they compared the Icelandic sequence data. The resulting chromosomal fragments found in Icelanders but not shared by Africans comprise a vast catalogue of 15 million putative archaic fragments.

After combining identical and overlapping fragments, the authors identified more than 50,000 distinct archaic fragments covering 38-48% of the readable genome. These contain nearly 400,000 single-letter sequence variants, that are absent from the African samples. Intriguingly, in the Icelandic samples the authors identify nearly 300 “archaic deserts” where there are no archaic fragments; these cover nearly 25% of the genome, including the entire X chromosome.

To better understand the phenotypic impact of the archaic variants, the deCODE team examined them for association with 271 phenotypes in whole-genome data on 210,000 Icelanders. After winnowing suggestive associations in order to eliminate those driven be nearby non-archaic variants, they identified five archaic variants with genome-wide significant associations. One has previously been linked to decreased levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and risk of prostate cancer, but was not known to be of archaic origin; two decrease levels and mass of hemoglobin; a fourth increases the time it takes for blood to clot; and the fifth decreases height.

“Whether individually or collectively, our genome enables us to learn more about who we are by telling us where we come from. This paper is a kind of ancestry report for one branch of our species, and it’s telling us that in this particular neighborhood we are not just Homo sapiens but also the descendants of ancient archaic humans – cousin species whose lineage is thus not entirely extinct,” said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE and a senior author on the paper. “We are scratching the surface of what this hybrid legacy means. What we know is that in the 50,000 years from their time to this, our adaptability and diversity have enabled us to mix and move, settle and thrive in every corner of the planet as they did not. In these dark days we would do well to remember that our differences are literally the mark of our success, and so to help each other as best we can.”

Based in Reykjavik, Iceland, deCODE is a global leader in analyzing and understanding the human genome. Using its unique expertise in human genetics combined with growing expertise in transcriptomics and population proteomics and vast amount of phenotypic data, deCODE has discovered risk factors for dozens of common diseases and provided key insights into their pathogenesis. The purpose of understanding the genetics of disease is to use that information to create new means of diagnosing, treating and preventing disease. deCODE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN).

Contact:
Thora Kristin Asgeirsdottir
+354-894-1909
Thora.Asgeirsdottir@decode.is

The Neanderthal In All Of Us - Dr. Kari Stefansson and Dr. Agnar Helgason
The Neanderthal In All Of Us – Dr. Kari Stefansson and Dr. Agnar Helgason
PR Newswire

Baidu Announces New Steps to Safeguard Biodiversity Through Technology Solutions

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BEIJING, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU) today launched several biodiversity protection initiatives that will leverage the company’s leading positions in online content, mobile, and AI to promote scientific knowledge about wildlife protection and fight against illegal online marketplaces for wildlife products.

Baidu has partnered with China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA), and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to disseminate authoritative information about biodiversity to netizens and promote sustainable lifestyles. Experts at these partner organizations have provided Baidu high-quality content about wildlife conservation, which Baidu is now using to optimize search results on its information-centered platforms, including Baidu App, Baidu Knows, Baidu Encyclopedia, and others. For example, in response to a search query about selling wildlife, Baidu will display an explanation of the relevant Chinese legal provisions that prohibit selling wildlife in most circumstances. On Baidu App, if a user searches what happens to elephants that lose their tusks, the top result will be a Baidu Knows entry from IFAW that explains the vital importance of tusks for elephants. On Baidu Knows, if a user asks “can I eat Chinese alligator?”, the top result will be a response from NFGA explaining that the Chinese alligator is a first-class protected species in China and cannot be eaten. Baidu also launched the Earth Diversity Nature Archive (Earth DNA), an online library for scientific knowledge about wildlife protection, which will include content co-developed by Baidu and its partners.                                    

On Baidu App, in response to a user’s query about elephants losing their tusks, a Baidu Knows entry from IFAW appears as the top result. It explains the types of elephant tusks and why tusks are so important for elephants’ survival.
On Baidu App, in response to a user’s query about elephants losing their tusks, a Baidu Knows entry from IFAW appears as the top result. It explains the types of elephant tusks and why tusks are so important for elephants’ survival.

By increasing access to authoritative information about biodiversity, Baidu’s aim is for more users to make environmentally-friendly decisions. As the world’s largest Chinese language search engine, and with an expansive mobile ecosystem of information and knowledge-centered platforms, Baidu is uniquely positioned to encourage netizens to adopt greener lifestyles and promote a more harmonious relationship between humans and nature. Due to the harmful impacts of humans on the environment, one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction, according to a May 2019 report from the United Nations on the global state of biodiversity. As the human population and resource consumption continues to grow, safeguarding biodiversity will require concerted efforts from companies, governments, organizations, and individuals around the world.

In line with this vision, Baidu, CWCA, and IFAW launched an initiative calling on individual users and peer technology companies to contribute to wildlife protection. The initiative urges users to adhere to laws that protect wildlife, respect nature, and develop green consumption habits. It also calls on technology companies to co-operate to develop AI-powered applications that protect wildlife, and to eliminate illegal wildlife trade on their online platforms.

Baidu also launched the “AI Guardian of Endangered Species”, an AI-powered tool to identify online images of products related to endangered wildlife, which will empower organizations to monitor and crack down on the illegal wildlife trade. Jointly developed by Baidu’s open source deep learning platform PaddlePaddle and IFAW, the tool has obtained a 75% accuracy rate at recognizing images of products made from elephant ivory, pangolin scales and claws, and tiger teeth, skin, and claws. During a five month testing period, the tool recognized 3,348 images of illegal wildlife products that were being traded on Chinese internet platforms. In recent years, the illegal wildlife trade has shifted to online platforms, with sellers relying on images and other techniques to advertise their products while avoiding detection. Baidu will open source the tool’s identification model on PaddlePaddle so that other developers can build AI applications for combatting the illegal wildlife trade.              

Through these initiatives, Baidu hopes to safeguard biodiversity by delivering high-quality content to users, halting the illegal trade of wildlife online, and making the protection of wildlife a core business purpose, strengthening its existing commitment to biodiversity, according to a Baidu spokesperson.                                                                                         

The participation of technology companies in environmental governance is increasingly important because they can implement innovative, high-tech solutions at a global scale, said the IFAW China director, adding that environmental initiatives form a foundation for sustainable and successful business operations.

This past year, Baidu partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to optimize search results about endangered species. Meanwhile, Baidu has cleaned up more than 260,000 damaging pieces of online information related to wildlife and blocked information promoting the illegal wildlife trade 1.4 million times. Moving forward, Baidu will continue to ensure that its technology is a force for safeguarding biodiversity.

About Baidu

Baidu, Inc. is a leading search engine, knowledge and information centered Internet platform and AI company. The Company’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu’s ADSs trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “BIDU”. Currently, ten ADSs represent one Class A ordinary share.

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Source: Baidu, Inc.