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.
A key ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar delisted from the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) just over a year ago and for some time seemed to have hunkered down and got on with business behind closed media doors, occasionally making public announcements but in general public engagement was limited.
Leading integrated high-efficiency monocrystalline module manufacturer and ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Green Energy Technology has secured a large PV module supply deal with a major PV power plant developer in the US.
Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger has reported preliminary first half year financial results, highlighting strong sales and a return to profitability but weak order intake, due to Chinese government solar policy changes at the beginning of June.
Polysilicon producer REC Silicon expects its FBR (Fluidized bed reactor) polysilicon production to decline 42% in the third quarter of 2018, after recently announcing further cuts in workforce and production at its Moses Lake facility that would operate at only 25% utilisation rates. The company noted that it was evaluating the possible suspension of all of its solar related materials business in the US.
Major China-based PV module manufacturer Risen Energy, which entered PV Tech’s Top 10 module manufacturer’s rankings for the first time in 2017, has recently held a ground-breaking ceremony for its planned 5GW solar module manufacturing base in the Yiwu Information Optoelectronics High-tech Industrial Park, Zhejiang, China.
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) has launched a new global service, offering a PV Power Plant Certificate to verify the performance of PV systems at several key stages, such as commissioning or during operation. The delivered certificate is also made publicly available in UL’s online database, providing greater transparency for all stake holders.
Major PV metallization paste producer Heraeus Photovoltaics has announced that its President, Andreas Liebheit has already stepped down from his position, due to personal reasons.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member GCL System Integrated Technology (GCL-SI) expects to report a small profit for the first half of 2018, due to late positive developments after previously guiding a small loss in the reporting period.
NOS Microsystems has developed an electronic software delivery (ESD) ecosystem called 'getPlus' that bridges the gap between automation provider and end user by seamlessly integrating into the industrial automation providers’ licensing structures and databases—SAP, Oracle etc…to monitor the status of machines so exact updates, and incompatibility issues are identified. The user-friendly tool helps factories make the transition to industry 4.0.
China-based integrated monocrystalline PV manufacturer Solargiga Energy Holdings has reported a small increase in external shipments in the first half of 2018, while revenue declined by less than 10%.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JA Solar has said that its previously planned acquisition by an investor consortium via an all-cash transaction led by its founder, chairman and CEO, Baofang Jin had been completed, resulting in de-listing from the NASDAQ stock exchange.
China-based polysilicon and wafer producer Daqo New Energy is feeling the significant impact from the recent change in the Chinese government’s solar deployment policies as multicrystalline wafer shipments have been slashed by as much as 50% for the second quarter of 2018.
China-based PV module materials and N-type mono and IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact) bifacial module manufacturer, Jolywood has solidified its business relationship with Qinghai province State Power Investment Corporation’s Huanghe Hydropower Development Co., (SPIC) by establishing a joint laboratory to advance new materials, cells and module technology.
Specialist gallium arsenide (GaAs) PV manufacturer Alta Devices, a subsidiary of Hanergy Group has achieved a new solar cell conversion efficiency record of 28.9%, which was certified by NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory).
Leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar has secured a JPY5.3 billion (US$47.8 million) syndicated loan agreement for up to two years with a bank consortium led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) to expand its business in Japan.
