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NEWS & VIEWS |
Taipei,
Sunday, November 8, 2009
04:59 (GMT+8)
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Subject: Bits + chips > Solar |
GET sees revenues high in October 2009 Nov 6, 15:45 Solar-grade poly-Si wafer maker Green Energy Technology (GET) has reported revenues of NT$1.003 billion (US$31 million) for October, its second consecutive record month. Read more |
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Gintech Energy raises additional funds to improve financial structure Nov 5, 10:24 Taiwan-based solar cell maker Gintech Energy has raised an additional capital of NT$2.763 billion (US$85.4 million) through the release of 65 million new shares at NT$42.50 per share, according to a company announcement on November 4. The new funds will be used to improve the company's financial structure, it said. Read more |
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Taiwan equipment makers post mixed 1Q-3Q09 earnings Nov 4, 14:26 Taiwan-based Usun Technology has reported on-year profit growth of 89% for the first three quarters of 2009, whereas fellow equipment maker Csun Manufacturing saw a 54% decline. Both Gallant Precision Machining (GPM) and Kenmec Mechanical Engineering swung to losses in the nine-month period, compared to profits a year ago. Read more |
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Solar wafer maker SAS expects October revenues to hit all-time high Nov 3, 12:19 Taiwan-based solar wafer maker Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) expects to hit record revenues in October due to booming sales, according to company president Doris Hsu. SAS has fully utilized its production capacity for both solar-grade and semiconductor-grade wafers, as well as for patterned sapphire substrates for LEDs, Hsu added. Read more |
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Solar cell makers Motech and E-Ton expect strong 4Q09 Nov 3, 11:19 Taiwan-based Motech Industries and E-Ton Solar Tech both expect strong solar cell shipments in the fourth quarter of 2009. They shipped 235MWp and 139MWp respectively during January-September and expect shipments to reach 360MWp and 200MWp respectively for 2009, according to the companies at their investors conferences on November 2. Read more |
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Delta Electronics lands contract to install 117KWp PV system in US Nov 2, 10:18 Taiwan-based Delta Electronics has obtained a contract from Silicon Valley-based River of Life Christian Church to install a 117KWp (kilowatt-peak) on-grid photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of the church's buildings located in Santa Clara, California, according to a company press release on October 30. Read more |
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Solar players SAS and E-Ton see profits in 3Q09 Oct 30, 14:47 Taiwan-based solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer maker Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) and crystalline silicon solar cell maker E-Ton Solar Tech have published their financial reports for the third quarter of 2009, posting a net EPS of NT$0.19 (US$0.006) and NT$2.59 respectively. Read more |
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China poly-Si makers plan to hike spot quotes, say Taiwan makers Oct 29, 14:46 China-based poly-Si material makers plan to follow moves by solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer makers to raise their spot market prices, slightly hiking their spot quotes by 1.5-2%, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Read more |
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Neo Solar Power starts production of 'Perfect Cell' Oct 29, 12:10 Taiwan-based solar cell maker Neo Solar Power has announced that it has begun volume production of 'Perfect Cell,' a model of monocrystalline silicon solar cells with an energy conversion rate of 17.8%. Read more |
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China to produce 30,000 tonnes of poly-Si in 2009, says report Oct 29, 11:29 China-based makers will produce an estimated total of 30,000 metric tons of polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) in 2009, lower than the domestic demand, China-based website http://www.chinamining.org/ quoted Lei Ting, vice president of Suntech Power, as saying. Read more |
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Limited demand for 8-inch solar wafers, say Taiwan makers Oct 28, 15:41 Some solar wafer makers have begun offering 8-inch wafers, but are not seeing substantial demand yet because photovoltaic (PV) modules made of 8-inch solar cells, given the same installation size, do not generate significantly more power as compared with 6-inch versions, according to Taiwan-based solar cell makers. Read more |
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Solar cell maker Motech sees continued losses in 3Q09 Oct 28, 14:20 Motech Industries, Taiwan's largest crystalline silicon solar cell maker, has reported it suffering a continued net operating loss and net loss in the third quarter of 2009. Read more |
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Second-tier makers dragging down overall utilization rate in China solar cell industry Oct 27, 15:45 While major China-based solar cell makers have been seeing utilization rates of 70-90% due to rebounding global demand in the second half of 2009, their fellow second-tier and smaller competitors have not obtained many orders, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Consequently, the overall utilization rate in China is currently only 50% of an estimated aggregate annual capacity of 7.0GWp, the sources pointed out. Read more |
