Japan
Japan Set to Become World's Largest Solar Market
30 May 2013POSTED IN Business News
Japan’s solar installations surged by a stunning 270% (in gigawatts (GW)) in the first quarter of 2013, positioning the country to surpass Germany to become the world’s largest photovoltaics (PV) market in terms of revenue this year.
Lux Research Report Forecasts Photovoltaics Market to Reach $155 Billion in 2018
21 May 2013POSTED IN Business News
The solar photovoltaic (PV) market is poised to rise from the ashes of its 2011 crisis to grow to $155 billion in 2018, as market forces engineer a turnaround to a healthy 10.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), says Lux Research.
Sharp Achieves 37.9% Solar Cell Conversion Efficiency
26 April 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Sharp Corporation has achieved solar cell conversion efficiency*1 of 37.9%*2 using a triple-junction compound solar cell in which three photo-absorption layers are stacked together.
REC-powered Solar Plant Goes Online in Japan
08 April 2013POSTED IN Applications News
REC, a European supplier of solar panels, recently cut the ribbon on a brand new 1.7MW solar power plant in Yonago, Tottori, Japan.
IEA Responds to Japan Redefining Natural Energy Strategy
04 April 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
IEA Deputy Executive Director Richard H. Jones consulted with Japanese officials on the expertise and advice the Agency and its energy efficiency specialists can provide Japan on altering its systems to reduce dependency on energy imports.
Photo caption: IEA Deputy Executive Director Richard H. Jones in Tokyo. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, all rights reserved.
Draker Installs Dual-Language PV Monitoring System in Japan
03 April 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Draker installed its first panel-to-grid (P2G) monitoring solution at the Ami Solar Park, a 705kW grid-connected solar PV site operating under the FiT scheme instituted last summer as part of Japan's renewable energy scheme.
Japan PV Market to Grow 120% in 2013
18 March 2013POSTED IN Business News
The Japanese photovoltaic (PV) market is set to grow by 120% in 2013 and install more than 5 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity, according to a new report, “The PV Market in Japan,” from IMS Research, now part of IHS Inc.
Proinso Opens Japan Branch
14 February 2013POSTED IN Business News
Proinso today announced it has opened a branch office in Tokyo to begin operating in the Japanese solar PV market.
Panasonic Solar Cell Achieves 24.7% Efficiency
11 February 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Panasonic's (6752.TO, PC) prototype solar cell has achieved the world's highest conversion efficiency at 24.7%, according to tests performed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, as reported by the Nikkei.
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.
Draker Clarity DC Selected for 2MW Solar PV Plant
06 February 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Draker has been selected to install its fully integrated Draker AC and Clarity DC panel-to-grid (P2G) monitoring solution at a 2MW AC site, the largest installation to date for a fully integrated Draker AC and Clarity DC monitoring system.
The solar PV plant in Massachusetts (US) is a fixed mount, 600V system with utility grid interconnection.
Kyocera Solar to Power ‘Social Contribution Power Plant’
18 January 2013POSTED IN Business News
Kyocera Solar Corporation is working with Ryukoku University, Inami Town, Plus Social, and the Trans Value Trust Company to install Japan’s first-ever social contribution mega-solar power generation plant, the groups have announced.
PV Module Shipments Surge in 2012 Q4
15 January 2013POSTED IN Business News
After a disastrous third quarter of 2012 featuring extremely low factory utilization rates across the entire photovoltaic supply chain, the market saw a surge in demand in the final quarter of the year for PV modules.
A new PV module shipment record of 11GW was reached in the fourth quarter, according to the IHS Solar Integrated Market Tracker.
Polysilicon Industry to Resume Growth in 2013, Report Says
09 January 2013POSTED IN Business News
The global polysilicon industry will return to the path of growth and increase its production by 6.5% in 2013, according to an analysis by Bernreuter Research.
The polysilicon market research firm projects the global polysilicon net demand, including that of the semiconductor industry, but excluding the consumption of inventories, will amount to approximately 250,000 metric tons (MT) this year.
Madico Protekt Backsheets Secure JET Certification
26 November 2012POSTED IN Business News
Madico, a PV solar module backsheet manufacturer, today announced its Protekt backsheet has been granted certification from Japan’s Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratories (JET).
Thailand, Indonesia Drive South East Asia PV Market
01 November 2012POSTED IN Business News
Total cumulative photovoltaic installations in Southeast Asia are forecast to reach almost 5GW by 2016, according to the latest report from IMS Research.
The report, which analyses the PV markets in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Philippines, says that the region will grow at 50% per year on average over the next five years, providing an attractive market for ailing suppliers in Europe. Installations have previously been dominated by Thailand, however, other regions are also forecast to quickly and account for significant share of the market.
PV Module Market Recovery Expected in ‘Second Half of 2013’
30 October 2012POSTED IN Business News
Overcapacity, a decline in pricing as well as slowing growth in key worldwide markets will serve to keep the global photovoltaic market for solar modules depressed for the rest of the year, with recovery not expected until well in the second half of 2013, according to an IHS iSuppli PV Integrated market tracker report from information and analytics provider IHS.
Global revenue for the solar module industry comprising both crystalline and thin-film modules fell for the first time this year during the third quarter to US $6.63 billion, down 7% from $7.14 billion in the second quarter. Prior to the decline, revenue had been up 2% in the second quarter from $7.03 billion in the first quarter.
Oerlikon Receives Regulatory Approval to Divest Solar Segment
23 October 2012POSTED IN Business News
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has given merger control approval for the sale of Oerlikon’s Solar Segment to Tokyo Electron (TEL).
Oerlikon and TEL signed the contract to divest the Solar Segment on 2 March.
IMS Research: Challenges ahead for inverter suppliers in 2013
23 October 2012POSTED IN Business News
IMS Research forecasts 2013 to be another challenging year for photovoltaic inverter manufacturers, with flat revenue growth globally and a major shift away from traditional markets leading to a reshaping of the supplier base.
Ontario Loses FiT Challenge
16 October 2012POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Ontario has lost a trade challenge to its feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme that forces participating companies to buy up to 60% of their equipment from local manufacturers, the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) reports.
