NPD Solarbuzz’s latest Solarbuzz Quarterly report states that global demand is projected to grow 6% in 2012, with market declines in Europe to be offset by 43% growth outside that region. Therefore, solar companies will face the challenge of re-building margins during a period of increasing diversity in end solar market mix. PV companies will need to shift focus from seeking market share to instead prioritizing a return to profitability after losses incurred throughout the industry following problems with over-production, excess inventories and collapsing market process.
In a brief market update, aleo solar said that it expected losses in 2011 to be in the range of €25-€30 million. The PV module manufacturer had reported an EBIT profit of €7.4 million, with an EBIT margin of 2.2% for the first 9-months of the year.
Following the Canadian government’s announcement to reduce FiT prices for new projects, The Green Energy Act Alliance and Shine Ontario Association have joined forces by releasing the Ontario Feed-in Tariff 2011 Review: More Jobs, Affordable, Clean Energy, and a Brighter Future for Ontario report. The groups represent Canada’s leading environmental and energy groups, as well as the key players in Canada’s solar industry.
Darryl Nakamoto has resigned from his position as Hoku's chief financial officer. Nakamoto, who also served as Hoku's treasurer and secretary, will remain at the company until March 31, 2012 to help the search for his successor and assist with the transition.
Dye-sensitized solar thin-film specialist, Dyesol has claimed a 15% increase in the efficiency performance of large DSC strip cells has been achieved, bringing industrial DSC efficiency up from 6.9% to 8% in 2011. The increase in efficiency results were said to come from improvements in materials and structural design elements.
Financially challenged silicon metal supplier, Timminco has tapped Bank of America for the remaining US$2.9 million of a revolving credit facility, resulting in the company having to pursue alternative sources of financing. The Canada-based materials producer recently reported third quarter sales of US$28.6 million and a net loss of US$2.4 million.
Avancis has said that its new state-of-the-art CIS thin-film module production plant has begun ramping. Construction of the 100MW capacity facility started in June 2010 and enables the company to offer new products, boost efficiencies and lower costs, compared to its previous 20MW facility. The number of employees at Avancis is set to double from the current 250 to almost 500.
Market research firm, IHS iSuppli has undertaken its first product teardown and analysis within the PV industry. An Aurora PVI-4.2-OUTD-S-US Inverter from Power-One was used in the teardown, which IHS iSuppli said provided a path-setting benchmark for cost reduction within a sector of the industry expected to undergo rapid price erosion, inline with other industry sectors such as polysilicon, wafers, cells and modules.
IDC Energy Insights has released its findings for the PV module market over the next four years. The firm’s encouraging figures are forecasting that on a global scale, PV module shipments will rise from their current 22.7GW level (2011) to 43.8GW in 2015.