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Solar wafer maker GET swings to profits in 3Q09 Oct 27, 10:49 Taiwan-based solar wafer supplier Green Energy Technology (GET) has reported third-quarter net profit of NT$105 million (US$3.2 million), which has more than offset the loss incurred in the first half of 2009. January-September profit totaled NT$7 million. Read more |
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AUO PV modules to debut at Solar Power International 2009 Oct 26, 15:17 AU Optronics (AUO) will participate in Solar Power International 2009, scheduled to be held from Oct. 27 to Oct. 29 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California, US. The US market is regarded as a rapidly growing market for the solar PV (photovoltaics) industry, and AUO actively joins the exhibition by demonstrating its unique operating model and mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline PV modules with high module efficiency, the company said. Read more |
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AUO aims to ship over 100MWp of PV modules in 2010, says president Oct 23, 14:50 AU Optronics (AUO) has begun production of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules, with shipments estimated at 15-20MWp (megawatt-peak) in 2009 and over 100MWp in 2010, according to company president & CEO LJ Chen. Read more |
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China market: Local PV equipment makers gaining competitive advantage Oct 23, 14:13 While foreign suppliers have occupied almost all of China's IC manufacturing equipment market, China-based makers are becoming increasingly competitive in the PV manufacturing equipment segment due to much lower prices, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Read more |
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Solar cell maker Neo Solar reaches 110% capacity utilization Oct 22, 12:16 Taiwan-based solar cell maker Neo Solar Power has increased utilization of its capacity from 100% in early third-quarter 2009 to 110% currently due to increasing orders, according to the company. Read more |
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Demand for PV products in Europe drops due to snowing, say Taiwan makers Oct 21, 16:09 Orders for photovoltaic (PV) products from clients in Europe are decreasing because snowing has begun in some areas and customers have canceled orders for PV system installations, according to Taiwan-based makers. Read more |
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Taiwan maker Everphoton Energy lands 80KWp HCPV contract from UAE Oct 21, 15:59 Everphoton Energy, a Taiwan-based maker of concentration photovoltaic (PV) modules made of III-V compound solar cells, on October 20 announced it will supply 80KWp (kilowatt-peak) of HCPV (high-concentration PV) modules for a demo project to install 1MWp (megawatt-peak) HCPV system in Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Read more |
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Motech selects Applied Materials technology for double printing of solar cells Oct 21, 10:57 Applied Materials has announced that Motech Solar has installed and qualified an Applied Baccini back-end line for double printing applications at its volume production facility in Tainan, Taiwan. Applied's recently announced Esatto Technology on the Baccini system will be used to manufacture Motech Solar's new c-Si solar cell design. Read more |
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UMC to set up PV system subsidiary in China Stockwatch - Oct 21, 10:28 Taiwan-based foundry United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) will invest US$1 million to establish EverRich Energy (Shan Dong) in northern China to provide photovoltaic (PV) system design and installation services, according to a UMC filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange on October 20. Read more |
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Major China PV module makers lower 1Q10 quotes to 1.2-1.3 euro/watt Oct 20, 11:31 Major China-based photovoltaic (PV) module makers have lowered their quotes for first-quarter 2010 by about 13-14% to 1.2-1.3 euro/watt from the present 1.4-1.5 euro/watt for their clients in Europe, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Read more |
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Asustek Android smartphone to make appearance in 4Q09, investment in solar may be in company's future Oct 19, 15:36 During a recent get together with local Taiwan media, Asustek Computer chairman Jonney Shih and company president and CEO Jerry Shen discussed opportunities in the green energy market, the status of the notebook and netbook market and the launch schedule of the company's Android smartphone. While most of their comments were general statements about the market, Shih did say that the company's Android smartphone will be unveiled this year. Read more |
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Poly-Si spot price remains at US$60/kg Oct 19, 10:26 International spot market price for polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) remains stable at US$60/kg, defying previous expectations that it would drop below US$60 in October, according to industry sources. Read more |
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Taiwan Electric Research & Testing Center signs MOU with Underwriters Laboratories on green energy Oct 16, 15:13 The Taiwan Electric Research & Testing Center (Tertec) has signed an MOU with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for cooperation to provide product testing and certification services mainly for Taiwan-based makers of wind power-generating equipment and components, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Read more |
