Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger Technology has reported strengthening sales, orders and backlog in the first half of 2016, driven by planned capacity expansions from major PV manufacturers across wafer, cell and modules, primarily in Asia.
Indian renewable energy firm, Tata Power Solar, a subsidiary of Tata Power, has commissioned a 100MW solar project under local content requirements in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.
PV and electronics equipment manufacturing and automation specialist Manz AG has reported continued demand for automation system in China for solar manufacturing applications that have generated €17.5 million in first half year revenue, up 66.7% from the prior year period.
During the period 2006 to 2011, equipment spending for solar manufacturing was a really big deal for capital equipment suppliers. Companies such as GT Advanced Technologies (then GT Solar) and Applied Materials (serving thin-film and c-Si expansions alike) were clocking up billion-dollar plus backlogs.
PV and polysilicon manufacturing equipment specialist centrotherm photovoltaics has reported first half 2016 consolidated revenue of €61.9 million and an order intake for the period of €89.5 million.
High-efficiency PV module producer and project developer SunPower said it was reducing its focus in PV power plant development outside the US and focusing more resources to the distributed generation market in the US.
Taiwan-based solar cell and wafer producers are being impacted by slowing demand from China and unfolding overcapacity that has resulted in ASP declines hitting monthly revenue figures since June.
Chinese solar cell and module manufacturer Hareon Solar Technology is bouncing back after its US$90 million lawsuit last year with new investment in its PV business and a new partnership.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Amtech Systems backed-up previous quarters order bookings with solar equipment sales in its third fiscal quarter of 2016, reaching US$19 million.
In this week's Movers & Shakers segment, PV Tech focuses on employment shakeups in the US, Europe and Asia as key renewables companies reveal some hires and departures from the last fortnight.
