Manz Automation has reported strong revenue growth in the first nine months of 2010. Sales reached €121.3 million, compared to €46.7 million in the same period a year ago. Revenues in the third quarter of 2010 reached €53.8 million, driven by new product sales for the production of crystalline solar cells. Revenue was €18.5 million in the same quarter of the previous year. Due to continued demand, Manz has raised its revenue guidance for 2010 to between €170 - €175 million, up from at least, €140 million.
Increased orders from PV manufacturers in Asia are responsible for Despatch Industries posting third quarter revenue in excess of US$75 million. Despatch said it had expanded production capacity to meet demand, particularly for thermal furnaces. Lead times have subsequently declined for its range of products, the company said.
New supply agreements with multiple customers have pushed JA Solar’s 2011 delivery commitments passed 1.2GW. The cell and module manufacturer said it had secured an additional 600MW of new product orders, all with delivery dates in 2011 and had received prepayments associated with these customer orders.
Meyer Burger has concluded a CHF 70 million wire saw and wafer inspection systems contract with an unnamed customer in Asia. The contract will enable the customer to expand its production facility during next year.
One of the biggest pressures that the solar module industry faces is the ability to produce a solar module at a lower cost. Due to this demand in pricing, IMS Research has concluded that over 70% of module production capacity is made in Asia as of 2010’s fourth quarter. The trend to move production to Asia isn’t a passing one as IMS foresees that by the end of 2011, over 75% of the world’s PV production will take place in Asia.
Platina Partners has finalized its acquisition of 10MW of solar PV projects from the Degennaro Group. The 10 solar PV plants are located in the Puglia region of Italy, are each 1MW and mark the first operational plants in Italy for Platina. Their portfolio now includes 162MW of renewable energy projects in operation, 31MW of those being operational solar PV projects.
The second stage of a 44MW solar power plant in Thailand is to receive 9.43MW of solar panels and technical support from Suntech Power. Upon completion, the project, which is owned by Bangchak Petroleum Public and integrated by Solartron Public, is expected to be one of the largest in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The contract comes after Suntech was chosen to provide 34.5MW of solar panels and technical support for the project's first phase back in August 2010.
Critical information and insight source, IHS, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire iSuppli. The transaction, which is subject to closing conditions contained in the agreement document, is expected to be completed by November 15.
Suntech and Infigen Energy have filed documents outlining the companies' intention to construct four solar energy farms in New South Wales, Australia. If provided with Government permission, the project is expected to cost AUD$780 million (US$792 million).
Solon has inaugurated its first ground-mounted solar power plants in France, located in Ferrassières near Avignon, in the Rhône-Alpes region. Solon Investments planned and constructed the two turnkey plants, with a combined nominal output of 3MWp, on the former site of two launch pads for intercontinental nuclear ballistic missiles.
