Taiwan PV firms suspend JV plan due to US antidumping probe

Apr 16, 11:07

Some Taiwan-based solar firms - a first-tier and three second-tier cell makers, and a material supplier - originally planned to form a joint-venture to manufacture PV modules to tap the international market, but they have suspended the plan due to the US' ongoing antidumping investigation of Taiwan-based...

Yingli signs framework agreement with United PV for acquisition of 300MW solar plants

Apr 15, 15:01

Yingli Green Energy has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Yingli Energy (Yingli China), has entered into a framework agreement with United Photovoltaic Group Limited (United PV) for the acquisition of China-based solar PV plants to be developed and constructed by Yingli Green Energy. United...

Taiwan PV module makers looking to orders from Japan vendors

Apr 15, 11:17

Japan-based PV vendors, including Sharp, Kyocera, Panasonic and Toshiba, are likely to return to the international market in 2016 and release OEM orders to Taiwan-based module makers, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Some China polysilicon makers poised to expand capacities

Apr 14, 14:34

Viewing that polysilicon spot market prices in the China market rose to US$25/kg in the first quarter of 2014, some China-based makers are preparing to expand production capacities. Also, some companies that stopped production during the market downturn plan to resume production, according to PV industry...

Tatung to set up 3MWp PV systems in northern Taiwan

Apr 9, 11:51

Tatung, a Taiwan-based own-brand machinery and consumer electronics maker, has extended business operation to PV-ESCO (photovoltaic-energy service company) and signed with New Taipei City to set up rooftop PV systems totaling 3MWp in 30 schools and buildings owned by the local government.

SAS hits record revenues for March

Stockwatch - Apr 8, 14:40

Taiwan-based solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer maker Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) brought in consolidated revenues of NT$2.332 billion (US$76.8 million) for March, hitting a monthly record, according to the company.

Neo Solar Power March revenues hit record

Stockwatch - Apr 8, 14:33

Solar cell maker Neo Solar Power has reported consolidated revenues of NT$2.518 billion (US$82.9 million) for March, hitting a monthly company record.

AUO sets up PV investment/operating joint venture

Apr 7, 21:31

Taiwan-based TFT-LCD panel maker AU Optronics (AUO) on April 7 announced the establishment of Star River Energy, a joint venture with several local insurance companies specifically for investing in and managing operation of PV systems or power-generating stations in Taiwan.

Giga Solar unaffected by DuPont price cuts for front-side PV silver paste, says paper

Newswatch - Apr 7, 15:30

While DuPont has lowered prices for its front-side photovoltaic (PV) silver conductive paste, a key material accounting for 5-10% of the total production costs of crystalline silicon solar cells, by about 20% to reinforce its global market share, Taiwan-based Giga Solar Materials has indicated that...

TSMC Solar to triple CIGS thin-film PV module capacity, says paper

Newswatch - Apr 7, 09:42

Taiwan-based CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-selenide) thin-film PV module maker TSMC Solar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, will expand its annual production capacity from 40MWp currently to 120MWp in the third quarter of 2014, according to a Chinese-language Economic...

Record-breaking demand for global solar PV industry in 1Q14, says Solarbuzz

Apr 3, 11:49

New solar photovoltaic (PV) demand added during the first quarter of 2014 exceeded 9GW, which was 35% more than the previous first-quarter record, set in 2013. Every quarter in 2014 is forecast to reach new highs, with trailing 12-month demand at the end of first-quarter 2015 forecast to exceed 50GW...

Taiwan PV module makers expanding capacities to compete for orders from Japan

Apr 1, 11:34

Taiwan-based PV module makers have been expanding or will expand production capacities in 2014 to compete for orders from Japan-based clients who have adjusted their business strategies, according industry sources in Taiwan.

Solargiga Energy post net loss for 2013

Mar 28, 11:47

China-based PV maker Solargiga Energy swung from a net loss of CNY136.4 million (US$22 million) in the first half of 2013 to net profit of CNY927,000 in the second, resulting in a net loss of CNY135.5 million for 2013, according to the company.

Green Energy Technology posts large loss for 2013

Mar 28, 10:40

Taiwan-based solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer maker Green Energy Technology (GET) on March 27 released its financial report for 2013, recording consolidated revenues of NT$13.258 billion (US$444 million), gross margin of negative 12%, net operating loss of NT$2.095 billion, net loss of NT$2.362...

Gigastorage suffers net loss per share of NT$2.43 for 2013

Stockwatch - Mar 27, 15:56

Taiwan-based solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer maker Gigastorage on March 26 released its financial report for 2013, recording consolidated revenues of NT$8.555 billion (US$287 million), gross margin of 9.11%, net operating profit of NT$195 million, net loss of NT$468 million and net loss per share...

Japan becomes largest market for China-made PV products, says CCCME

Mar 27, 11:33

Japan has become the largest market for China-made PV products, accounting for 24.63% of total export value in 2013 and 34.23% in January-February 2014, according to the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME).

