Companies

The production volume of solar PV panels based on thin-film deposition of semiconductor materials on large-area glass panels is set to hit a seven-year low in 2017, in spite of the end-market demand for solar panels increasing by a factor of three over the same time period.

Sweden-based flexible CIGS thin-film manufacturing equipment supplier Midsummer said it had almost doubled sales in 2016, leading to a profit for the year.

Lyndon Rive, founder and former chief executive of SolarCity has announced that he is leaving Tesla, the residential solar giant’s new owners since November.

Updated: The US solar trade body, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) said it would spearhead the campaign against the trade petition by US-based bankrupt cell and module manufacturer, Suniva with the USITC (United States International Trade Commission) that threatens import duties on all crystalline solar cells and panels imported from anywhere across the world not produced in the US.

Taiwan-based cell and module producer Neo Solar Power (NSP) is not expecting a recovery in sales until fourth quarter of 2017, due to a series of market forces impacting its business.

Arizonan utility Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has proposed a new rates structure for rooftop solar customers that would cut solar credits and instate time-of-use (ToU) rates.

With its parent company SolarWorld AG and German-based subsidiaries at the early stage of insolvency proceedings, US subsidiary SolarWorld Americas Inc., has said for the first time since its parent company went bankrupt that it was planning to operate its manufacturing plant in Hillsboro, Oregon and other operations as normal.

PV inverter manufacturers SMA Solar, SolarEdge and Enphase have all recently reported first quarter 2017 financial results. As already highlighted by PV Tech, US residential PV installers have reported softer than normal sales in the quarter and dependence on the US market for SMA Solar and Enphase, coupled to continued pricing pressure took a toll on revenues.

Analysts and developers alike have been saying that Mexico will be the next biggest solar market for years now. But according to GTM Research’s Manan Parikh, the time is finally approaching for solar to ‘take-off’ in Mexico.

SolarWorld AG's insolvency will not impact the continuation of the minimum import price (MIP) with the extension of the measures already enshrined in law by the European Commission.