Most China tier-1 PV module suppliers sold out until 2Q15, says IHS

Jan 23, 14:00

Most China tier-1 solar PV module suppliers have sold out until the second quarter of 2015, according to IHS. Along with the consolidation of the PV module industry, China tier-1 suppliers increased their market share from 34% in the first quarter of 2014 to 45% in the fourth quarter. IHS forecasts...

Taiwan solar cell makers may see continued losses in 1H15, says KGI Securities Taiwan

Jan 23, 10:06

As it is difficult for Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers to hike quotes mainly due to the US International Trade Commission's (ITC) investigation of imported Taiwan- and China-made PV products. Makers are likely to suffer continued operating losses during the first half of 2015, according...

Taiwan makers halt expansion of PERC capacities

Jan 19, 21:39

Many Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers in 2014 upgraded their production lines for P-type monocrystalline silicon solar cells to produce PERC (passivated emitter and rear cell) P-type monocrystalline solar cells due to emerging demand for such PERC solar cells, but have temporarily...

Demand for 260W PV modules expected to rise in 2Q15

Jan 19, 10:21

Global demand for PV modules is expected to shift from 250W models currently to 260W ones in the second quarter of 2015, and thereby demand for polycrystalline silicon solar cells with energy conversion rates of at least 17.8% used to make 260W PV modules will increase as well, according to industry...

China makers plan to offer 260W PV modules in US

Jan 16, 11:04

First-tier China-based solar firms plan to offer 260W PV modules in the US market tro replace 250W models which were the mainstream power output in 2014, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Yingli Green Energy completes 10MW solar power plant in China's Hebei province

Jan 15, 23:15

Yingli Green Energy has announced that it completed grid connection for a 10 megawatt (MW) solar power plant in China's Hebei Province in late December 2014.

Delta Electronics lands order for PV inverters from Japan

Jan 14, 11:00

Power supply maker and energy management solution provider Delta Electronics has announced that its 750 20kW PV inverters, coded RPI-M20A, will be adopted by Japan-based Takara Leben, with the devices to be used in a 15MW PV power-generating station consisting of a number of distributed PV systems...

China PV module makers to regain price competitiveness in US market

Jan 13, 11:16

With the US government having almost halved the 2012-set average antitrust tariff rates for PV modules imported from China, China-based PV module makers are expected to regain their pricing competitiveness in the US market, according to PV industry observers in Taiwan.

Global solar PV demand forecast to grow 25% in 2015, says IHS

Jan 9, 15:42

Global solar PV demand is forecast to grow by up to 25% in 2015, according to IHS. Due to the ongoing cost reductions for solar PV, IHS forecasts that installation demand will grow at a double-digit rate of 16-25% and installations in the range of 53-57GW. Geographically, the largest markets again...

GD Development completes 750KWp PV systems in southern Taiwan

Jan 9, 13:53

GD Development, a PV EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) contractor established by Taiwan-based solar cell maker Gintech Energy, has announced the completion of a rooftop PV system at Kaohsiung International Airport and another at Tainan Airport, both in southern Taiwan, with total installation...

Prices to remain flat for downstream solar segments before Lunar New Year, says EnergyTrend

Jan 8, 21:39

The overall PV market price in the first quarter of 2015 is expected to remain constant until the end of the Lunar New Year. Afterwards, shipment demand will decrease and pricing will drop. The beginning of the holiday season in China meets the end of the holiday season in the US and Europe, and this...

Giga Solar to see more orders from China as US lowers tariffs

Jan 7, 11:28

Taiwan-based PV conductive paste maker Giga Solar Materials is expected to see orders from China grow, as a result of the US decision to reduce antitrust tariffs it set in 2012 for China-made PV modules, according to industry observers.

China PV makers to halt production relocation plans due to US tariff reductions

Jan 6, 22:07

The US government has finished reviewing tariff rates imposed in 2012 on PV modules imported from China and decided to reduce the anti-dumping rates to an average of 1.82% and anti-subsidization rates to an average of 15.68%. The total average of 19.50% is much lower than original 30%, meaning it is...

China to accelerate PV industry consolidation

Jan 6, 15:39

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has spelt out new guideline for improving China's PV industry, looking to have leading makers merge with small ones, or form strategic alliances in 2015-2017.

Taiwan 2014 PV production value to exceed NT$150 billion, says MOEA

Jan 6, 11:59

Taiwan's PV industry recorded total production value of NT$131.8 billion (US$4.27 billion) for January-October 2014 and the production value for the entire year is expected to exceed NT$150 billion, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

US lowers 2012 antitrust tariffs on China-made PV modules

Jan 5, 15:35

The US government has finished reviewing anti-dumping and anti-subsidization tariff rates imposed in 2012 on PV modules imported from China and decided to reduce the former rates to an average of 1.82% and the latter to an average of 15.68%, with the average of 19.50% much lower than original 30%,...

