China
Singulus and M-Cells, China, Cooperate on Solar Cell Production
25 March 2013POSTED IN Business News
Singulus Technologies, supplier of equipment and process technology for silicon and thin-film solar cells, and M-Cells, a solar cell producer in China, agreed to expand the technologic cooperation for the mass production of crystalline silicon cells.
IHS Comments on the Rise and Fall of Suntech
24 March 2013POSTED IN Business News
Suntech Power’s epic plunge from solar module dominance to bankruptcy comes as the result of misplaced investments, a misguided pricing strategy, antidumping action in the United States and a potential new willingness by the Chinese government and banking system to cast off detrimental manufacturers, according to the IHS Solar service at information and analytics provider IHS.
Court Accepts Suntech Restructuring
21 March 2013POSTED IN Business News
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., today announced that the Wuxi Municipal Intermediate People's Court in Jiangsu Province, China has formally accepted the petition for the insolvency and restructuring of the Company's Chinese subsidiary Wuxi Suntech Power Co., Ltd.
2013 Solar Decathlon China: JinkoSolar Partners with Shanghai Jiaotong University
21 March 2013POSTED IN Business News
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., a global PV solar power product manufacturer, will partner with Shanghai Jiaotong University in the construction of its solar-powered house, including JinkoSolar high quality Solar PV modules for the 2013 Solar Decathlon China
Suntech Announces Insolvency and Restructuring
20 March 2013POSTED IN Business News
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. announced that a group of eight Chinese banks filed a petition for insolvency and restructuring of its Chinese subsidiary Wuxi Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. This comes on the heels of the announcement that the company is closing its plant in Arizona (US) and that it defaulted on bond payments.
Suntech Defaults on $541M Bond Payment
18 March 2013POSTED IN Business News
The sun is setting on Suntech, as the company announced that it has received from the trustee of its 3% Convertible Notes a notice of default and acceleration relating to Suntech's non-payment of the principal amount of $541 million (US) that was due to holders of the Notes on 15 March, 2013. Such event of default has also triggered cross-defaults under Suntech's other outstanding debt, including its loans from International Finance Corporation and Chinese domestic lenders.
Solar Decathlon China 2013: First Solar Donates Solar to IMUT Team
18 March 2013POSTED IN Business News
First Solar, Inc. announced today that a team of students from Inner Mongolia University of Technology (IMUT) will use the Company's advanced thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to power its house in the 2013 Solar Decathlon China competition. First Solar donated 150 of its PV modules with a peak generating capacity of 13 kilowatts (KW) to IMUT's "Team Green Sun" and will provide technical support for the project team, as well as collaborating with IMUT on solar education. This is the third time First Solar has supported the Solar Decathlon competitions.
SMA Takes Major Stake in Chinese Inverter Maker
15 March 2013POSTED IN Business News
SMA Solar Technology AG has concluded the acquisition of a majority stake of 72.5% in Jiangsu Zeversolar New Energy Co., Ltd., a leading inverter manufacturer in China. The acquisition of a majority share in Zeversolar was approved by the Chinese government authorities.
Threat of Anti-Dumping Duties Triggers Demand for Solar Modules in Europe
05 March 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Wholesalers and project planners are increasingly demanding European modules to avoid paying backdated anti-dumping duties for modules made in China. This development has already started to create a significant rise in demand for European-made modules from German-Scandinavian manufacturer Innotech Solar (ITS). On 6th June, the European Commission will decide whether provisional anti-dumping and countervailing duties should be imposed on solar modules imported from China.
EU Trade Investigation into Solar Glass from China
01 March 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
The European Commission launched an investigation on Thursday into claims that Chinese solar glass producers are dumping their products in the EU at rates below market value, according to a news report by Philip Blenkinsop for Reuters.
SEMI Calls for Action on Solar Trade Dispute
01 March 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
SEMI released a white paper containing recommendations to move beyond trade litigation and encourage an accelerated path toward dispute resolution. The report is authored by SEMI and the SEMI PV Public Policy Sub-committee, which is comprised of representatives from leading solar companies with global manufacturing operations.
Chaori Solar May Default on Bond Payments
22 February 2013POSTED IN Business News
Chinese solar cell company Shanghai Chaori Solar Energy Science & Technology has told bond investors it may not be able to pay interest due March 7 because of liquidity difficulties, Bloomberg reports.
The news agency says the company may post losses of as much as 1.1 billion yuan (US $176 million) for last year, according to a 21 February statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
ReneSola’s Solar Modules Obtain UL Certification
21 February 2013POSTED IN Business News
ReneSola today announced its 72-cell polysilicon modules have been listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) as meeting required standards for use in PV systems up to 1,000 volts. Also, the company's 60-cell and 72-cell modules have been listed by UL as meeting required standards for use in PV systems up to 600 volts.
Argentina to Expand Solar 35-Fold
18 February 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Argentina plans to expand solar capacity as much as 35-fold through its first government incentives for individual projects, Bloomberg reports.
China, India: ‘Promising high-growth’ solar markets
12 February 2013POSTED IN Business News
Global policy changes and the crystalline silicon module price crash have brought the solar industry to a pivotal point from which it must transform and thrive in a cost-conscious environment, targeting high-growth markets such as China and India, says Lux Research.
2012 Taiwan Total Cell Shipments Exceed 5.5GW
07 February 2013POSTED IN Business News
Taiwan’s PV industry showed growth in 2012 as shipments from cell makers reached record highs, according to to EnergyTrend, a research division of global market research firm TrendForce.
This comes despite the financial strains experienced by various countries’ solar markets and the persistence of trade disputes.
Global Solar PV Capacity to More than Triple by 2020
07 February 2013POSTED IN Business News
Global solar PV will continue to rise in the near future, with cumulative installed capacity climbing from 97GW in 2012 to 330GW by 2020, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.5%, according to GlobalData’s latest report.
PanelClaw and Powerway Form Strategic Partnership
05 February 2013POSTED IN Business News
PanelClaw and Powerway Renewable Energy have formed a strategic partnership to offer comprehensive mounting and balance-of-system (BOS) solutions for commercial and utility-scale PV projects worldwide.
The partnership aims to lower the cost of PV installations and set new standards of quality and safety by sharing global manufacturing locations, product portfolios and engineering services, according to the companies.
China Ups Solar Goal As Smog Envelopes Beijing
01 February 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
China has said it will increase its 2015 solar goal by 67 percent, Bloomberg News reports.
Government officials say the new target is an attempt to reduce greenhouse gases; the announcement comes as smog in Beijing reached hazardous levels this month.
The "Sun" King and his Castle
28 January 2013POSTED IN Editors Blogs
Now it is official: After the losses in the past months have been adding up, SolarWorld – the former star of the PV industry – has officially admitted financial problems.
