Mark Osborne has nearly three decades of experience in covering both the semiconductor and photovoltaics manufacturing industries. In his current roles as senior news editor for PV Tech and sister technical journal, Photovoltaics International, Mark covers the key developments in the PV industry on a global level and continues to provide insight and analysis via his editor's blog.
‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member, GCL System Integration Technology (GCL-SI) is to build a 60GW solar module megacomplex in Hefei City, China at a cost of approximately US$2.5 billion over a four-year period.
‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member discloses that its manufacturing operations in Jiangsu, China had suffered an outbreak of COVID-19 that had necessitated a temporary partial shutdown.
Having already guided expected GAAP net losses of US$145-195 million for 2020, high-performance PV manufacturer, SunPower is planning to make operating cuts to save around US$50 million, due to ongoing impact of COVID-19 and has withdrawn previous financial guidance for the year.
‘Solar Module Super League (SMSL) member, Canadian Solar plans to increase module assembly capacity by 3GW in 2020, giving the company a total nameplate capacity of 16GW, while shipments were guided between a range of 10GW to 12GW for the year.
Germany-based LPKF Laser & Electronics AG has told PV Tech that its manufacturing plants in Germany are able to operate at normal capacity levels, despite the continued impact of COVID-19.
Italian utility Enel has been forced to close the solar manufacturing operations of subsidiary 3SUN after Italian government directives on 22 March 2020 ordered closure of all non-essential production facilities nationwide.
Major semiconductor and specialist solar equipment manufacturer withdraws its business outlook for its FYQ2 as pandemic hits supply chain and manufacturing operations.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has warned that support is needed for approximately 250,000 people that directly work in the US solar industry as COVID-19 could impact as much as 50% of the sector.
Fraunhofer ISE expects to maintain much of their R&D activities despite COVID-19 restrictions as many engineers are said to working from home.
Leading monocrystalline wafer producer and ‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member approves around US$985 million in capex on three separate capacity expansion projects totaling 25GW for 2020.
Major polysilicon and merchant solar cell producer, Tongwei Group is adding 40,000MT of high-purity polysilicon at a cost of around RMB 4 billion (US$563 million), which is to result in its total polysilicon capacity reaching 155,000MT in 2021.
‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Solar has started volume production at its latest 5GW highly automated module assembly plant to produce its HI-MO 1 modules using large area 166mm x 166mm (M6) wafers.
As expected, extension of Chinese New Year due to COVID-19 and restrictions to travelling and manufacturing re-starts had a sizeable impact on PV module exports from China in February, according to the latest official figures.
China-based PV manufacturer Jiangsu Akcome Science & Technology Co is issuing non-public ‘A’ shares to raise capital to invest in a second phase capacity expansion of heterojunction (HJ) solar cell and module production.
Major polysilicon producer Wacker Chemie has guided expectations of further losses from its polysilicon division, due to continued pricing pressure.
