The US Department of Commerce has released its preliminary determination on countervailing imports of silicon PV modules from China. The DoC states Chinese producers and exporters received a subsidy ranging between 2.9-4.73%. Many analysts had expected subsidies in the range of 20-30%. Suntech and Trina Solar appear to have been singled out with Suntech having received 2.9% and Trina 4.73%; all other Chinese companies will receive 3.61%.
Sainsbury’s has announced PV installations on the roofs of 115 of its supermarkets throughout the UK, totalling 7MW. The cylindrical PV modules were installed by British company Renewable Resources Energy Solutions.
Thin-film module manufacturer Stion has announced that it will begin shipping from its Mississippi factory after receiving certifications from Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and International Electrotechnical Commissions (IEC). The move follows the development of modules with a nominal power of up to 140MW. Commercial shipments will commence from the Hattiesburg plant later this month.
China’s success will cause Germany’s solar manufacturing industry to vanish, predicts a member of EON’s managing board. Klaus-Dieter Maubach stated the industry will become non-existent in five years time.
The difficult solar market in the last quarter of 2011, led Elkem Solar to suspend operations at its plant in Kristiansand, Norway. However, the company has advised that full production has been restored due to an increase in orders for Elkem Solar Silicon.
China-based developer Solar EnerTech Corp has advised that despite its financial struggles requiring it to deregister its common stock; it has retained FTI Consulting to lead its restructuring plans. A chief restructuring officer from FTI has been appointed to explore alternatives to maximize the return to investors.
Aide Solar has multiplied its module portfolio with the release of its Quasi-mono module line, which is comprised of 21 additional modules. The new line is available in 60 and 72 cell designs, with power ratings from 230 to 320W. The company noted that the new modules, which it states have up to a 4% higher conversion efficiency at the module level than traditional polycrystalline, have completed UL certification and are available for release in the US market.
Solar IPP Sonnedix has announced the acquisition of a 5.4MW ground mounted facility in France from Element Power Solar. Fully operational since February 2011, the plant is located in St Martin Lalande, near Carcassonne and expected to generate in excess of 6,000MWh per annum.
Sunlogics Power, a subsidiary of the Salamon Group, is now the senior creditor of the collapsed DayStar Technologies, a company developing thin-film CIGS deposition technology. Sunlogics is DayStar’s business development and strategic opportunities consultant and will continue to advise in this function.
Citing further pricing pressures in the fourth quarter of 2011, LDK Solar has revised down fourth quarter financial guidance and warned of further inventory write downs, expected to be from its polysilicon production operations. The company has already made several downward amendments to its expected quarterly results in 2011, resulting in excess of US$1 billion wiped-off expected revenue and over 1GW in expected wafer shipments alone.
