After Solar Power Portal last week reported that photovoltaic installations in the UK had begun to tail off, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has quietly updated its weekly data revealing shocking figures not even the most optimistic of us would have expected.
Approximately half of China’s PV manufacturing firms have ceased production, according to a report on the Chinese newspaper Guangzhou Daily and as cited by Digitimes. Chronic oversupply and massive price drops would appear to have nudged the lower-performing China-based manufacturers over the edge, with the solar energy division of CSG Holding’s research suggesting that half have stopped production, around 30% are at half their production capability and 20% are at pains to maintain their current levels of production.
Dow Corning has signed a long-term contract to supply Air Products with its electronic-grade silane. Air Products will distribute the gas to its clients in the PV and electronics industries.
The South Africa Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a joint venture between SolarReserve, a US developer of utility-scale solar power projects, the Kensani Group, an empowered infrastructure player in the Southern African market and Intikon Energy, a South African developer of renewable energy projects, preferred bidder status. Installing two 75MW plants, the consortium’s new status will give them the right to proceed with executing a 20 year government-supported power purchase agreement with the South African power utility company, Eskom.
centrotherm, turnkey solutions provider, has entered into an agreement to use Eyelit’s Enterprise Manufacturing Execution suite (MES) for its PV module production, expanding Eyelit’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
juwi solar has signed a contract to sell the electricity produced by its planned 19MW Queen Creek PV system in Arizona to Salt River Project (SRP). The 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) will begin once the installation is grid connected at the end of 2012.
Ontility is advising that it is helping its customers take advantage of the current market solar module oversupply with its launch of BidaMod, a module bidding platform for solar module buyers and installers. By sending Ontility one’s panel spec requirements and preferred price, the company advises that its purchasing team will match a buyer’s solar module needs with the latest competitive offers from module manufacturers.
Arizona Public Service’s (APS) Cotton Center solar plant has officially come online in Gila Bend, Arizona. The 17MW facility was developed and constructed by Solon and brings APS’ total renewable portfolio to 930MW. Constructed on 145 acres, and using over 93,000 single-axis tracking PV panels that were placed in 1,662 rows, the project is expected to fulfill the energy needs of over 4,000 APS customers.
Scheuten Solar has supplied 600 of its custom-made building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules for a 220kW installation at the Carrara Stadium on Australia’s Gold Coast.
An attempt to regain lost revenue has led to MEMC Electronic Materials’ decision to cut its global workforce by 20%, or over 1,300 employees. Among other activities, the company will also idle its 6,000MT Merano, Italy polysilicon facility, which it says it will close unless “dramatic feedstock, power and other cost reductions are achieved” in the near future.
