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.

Taiwan solar cell makers can bear up to 15% US anti-dumping tax

Feb 20, 11:34

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has started an anti-dumping investigation of China- and Taiwan-based solar players and is expected to announce preliminary anti-dumping tariffs in June. Taiwan-based solar cell makers can tolerate tariffs up to 15% before seeing a negative impact on exports to the...

Global demand for polysilicon to surge 25% in 2014, says Solarbuzz

Feb 19, 13:42

Demand for polysilicon used in solar and semiconductor applications is expected to rise to 282,000 metric tons in 2014, up 25% on year. According to Solarbuzz, the growth in demand for polysilicon is being driven by the rapid increase in end-market solar photovoltaic (PV) module shipments, which are...

Taiwan cell makers looking to answer charges in US PV anti-dumping probe

Feb 18, 13:58

A US anti-dumping investigation is targeting PV modules imported from China. However, because Taiwan crystalline silicon solar cell makers generally are suppliers for China-based PV module makers, the Taiwan Photovoltaic Industry Association (TPVIA) hopes the Taiwan side can also be represented in...

South Africa most attractive emerging country for solar energy, says firm

Feb 17, 15:14

South Africa's target of building 8.4GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity by 2030, combined with the success of its large-scale tendering process in attracting investment to fulfill that goal, positions the country as the most attractive emerging PV market globally, according to analysis by IHS.

Testing solution provider Chroma Ate posts 2013 EPS of NT$3.21

Feb 17, 12:26

Chroma Ate, which provides integrated and customized solutions for test and measurement instruments, has announced net profits for 2013 increased 31% to NT$1.18 billion (US$39 million). EPS for the year came to NT$3.21.

China PV module output rises to 26GWp in 2013

Feb 14, 14:57

China produced 26GWp of PV modules in 2013, growing 13% on year. China was the largest producing country for the seventh consecutive year, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

China sets 2014 PV installation capacity at 10GWp

Feb 13, 13:35

China's National Energy Administration has set a target total capacity of 10GWp for PV systems to be installed in China in 2014. The agency said 60% of the target capacity is for distributed PV systems and 40% for PV power-generating stations.

China market: Polysilicon prices rise to US$25/kg

Feb 11, 11:21

Polysilicon quotes in the China market have risen from US$24/kg in January to US$25/kg currently because the China government has imposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidization tariff rates on materials produced by some US- and South Korea-based makers amid strong domestic demand, according to industry...

Giga Solar January revenues hit record for 7th month

Feb 10, 15:18

PV conductive paste maker Giga Solar Materials posted consolidated revenues of NT$750 million (US$24.8 million) for January, hitting a record for the seventh consecutive month and increasing 28.69% on month and 93.59% on year, according to the company.

SAS sets up joint venture to buy Aleo Solar assets

Feb 6, 11:24

Taiwan-based Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) has announced its subsidiary Sunrise Global Solar Energy - a monocrystalline silicon solar cell maker - will establish a Germany-based joint venture, SCP Solar GmbH, with Japan-based Choshu Industry and UK-based Pan Asia Solar.

New solar PV capital expenditure cycle to start in 2015, says Solarbuzz

Feb 5, 15:53

Capital expenditures for equipment suppliers serving the solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing segment are forecast to enter a new upturn phase beginning in 2015. According to Solarbuzz, PV equipment spending could potentially reach US$10 billion in revenues in 2017.

Energy storage to become a key part of microgrid deployments in the decade ahead, says firm

Feb 5, 14:36

The microgrid market is expected to expand rapidly over the next 10 years, bringing with it increased demand for energy storage associated with these systems. Energy storage systems (ESSs) deliver services to microgrids similar to the services that ESSs deliver to the traditional grid: resource optimization...

Wah Lee to see strong sales of silicon wafers in 1Q14

Feb 5, 14:22

Semiconductor material distributor Wah Lee Industrial is expected to see its revenues decrease within a range of 5% in the first quarter of 2014 thanks to strong sales of silicon wafers in China and rising demand for semiconductor materials for 20nm and 28nm process nodes, according to industry sour...

DOE to start investigating anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties for Taiwan PV imports

Jan 29, 09:14

The International Trade Association (ITA), an institute belonging to the US Department of Commerce, has announced it will start investigating anti-dumping and countervailing duties on PV products from China and Taiwan. Products including Ingots, wafers, PV cells and PV modules made in Taiwan are all...

China polysilicon makers plan to increase spot prices in February

Jan 27, 20:35

Spot market prices for polysilicon have risen to US$20/kg currently and some China-based makers, in view of strong demand in the China market, plan to further hike quotes by 10% to US$22/kg after the Lunar New Year (January 31), according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Sharp to construct 52MW solar power plant in Thailand

Jan 27, 14:06

Sharp has signed an agreement with Serm Sang Palang Ngan (SSP) of Thailand to construct a 52MW solar power generation plant. Construction will begin in January, with operations scheduled to start by the end of 2014.