Taiwan solar firms speculate on possible impact of US probe

Mar 26, 11:55

While the US Department of Commerce is conducting an anti-dumping investigation of China-based PV module makers and their cell suppliers in Taiwan, the China makers reportedly have asked their government to talk with the US about setting floor prices and import quotas for China-made modules instead...

AUO to set up subsidiary for PV investment

Mar 25, 15:19

AU Optronics (AUO) is organizing a subsidiary, Star River Energy, specifically as a platform to invest in PV systems and solar power-generating stations, according to AUO.

Motech, Gintech selected as Taiwan respondents in US anti-dumping probe

Mar 25, 14:52

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has selected Taiwan-based solar cell makers Motech Industries and Gintech Energy as respondents to its anti-dumping investigation.

EU to lower floor price for China-made PV modules, say reports

Mar 24, 15:14

The EU will lower the floor price for PV modules imported from China from EUR0.56 (US0.77)/W currently to EUR0.53/W beginning April 1, 2014, with the annual import quota remaining unchanged at 7GWp, according to China-based media reports.

Unused PV equipment in demand, say Taiwan makers

Mar 21, 16:47

Due to rebounding global demand, China- and Taiwan-based PV makers have been expanding production capacities, mainly by negotiating access to unused PV equipment, according to PV industry sources.

Gintech, SAS post mixed results for 2013

Stockwatch - Mar 21, 15:01

Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell maker Gintech Energy will not distribute any dividend for 2013, while ingot and wafer maker Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) will distribute a cash dividend per share of NT$1 (US$0.03), according to the companies.

300 GW of new solar PV to be installed in the next five years, says Solarbuzz

Mar 20, 14:42

The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry is set for rapid growth over the next five years, with up to 100GW annual deployment being targeted in 2018, according to Solarbuzz. This end-market growth is projected to increase annual PV module revenues, which are forecast to reach US$50 billion in 2018.

Neo Solar Power to deal out cash dividend for 2013

Stockwatch - Mar 19, 12:08

Solar cell maker Neo Solar Power's board of directors has decided to distribute a cash dividend per share of NT$0.30 (US$0.01) for 2013.

Taiwan PV module makers could live with 15-20% US anti-dumping tariffs

Mar 19, 12:06

The US government is likely to impose anti-dumping tariffs on PV modules imported from China and Taiwan, and Taiwan-based makers could remain competitive in the US market if the tariffs are under 15-20%, according to industry sources.

Australia, Japan reportedly mulling anti-dumping probes against China PV makers

Mar 19, 11:41

The Australia and Japan governments reportedly are considering launching anti-dumping and anti-subsidization investigations of PV products imported from China, according to China-based media reports.

China exports 16GWp of PV modules in 2013

Mar 17, 11:33

China-based makers exported 16GWp of PV modules worth US$10 billion in 2013, with Europe being the largest market accounting for 30% of the volume, Japan 22% and the US 10%, according to China-based media reports.

Giga Solar Materials nets NT$12.24 per share for 2013

Stockwatch - Mar 17, 11:23

PV conductive paste maker Giga Solar Materials has posted consolidated revenues of NT$4.581 billion (US$153 million), gross margin of 22.58%, net profit of NT$610 million and net EPS of NT$12.24 for 2013.

Taiwan solar cell makers mull mergers in the wake of US anti-dumping probe

Mar 13, 11:30

Taiwan-based solar cell makers, due to concerns about impacts from the possibility of US imposing anti-dumping tariffs on their products, have begun mulling the feasibility of mergers, according to industry sources.

China makers urge government to set floor price for polysilicon from Europe

Mar 12, 11:40

China-based polysilicon makers are poised to recommend that the China government set a floor import price of US$26/kg for Europe-produced polysilicon in place of imposing anti-dumping tariff rates, according to PV industry sources in Taiwan.

High-concentration solar PV systems to reach greater efficiencies, boosting appeal against conventional solutions, says IHS

Mar 10, 14:10

Consistent improvements in technology and gradually lower costs will drive high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) systems to superior efficiencies, making HCPV an increasingly viable rival to conventional solar-generating solutions, according to IHS.

Aleo as competitive as China PV module makers, says SAS chairman

Mar 10, 10:50

Germany-based PV module maker Aleo Solar AG is as competitive as China-based makers in terms of production cost in the Europe, Japan and US markets, MK Lu, chairman for Taiwan-based solar wafer supplier Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS), has claimed.

US ITC names 5 Taiwan solar cell makers as candidate respondents in anti-dumping probe, sources say

Mar 7, 15:56

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has recommended five Taiwan-based solar cell makers as candidate respondents to the Department of Commerce's (DOC) anti-dumping investigation, according to PV industry sources in Taiwan.

Neo Solar, Gintech, GET see sequential drops in February revenues

Mar 7, 11:13

Solar cell makers Neo Solar Power and Gintech Energy, and solar wafer maker Green Energy Technology (GET) have reported sequential declines in February consolidated revenues: NT$2.335 billion (US$77.1 million) down 3.67%; NT$1.251 billion, down 8.11%; and NT$1.288 billion, down 3.95% respectively.

