Financial Information
NPD Solarbuzz: PV polysilicon prices to drop 48% in 2012
02 July 2012POSTED IN Business News
PV polysilicon prices are forecast to drop 48% and wafer prices 56% year-over-year in 2012, according to NPD Solarbuzz Q2’12 Polysilicon and Wafer Supply Chain Quarterly Report.
Abound Files for Bankruptcy
28 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
Abound Solar, a panel manufacturer based in Colorado (US) filed for bankruptcy, according to the federal Department of Energy.
SPI Solar Acquires Italy-Based Solar Green Technologies
28 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
SPI Solar, a solar developer, today announced that it has acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Italy-based Solar Green Technologies (SGT) from LDK Solar Europe Holdings S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of LDK Solar Co., Ltd., and the two founders of SGT for €5 million EUR (~$6.2 million USD).
AES Solar Closes on €77M Project Financing For Italian 27MW PV Portfolio
27 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
AES Solar announced today that it closed on €77 million of long-term non-recourse financing for Elpida, a portfolio of 10 solar PV power plants totaling 27MW, located in the Lazio and Sicily regions of Italy. The financing facility closed in May and was used to refinance the equity advanced during construction of the Elpida project.
US DoC Discovers Additional Chinese Solar Subsidies
26 June 2012POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
According to the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), the US Department of Commerce (DoC) today announced that it has found additional subsidies benefitting Chinese producers of solar cells and modules. As a result, the new countervailing duty rates would increase from 2.9% to 3.44% on Wuxi Suntech and from 4.73% to 5.81% on Trina Solar. The rate for all other Chinese solar companies would also increase, since the "all-others" rate is a weighted average of the Trina and Suntech rates.
Lux: HCPV market will reach $1.6 billion in 2017
26 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
High-concentrating photovoltaics (HCPV), a technology to tap more of the sun’s energy than other solar methods, will see a 31% compound annual growth rate until 2017, according to a Lux Research report.
Driven by emerging markets with high solar resources, the market for HCPV will grow to 697MW in 2017, creating a system market worth US $1.6 billion and a module market worth US $700 million, reaching a system price of US $2.33/W, the report forecasts.
Crystalline PV Module Profits Fall to Single Digits
26 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
Average gross profits of crystalline photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturers fell to just $0.09 (USD) per watt (/W) in the first quarter of 2012, putting huge pressure on suppliers according to the "PV Modules, Cells, Wafers & Polysilicon - Supply & Demand Quarterly" report for the second quarter of 2012," from IMS Research, which was recently acquired by IHS Inc. As a result of continued price pressure and highly competitive market conditions throughout the PV industry, gross profits are forecast to continue to fall further to only $0.07/W by the end of 2012.
Solar Finance Brokerage Platform Launches Today
26 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
SCS Renewables, a solar finance brokerage, announced today the release of its innovative online brokerage platform for project investors and banks. The platform uses key investor criteria to drive the solar development and financing process.
Global Solar Energy Deutschland Applies for German Insolvency Proceedings
25 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
Global Solar Energy announced today that the German executive team applied for insolvency proceedings at Global Solar’s wholly owned German subsidiary, Global Solar Energy Deutschland.
Canadian Solar and SkyPower Global Ink Purchase Transaction
22 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
Canadian Solar Inc. and SkyPower Global announced the close of their landmark purchase transaction, under which Canadian Solar has acquired a majority interest in 16 solar projects representing approximately 190-200MW DC from SkyPower. The companies also formally launched their new international 50:50 joint venture agreement, called CSI SkyPower.
Japan's Solar Tariff Increase Sees Rise in Stock Prices
19 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
Shares of solar power specialists rose on Monday after Japan moved to boost its spending on electricity from sunlight as an alternative to nuclear power.
NanoMarkets: $4.6M organic PV market to grow
05 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
A new study by NanoMarkets says the global organic photovoltaics (OPV) market, currently estimated at US $4.6 million, will grow, and market expansion will be mainly driven by electronics in apparel, posters and PoP smart labels, and off-grid developing world applications.
Chinese Manufacturer to Purchase Q-Cells' Subsidiary
04 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
After many rumours about a possible possible purchase of insolvent German solar company, Q-Cells, Hanergy Holding Group was announced as the buyer for Solibro, a subsidiary of Q-Cells.
Konarka Technologies Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Protection
04 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
Konarka Technologies, Inc., a leading developer of thin-film solar panels, has filed for bankruptcy protection under chapter 7 of the Federal bankruptcy laws. Under chapter 7 proceedings, the company’s operations cease and a trustee is tasked with liquidating the company’s assets for the benefit of creditors. Creditors will be asked to submit their claims to the Bankruptcy Court and are unable to obtain payment from the company.
Day4 Energy Delists Toronto Stock Exchange Shares
31 May 2012POSTED IN Business News
Day4 Energy, a Canadian PV company, today announced that it has been advised that the Toronto Stock Exchange will delist the company’s common shares at the close of markets on 22 June 2012 following an application for voluntary delisting made by the Company.
SolarBridge Technologies Secures $25 Million in Series D Funding
30 May 2012POSTED IN Business News
SolarBridge Technologies, a provider of microinverter solutions used in AC solar modules, announced it has secured $25 million in Series D funding. The company has raised more than $71 million to date.
Bella Energy Completes Utah's Largest Solar Array
25 May 2012POSTED IN Applications News
Bella Energy, based in Denver, Colorado (US) announced the completion of a 1.65MW solar array atop the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah (US). Covering 3.85 acres of rooftop, the project is currently the largest solar photovoltaic system on Rocky Mountain Power's entire electric grid. It is also the largest solar array in the State of Utah.
Mondragon Assembly Wins Contracts for Solar Manufacturing Facilities in Lithuania and Central Asia
10 May 2012POSTED IN Business News
The cooperative Mondragon Assembly, based in Aretxabaleta (Gipuzkoa), Spain, which specialises in automation and robotics solutions, has recently secured two new orders worth more than 11 million euros.
Westinghouse Solar and CBD Energy Sign Merger
09 May 2012POSTED IN Business News
Westinghouse Solar, a designer and manufacturer of integrated rooftop solar power systems, and CBD Energy, a renewable energy company, today jointly announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement.
Kyocera Launches Kyocera Solar Finance
07 May 2012POSTED IN Business News
Kyocera Solar today announced the launch of Kyocera Solar Finance, a program designed to provide loan and lease options to consumers seeking light commercial and mid-to-large commercial installations. In partnership with De Lage Landen Financial Services, Kyocera Solar Finance will offer up to 100% financing for qualified borrowers.