Solar cell maker Motech to merge with Topcell

Dec 29, 12:14

Solar cell maker Motech Industries has announced it will be merge with fellow maker Topcell Solar International by swapping one Motech share for six Topcell's, with Motech to be the surviving company after the merger takes effect on July 1, 2015.

Leading China PV makers ready to set up production lines abroad to evade US taxation

Dec 26, 15:46

First-tier China-based PV module firms have plans to set up overseas production lines to avoid US antitrust taxation, for which the US Department of Commerce is set to review a proposed increase, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

CGCC reportedly questions China PV systems quality

Dec 26, 15:01

A China government-sponsored certification organization has found that about 30% of the country's PV power-generation systems show various problems three years or more after installation, especially in module quality, according to PV industry sources in Taiwan

GES sells PV power facilities in US, says paper

Newswatch - Dec 25, 11:24

General Energy Solutions (GES), a Taiwan-based PV module maker and PV EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) contractor, has sold PV power-generating facilities it built at Indianapolis International Airport, Indiana State of the US, in the second phase of a project for US$26 million, making...

Taiwan team announces SEMI PV57-1214 standards

Dec 24, 15:53

A Taiwan team has announced SEMI-recognized international standards of performance measurement for dye-sensitized solar cells and organic solar cells, coded SEMI PV57-1214.

Delta Electronics lands orders for distributed, low-power inverters form Japan, say papers

Newswatch - Dec 23, 11:48

Taiwan-based power supply and energy management solution provider Delta Electronics has obtained orders for 750-800 20KW distributed inverters for use in a 15MWp PV power-generating station in Tochigi Prefecture, central Japan, with total order value exceeding US$2 million, according to Chinese-language...

Lof Solar sues Sunshine PV for alleged patent infringement

Dec 23, 11:34

Color crystalline silicon solar cell maker Lof Solar has filed a lawsuit with Taiwan Intellectual Property Court, accusing Sunshine PV, which makes CIGS thin-film PV modules and color polycrystalline silicon solar cells, of infringing its Taiwan patent, No. I409962.

PSI to list on Taiwan emerging stock market

Dec 23, 11:03

Phoenix Silicon International (PSI) will start trading on the Emerging Stock Board of the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) on December 23, with a planned listing price of $55 (US$1.74), according to the company.

Yingli expresses disappointment at US PV tariffs decisions

Dec 19, 11:04

Yingli Green Energy has commented on the final anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) decisions by the US Department of Commerce regarding the import of solar PV panels assembled in China using components from a third country. According to the decision, Yingli and its affiliates will be considered...

PV equipment book-to-bill ratio stays below parity in 3Q14, says SEMI

Dec 18, 21:40

SEMI has reported the worldwide PV manufacturing equipment billings billings reached US$264 million in the third quarter of 2014, down 17% on quarter but up 36% on year.

US finalizes anti-dumping tariffs on Taiwan-made solar cells

Dec 18, 11:43

The US Department of Commerce on December 16 determined final anti-dumping tariff rates on Taiwan-made crystalline silicon solar cells either directly exported to the US or used in China-made PV modules for export to the US market, with the average rate standing at 19.50%, according to Taiwan's Ministry...

Worldwide solar demand projected at 51.4GW in 2015, says EnergyTrend

Dec 17, 15:16

The worldwide solar market demand in 2014 was approximately at 44GW. Going into 2015 the worldwide solar demand is projected at 51.4GW, with the key markets remaining in China, the US, and Japan, taking up 57% of the overall share. In 2015, the growth momentum of the emerging markets will become more...

Year-end rush in China leads APAC PV market to set record in 4Q14, says Solarbuzz

Dec 16, 11:42

Quarterly solar photovoltaic (PV) demand in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is forecast to reach the 10 gigawatt (GW) level for the first time in the fourth quarter of 2014. According to Solarbuzz, annual APAC PV demand in 2014 is forecast to grow 19% on year, driven mainly by a year-end installation...

GlobalWafers Japan to expand 8-inch wafer capacity in 2015

Dec 12, 11:19

GlobalWafers Japan (GWJ), a subsidiary of Taiwan-based semiconductor-grade silicon wafer maker GlobalWafers, will expand its 8-inch wafer production capacity by about 10% in 2015, according to president and CEO Toru Masaoka.

Huawei makes largest 12-month gains in global PV inverter market, says IHS

Dec 11, 21:28

SMA, ABB, and Omron lead global photovoltaic (PV) inverter market-share rankings; however, over the first three quarters of 2014, China-based telecommunications company Huawei made the largest gain in global market share, with just over 2-percentage points (2pp) growth, according to the latest report...

