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Lean pickings in the PV equipment sector in 2012 could lead to a shakeup in the equipment supplier pecking order, according to the latest report from NPD Solarbuzz. Having relinquished its number one spot in the semiconductor industry last year - the first time in several decades - Applied Materials could also lose its leadership position in the PV industry that has been a 14-quarter reign that began in 2008.
Having already reduced production capacity to control inventory build, SunPower is making further manufacturing cost reductions that had not previously been cited within its ‘Manufacturing Step Reduction Program.’ The company said it would stop using its Fab 1 facility in the Philippines and consolidate production at Fab 2 in the Philippines and its newer facility, Fab 3 in Malaysia, operated as a JV with AU Optronics.
Hanwha Solar’s Korea and China PV R&D centres have been joined by a geographically distant sibling with the company opening its latest R&D laboratory in Santa Clara, California. The facility will focus on next-generation PV concepts for efficient, low-cost conversion of solar energy into electricity. Hanwha invested US$14 million to construct the 30,000 square foot site, which it notes was built with room for expansion in mind.
Earlier this month, TÜV InterCert Saar India officially opened its new office in Bangalore. The company originally announced its intent to open an office on November 3, 2011.
Spire Corporation has been selected to provide a 20MW turnkey module assembly line to a partnership between renewable energy project developer, SKY Energy International and Metals and Engineering Corporation and an Ethiopian state enterprise, Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC) that will be the first module plant in Ethiopia.
The Hindu Business Line has reported that power equipment manufacturer Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has made almost a US$4 million (Rs 20 crore) investment into the expansion of its PV module manufacturing division, escalating its line from a 8MW capacity to a 26MW capacity. The increase is expected to be completed by September.
In a joint venture, NYSE Euronext and research company Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) have developed three new sector indices covering solar and wind energy as well as energy smart technologies (EST). Each index is produced using the different global stock market values of 70–200 industry companies, and a minimum threshold exposure to applicable renewable energy sectors is also calculated.
The Regulatory Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO) has restarted inspection of Slovakian power plants after receiving information on small and large-scale fraud and unfair practice from several sources. It is alleged the misdemeanors took place during construction and installation of Slovakian power plants.
Bidding for the real estate, patents and facility inventory of failed Dutch thin-film PV cell manufacturer Nuon Helianthos BV, will begin on April 16. The company announced that the pilot plant, located in Arnhem, would be closed last year after failing to reach commercial production due to lack of investment.
A subsidiary of MX Group, Solarday has gone into liquidation, according to a brief statement on its website. The company had opened it module assembly plant in Mezzago, Brianza, Italy in 2006 and had employed over 100 people, claiming it had achieved turnover in 2009 of over €60 million. MX Group had acquired a majority ownership of Solarday in 2011.