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Japan-based maker to buy a Taiwan-based a-Si thin-film PV maker Oct 16, 15:09 A major Japan-based producer of PV products has visited several a-Si thin-film PV module makers in Taiwan looking to potentially acquire one of them, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Read more |
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Ya Fei Green Energy to set up 60MWp CPV system in central Taiwan, says paper Newswatch - Oct 16, 10:14 Ya Fei Green Energy, a Taiwan-based provider of photovoltaic (PV) system design and installation service, plans to invest NT$12.4 billion (US$385 million) to establish a 60MWp (megawatt-peak) CPV (concentration PV) power-generating station on a 74.28-hectare site in central Taiwan, according to the Chinese-language newspaper Commercial Times. Read more |
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Subsidy cuts in Germany to push Asia as major production base for PV products Oct 15, 11:58 Asia is likely to become a major production base of photovoltaic (PV) products following the German government's comments that it plans to reduce subsidies for PV system installation projects as early as 2010, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Read more |
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Solar cell maker Gintech swings back to profitability in 3Q09 Oct 15, 10:34 Taiwan-based solar cell maker Gintech Energy has reported unaudited financial figures for the third quarter of 2009, turning from net operating loss of NT$1.461 billion (US$44.5 million) for the first half of 2009 to net operating profit of NT$435 million. However, the third-quarter profits are not enough to cover the large losses incurred in the first half year, Gintech indicated. Read more |
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China-based solar-grade wafer suppliers looking to hike spot prices in November, say Taiwan makers Oct 14, 10:48 Some China-based makers of solar-grade crystalline silicon wafers, in view of rebounding global demand for photovoltaic (PV) products, plan to raise their quotes in the spot market in November, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Read more |
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a-Si thin-film PV module makers seeing rising utilization rates on demand from Germany Oct 13, 10:48 Major Taiwan-based makers of amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules, including Chi Mei Energy, Auria Solar and NexPower Technology, have obtained more orders from clients in Germany and thus their capacity utilization rates have risen from 10-20% in early September 2009 to 50-60% currently, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Read more |
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TSMC may set up thin-film PV plant at CTSP Oct 13, 10:32 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) may establish a photovoltaic (PV) production base on an 18-hectare site in the Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) to produce thin-film PV modules, according to industry sources. Read more |
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Neo Solar sees September 2009 revenues down on month Stockwatch - Oct 12, 12:28 Motech Industries, E-Ton Solar Tech, Gintech Energy and Neo Solar Power, Taiwan's largest crystalline silicon solar cell makers, have reported revenues for September 2009, with only Neo Solar suffering an on-month decrease. Read more |
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Wurth Solar eyeing 14-15% conversion rates for CIGS thin-film modules Oct 9, 17:13 Germany-based Wurth Solar, a producer of CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-selenide) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules, expects to increase energy conversion rates for such products from 11-12% currently to 14-15% two years later, according to CEO Bernhard Dimmler for Wurth Elektronik Research under the company. Read more |
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Solar wafer maker Danen expects to swing to profitability in 2H09 Oct 9, 16:57 Danen Technology, a Taiwan-based maker of solar-grade poly-Si ingots and wafers, expects to turn its business operations from a net loss of NT$80-90 million (US$2.4-2.7 million) in the first half of 2009 to net profits of an estimated NT$40-45 million in the second half, according to company president James Fang. Read more |
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Solar wafer makers GET, SAS see high revenues in September Oct 9, 15:15 Taiwan-based solar ingot/wafer makers Green Energy Technology (GET) and Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) generated record monthly revenues of NT$946.7 million (US$28.8 million) and NT$1.01 billion respectively in September, according to the companies. Read more |
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Global PV supply chain to see oversupply pressure in 2009-2013, says Morgan Stanley analyst Oct 8, 16:12 The global PV products supply chain is expected to see oversupply pressure during 2009-2013, despite the apparent rebound in global demand, according to Sunil Gupta, managing director and head of CleanTech/Technology for Morgan Stanley, who delivered a keynote speech on October 7 at the 2009 Taiwan International Photovoltaic Forum & Exhibition. Read more |