Canada launches antitrust probe into China-made PV modules

Dec 11, 11:48

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has launched an antitrust probe into PV modules and laminates (semi-finished PV modules) imported from China.

China falls short of 2014 PV installation goals, say reports

Dec 9, 14:46

Based on actual total installation capacity of 3.79GWp for PV systems set up around China during the first three quarters of 2014, the total installation capacity for the whole year is estimated at 7-10GWp, far short of the target of 14GWp set in early 2014 by China's National Energy Administration...

China may extend feed-in tariffs period, say Taiwan makers

Dec 8, 15:04

The China government, viewing that total PV system installations in the country in 2014 are expected to be significantly short of target, is likely to extend the applicability of 2014 feed-in tariff rates to February 2015 to boost installations, according to Taiwan-based PV supply chain makers.

Neo Solar Power lands orders for 400MWp of solar cells from Canadian Solar

Stockwatch - Dec 2, 14:34

Neo Solar Power on December 1 announced that it has obtained orders for 400MWp of solar cells from Canadian Solar, a Canada-based PV module and PV system maker, for delivery in 2015.

Gintech stops using Giga Solar material due to patent concern

Dec 2, 12:10

Crystalline-silicon solar cell maker Gintech Energy has said it has stopped using front-side PV silver paste produced by Giga Solar Materials to avoid potential legal disputes.

High-efficiency solar cells may see shortages in 2015

Dec 1, 15:27

As mainstream PV power generation is expected to shift from ground-mounted stations to rooftop systems in Europe, the US, Japan and China in 2015, and solar cells used in rooftop PV systems require high energy conversion rates, global supply of high-efficiency silicon solar cells is likely to be short...

Taiwan market: Financial holding firms mulling investments in PV power generation

Nov 28, 15:47

Three to four Taiwan-based private financial holding companies have been evaluating existing PV power-generating stations or ones under construction in Taiwan as investment targets, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Some Taiwan solar cell makers plan to cut personnel

Nov 24, 21:49

Some Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers, faced with price drops and decreased orders arising from the US imposition of preliminary anti-dumping tariffs at an average rate of 24.23%, have plans to relocate production lines abroad to avoid the impact and/or reduce manpower to decrease...

Win Win Precision cooperates with vendor to market HeatCap in Japan

Nov 20, 20:06

PV module maker Win Win Precision Technology has cooperated with a Japan-based PV vendor to co-market HeatCap, patented PV modules developed by Win Win Precision, in the Japan rooftop PV system market, according to PV industry sources.

Monocrystalline solar cell prices may fall in 4Q14, say Taiwan makers

Nov 19, 21:36

As many Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers have increasingly shifted production from polycrystalline models to monocrystalline ones for higher gross margins, increased global supply plus decreased demand may drive prices for monocrystalline silicon solar cells to decline in the fourth...

Global PV installation capacity in 2015 may be flat or decline, say Taiwan makers

Nov 18, 21:08

Mainly because the 2015 total installation capacity of new PV systems in Japan is likely to drop a great deal from 7GWp in 2014, and installations in China, the US and Europe are expected to remain unchanged at best, global installation capacity for PV systems to be set up in 2015 may either remain...

China-based PV maker UE Solar goes bankrupt, says paper

Nov 18, 21:04

China-based PV module maker and provider of PV systems UE Solar has gone bankrupt mainly due to investment to set up a large production base in central China, according to China-based CBN Daily.

SAS considers expanding monocrystalline solar cell capacity in US or Germany

Nov 17, 22:23

Solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer maker Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) plans to expand its annual production capacity for monocrystalline silicon solar cells by 350MWp from 500MWp currently to 850MWp in 2015 and is likely to set up the additional capacity in either the US or Germany if the...

Solartech sells 2 solar cell production lines for stake in Malaysia-based TS Solartech

Nov 14, 10:36

Crystalline silicon solar cell maker Solartech Energy on November 13 announced the sale of two solar cell production lines to Malaysia-based strategic partner TS Solartech Sdn Bhd in exchange of 87,701 preferred shares of TS Solartech stock.

SAS posts 3-quarter net EPS of NT$2.46

Nov 14, 10:29

Solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer maker Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) on November 13 released its financial report for the third quarter of 2014, recording net EPS of NT$2.46 for January-September, according to the company.

Residential solar energy storage market to grow by factor of 10 from 2014-2018, says IHS

Nov 13, 15:52

The global market for grid-connected residential photovoltaic (PV) solar installations coupled with energy storage is predicted to grow tenfold to reach more than 900 megawatts (MW) in 2018, up from just 90MW in 2014, according to new analysis from IHS.

US-based polysilicon suppliers building up inventories for China market

Nov 13, 10:30

Some of US-based polysilicon suppliers are building up their inventories in preparation for the China market, as they anticipate a settelment between Beijing and Washington on their solar trade war, according to industry sources in Taiwan.