SAS February revenues increase

Mar 6, 11:24

Taiwan-based wafer maker Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) has reported consolidated revenues of NT$2.181 billion (US$72 million) for February, growing 18.85% sequentially and 40.91% on year, and consolidated revenues for January-February reached NT$4.015 billion, rising 26.61% on year.

Japan PV vendors shifting outsourced production from Taiwan solar cell makers to China PV module makers

Mar 5, 20:58

Japan-based PV vendors, due to cost considerations and the depreciation of the Japanese yen, have been shifting from outsourcing solar cells production to Taiwan-based makers for in-house module assembly, to sourcing PV modules from China, according to industry sources.

Solar PV industry to transition to supply-driven market in 2014, says Solarbuzz

Mar 5, 14:21

Over the past three years, solar photovoltaic (PV) installed system prices, module prices, and module production costs have all fallen by more than 50%, while a shakeout of uncompetitive PV cell makers has caused the number of suppliers to decline from 250 in 2010 to 150 in 2013. According to Solarbuzz,...

Impact of US anti-dumping probe to show in May, say Taiwan solar cell makers

Mar 5, 12:36

The impact of the US anti-dumping investigation of Taiwan-based makers who supply solar cells to China-based PV module makers is expected to start showing in May, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Neo Solar, Topcell Solar to procure solar-grade wafers from GCL-Poly

Mar 5, 11:54

Taiwan-based solar cell makers Neo Solar Power and Topcell Solar International will buy high-efficiency polycrystalline silicon wafers from China-based GCL-Poly Energy Holdings, according to a press report from China.

Wah Lee optimistic about prospects for 2014

Mar 4, 22:10

Semiconductor material distributor Wah Lee Industrial expects agent sales of its major product lines, including high-performance engineering plastics, flat panel displays, semiconductor and energy products, to continue to grow robustly in 2014.

Prices for solar-grade silicon wafers may rise to US$1.15 in 2Q14, says Gigastorage chairman

Mar 4, 15:16

If spot market prices for polysilicon rise to US$23-24/kg in the second quarter of 2014, then quotes for a solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer are likely to be hiked to US$1.15, according to Chen Chi-jen chairman of Taiwan-based solar-grade silicon wafer maker Gigastorage.

Giga Solar Materials obtains JPY3.5 billion joint lending for setting up PV power station in Japan

Mar 4, 10:40

Taiwan-based PV conductive paste maker Giga Solar Materials on March 3 signed with a few local banks for a 7-year syndicated loan of JPY3.5 billion (US$34.3 million) for constructing a ground-mounted PV power-generating station with an annual capacity of 17MWp in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern...

Solar EPC landscape consolidates in 2013 as tight margins pressure medium-size integrators, says IHS

Feb 27, 15:57

The 30 largest engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies in the global photovoltaic (PV) industry installed 30% of the world's non-residential PV capacity in 2013, up 5pp from 2012, according to IHS.

Microinverters and DC power optimizers to be critical to grid-scale integration, says firm

Feb 27, 13:57

One part power electronics and one part networking and communications technology, microinverters and DC optimizers (commonly referred to as module-level power electronics, or MLPEs) are playing an increasingly significant role in large-scale and distributed renewable electricity generation. With the...

March solar cell orders from China not decreasing as expected, say Taiwan makers

Feb 25, 11:01

Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers originally expected China-based PV module makers to reduce orders due to the impact of a US anti-dumping investigation of Taiwan-based solar cell makers, but instead have seen no decreases in orders so far, according to sources with Taiwan makers.

TeraSolar Energy Materials sees booming orders for laser process equipment

Feb 25, 10:46

Taiwan-based TeraSolar Energy Materials has obtained significant orders for laser process equipment used in PERC (passivated emitter and rear cell) and/or SE (selective emitter) manufacturing technologies to hike energy conversion rates for crystalline silicon solar cells, according to the company.

Direct current power supply equipment for commercial buildings will reach US$2.8 billion in annual revenues by 2020, says firm

Feb 21, 11:07

Deployed in commercial buildings and campus microgrids, direct current (DC) power supply equipment reduces the number of required conversions between alternating current (AC) and DC power, thereby increasing overall building energy efficiency. Since solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind power are natively...

TSMC Solar to triple CIGS thin-film PV module capacity

Feb 20, 21:28

TSMC Solar, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) wholly-owned subsidiary maker of CIGS thin-film PV modules, will expand its annual production capacity from 40MWp currently to 120MWp in the fourth quarter of 2014, according to the company.

Solar farms up to 5MW in size drive 95GW project pipeline in leading PV countries, says Solarbuzz

Feb 20, 14:33

Solar photovoltaic (PV) projects between 250kW and 5MW now account for almost half of the yet-to-be-completed 4,300 commercial and utility projects within the leading PV countries, according to Solarbuzz.