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LCD equipment maker GPM says demand pick up Oct 8, 15:45 Taiwan-based Gallant Precision Machining (GPM) has seen a pick-up in demand from the flat panel display (FPD) sector, and expects the positive business outlook to last for two or three years, according to company general manager and spokesperson Brian Sung. The equipment maker has estimated third-quarter revenues at NT$570-580 million (US$17.7-18.01 million), more than doubling its second-quarter level, said Sung. Read more |
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New PV systems in 2010 to reach 1GWp in China, 10GWp globally, says LDK CEO Oct 8, 11:33 The installation capacity of new photovoltaic (PV) power-generating systems in 2010 is estimated at 1GWp (gigawatt-peak) in China and 10GWp globally, according to Peng Xiao-feng, chairman and CEO of China-based solar-grade polysilicon (poly-Si) wafer maker LDK Solar. Read more |
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Poly-Si spot prices unlikely to drop below US$40/kg in 2010, say Taiwan makers Oct 7, 12:28 While oversupply of polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) is expected in 2010 because of new capacities coming online, spot quotes for the material are unlikely to fall below US$40/kg then, according to industry sources. Read more |
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Taiwan-based SAS participates in PV power station construction in Italy Oct 6, 11:13 Taiwan-based Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) on October 5 announced that the construction of a 1MWp (megawatt-peak) photovoltaic (PV) power-generating station in Apulia, Bari province, Italy has been completed and the company is a participant through supplying solar-grade monocrystalline silicon wafers. Read more |
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Taiwan government does not rule out hiking PV feed-in tariffs Oct 5, 14:24 Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) will not rule out the possibility of raising feed-in tariffs for PV generated power, according to vice minister Hwang Jung-chiou speaking at the second public hearing held on October 2 to discuss his agency's proposed feed-in rates. Hwang was mainly speaking to allay the concerns of PV product makers and related service providers who have said the current tentative rates are too low. Read more |
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PV Taiwan 2009 to open on October 7 Oct 5, 13:44 The 2009 Taiwan International Photovoltaic Forum & Exhibition (PV Taiwan 2009) will take place in Taipei during October 7-9, with 182 domestic exhibitors (366 booths) and 52 overseas exhibitors (134 booths), according to the co-organizers SEMI and government-sponsored Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). Read more |
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NexPower lands 30MWp thin-film PV module order from China, says paper Newswatch - Oct 5, 10:39 NexPower Technology, a member of the UMC Group, has landed an order for 30MWp of a-Si thin-film PV modules from a power-generating company in northern China, with shipments to begin in November 2009, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report. Read more |
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UMG silicon of nearly 7N available at US$45/kg, say Taiwan makers Oct 2, 12:01 International producers exhibited their upgraded metallurgical-grade (UMG) silicon of nearly 7N (99.99999%) in silicon purity with asking prices of about US$45/kg at the 2009 (24th) European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) taking place in Hamburg, Germany, during September 21-25, according to Taiwan-based PV product makers attending the event. Read more |
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Gintech shipping solar cells to Sharp, says newspaper Newswatch - Oct 1, 14:53 Gintech Energy, a Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell maker, began OEM shipments of solar cells to Japan-based Sharp in September, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report. Read more |
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Fortune Electric wins Taipower PV power-generating contract Oct 1, 14:49 Taiwan-based Fortune Electric, which makes electric machinery and equipment for power generation and distribution, on September 30 won a state-run Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) open-bid project for the construction of a photovoltaic (PV) power station with total installation capacity of 4.5MWp (megawatt-peak), according to the company. Read more |
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Giga Solar Materials to debut on emerging stock market in October Oct 1, 14:38 Giga Solar Materials, a Taiwan-based maker of photovoltaic conductive paste used in solar cell production, will have its stock debut on the Taiwan Emerging stock market in October, an interim process for final listing on either the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) or the over-the-counter (OTC) stock market. Read more |
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PV module prices likely to fall to 1.2-1.4 euro/watt in 2010, say Taiwan makers Oct 1, 12:08 Estimations made by participants in the 2009 (24th) European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) indicate that international PV module prices may keep falling to 1.2-1.4 euro/watt in 2010 if material and production costs continue to drop, according to Taiwan-based solar cell makers attending the event in Hamburg, Germany, during September 21-25 . Read more |
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Notes and corrections |
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A November 2 report incorrectly stated Transcend Information reported net profits of NT$114 million for the third quarter of 2009. The correct figure is NT$1.14 billion. |
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