Giga Solar Materials expanding PV silver paste capacity, says chairman

Jan 27, 11:58

Taiwan-based PV conductive paste maker Giga Solar Materials will expand its silver paste production capacity in the second quarter of 2014 after seeing orders exceed capacity by 50%, according to company chairman Chen Chi-jen.

Solar-grade wafer prices to rise to US$1.15-1.20, says Gigastorage chairman

Jan 27, 10:27

International prices for a solar-grade polycrystalline silicon wafers have risen to US$1.06 currently and are expected to rise to US$1.15-1.20 in February, according to chairman Chen Chi-jen for Taiwan-based maker Gigastorage.

Tainergy Tech to expand solar cell, PV module capacity

Jan 27, 10:24

Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell and PV module maker Tainergy Tech will expand its annual production capacity for solar cells from 560MWp currently to 700MWp, and that for PV modules from 100MWp to 200MWp in 2014, according to the company.

Taiwan solar cell makers plan to hike prices in February

Jan 24, 12:42

Taiwan-based makers plan to hike quotes for polycrystalline silicon solar cells with energy conversion rates over 17.4% to US$0.41-0.45/W in February 2014 to reflect increases in the cost of solar-grade polycrystalline silicon wafers, according to makers.

Eversol secures 80MWp PV system projects in Japan

Jan 23, 11:15

Taiwan-based solar-grade polycrystalline silicon ingot and wafer maker Eversol has landed EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) projects for installing ground-mounted PV systems with total capacity of 80MWp in Japan and expects to complete the installation of 1.5MWp in first-quarter 2014, according...

Prices for solar-grade silicon wafers on the rise, says Eversol chairman

Jan 22, 21:02

Quotes for a solar-grade polycrystalline silicon wafer have risen from US$1 in December 2013 to US$1.05 currently, and are expected to rise to US$1.08 in February and further to US$1.10 in March, according to chairman Guo Yan-ting of Eversol.

Strong footprint in leading solar markets forms backbone to continued success of China producer Yingli, says IHS

Jan 22, 14:33

China was the largest solar market in the world in 2013, besting a hotly contested field that included Japan, the US and Germany, and China-based manufacturer Yingli Green Energy was also the globe's foremost supplier of solar modules for the second year in a row. In all, the four countries accounted...

China maintains antidumping tariffs on polysilicon imports from US, Korea

Jan 21, 14:09

China's Ministry of Commerce has announced its final decision to maintain the antidumping tariff rates meted out in July 2013 against solar-grade polysilicon produced by some US- and South Korea-based makers.

Solar-grade silicon wafer prices on the rise, says SAS chairman

Jan 20, 11:39

Prices for solar-grade crystalline silicon wafers have risen from US$0.92-0.93 in the second half of 2013 to US$1 at the end of the year, and further to US$1-1.05 currently. Prices are expected to increase to US$1.05-1.07 in February, according to chairman MK Lu of Sino-American Silicon Products (SA...

Taiwan solar-grade silicon wafer makers hike prices

Jan 14, 20:44

Taiwan-based makers have hiked quotes for high energy conversion rate solar-grade wafers to about US$1 per wafer due to tight supplies, according to industry sources.

Powertec Energy raises funds for polysilicon factory

Jan 14, 20:11

Taiwan-based polysilicon maker Powertec Energy has raised an additional paid-in capital of NT$3.6 billion (US$120 million) and obtained syndicated loans of NT$4.8 billion to reach the NT$23 billion needed to establish the first phase of its planned factory in central Taiwan, company president Scott...

Record 2013 solar PV installations promotes US to strongest market outside Asia-Pacific, says Solarbuzz

Jan 10, 14:31

New solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in the US reached a record 4.2GW during 2013. Since 2012, the US market has grown 15%, making it the leading solar market outside the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, according to Solarbuzz.

Taiwan to open 4th nuclear power plant in 2105, says MOEA

Jan 8, 14:23

The first generator of Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant located in the northeastern coast is expected to come into operation in 2015, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

Potential net-energy metering rollbacks will not impact solar markets in the US during 2014, says IHS

Jan 7, 15:48

Despite efforts from some US states to re-evaluate their net-energy metering (NEM) policies, the impact of any potential changes on the US photovoltaics (PV) industry is expected to be negligible in 2014, according to IHS.

Japan, US take up 50%, 30% of Taiwan solar cell orders in 2013

Jan 7, 14:38

The Japan and the US markets directly or indirectly accounted for 50% and 30% of total orders received by Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers in 2013, according to industry sources.

Giga Sola December revenues hit record for fourth time straight

Jan 7, 11:07

PV conductive paste maker Giga Solar Materials has reported consolidated revenues of NT$583 million (US$19.4 million) for December, hitting a record for the fourth consecutive month with growth of 13.4% on month and 211.03% on year.

Neo Solar, GET report strong December sales

Jan 7, 11:03

Crystalline silicon solar cell maker Neo Solar Power generated December consolidated revenues of NT$2.406 billion (US$80.2 million), hitting the highest since March 2011 and increasing 3.12% sequentially and 300.18% on year. Solar-grade polycrystalline silicon wafer maker Green Energy Technology (GET)...