SMA Solar Technology AG has reported a 25% decline in first quarter sales compared to the same period in 2008. The solar inverter leader said that it didn’t rule out a decline in global demand for PV system in 2009 but expects an increase in sales of at least 65% to about €145 to€165 million in the second quarter. Sales in the first quarter totalled €86.7 million compared to €115.1 million in 2008.
Although there is an expected decline in the demand for advanced chemicals and materials used in PV solar cells and modules, Linx-AEI Consulting said in a new report that the market would return to growth in 2010 and reach a value of approximately $15 billion by 2015. PV chemicals and materials used for all types of technology will decline to US$2.3 billion in 2009, Linx-AEI Consulting said.
Fluor Corporation has entered into the renewables industry with its plan to establish a dedicated renewables business line within its Power Group. The new division will focus on all forms of renewable energy, complementing the company’s existing nuclear, gas fueled, solid fueled and air quality control businesses with lines for solar, wind and biomass.
MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. has moved to expand it Board of Directors to 10 members with the news that it has added Emmanuel (Manny) T. Hernandez to its Board. Mr. Hernandez retired from his role as CFO at SunPower last November, where he had served for over three years.
There would seem to be signs that project finance for large-scale photovoltaic energy plants is reappearing, according to tentative comments from Phoenix Solar AG. The systems integrator noted in its first quarter financial statement that the backlog in the financing of large photovoltaic power plants appeared to be ‘easing slowly.’
Weaker demand in the first quarter of 2009, coupled to over-supply of modules in key markets has forced CENTROSOLAR Group AG to write-off its remaining 2008 PV module and materials inventory. CENTROSOLAR's gross profit was pushed down by one-off factors from €14.6 million in the previous year to €6.7 million.
Applied Materials Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mike Splinter, expects capital spending in the photovoltaics industry to decline by approximately 50% in 2009 as access to capital, over-capacity and weaker demand due to the global economic recession is limiting PV manufacturers' expansion plans this year.
A new European record has been claimed by the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, for copper-indium-gallium-diselenide thin film solar cell, which has produced under pilot production conditions. ZSW said that a 19.6% conversion efficiency had been recorded using an inline multistage process in its automated coating plant. The results have been certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.
CIGS thin-film start-up, DayStar Technologies reported a first quarter loss of US$7.7 million, with US$6.5 million in cash and cash equivalents remaining. DayStar had total liabilities of US$16.0 million, and total stockholders' equity was US$37.0 million. The company had US$10 million of purchase orders for equipment outstanding. The company said in its SEC 10Q filing that it would be forced to curtail operations as it had not been able to raise new funds to date.
2,500 Solar Industry Participants Eligible to Vote for Next Solar Manufacturing Leader. Photovoltaics International, a leading source for technical manufacturing information and news concerning the solar industry, along with the organisers of the International Solar Technology Awards, the Cell Awards, invite the solar industry to vote online for its favourite manufacturing technology. To vote members of the industry must register online before May 13th and then simply rate entries on a scale of 1-20. The winners of the Cell Award will be announced at Intersolar Munich on May 28th.
