The German Engineering Federation (VDMA) has reported a slowdown in new solar PV manufacturing equipment orders from its members in the third quarter of 2016.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Singulus Technologies said it had received the next contractually agreed pre-payment from the Chinese state-owned enterprise China National Building Materials (CNBM), owner of CIGS thin-film manufacturer, AVANCIS.
PV manufacturer Wuxi Suntech has established a new sales and service hub in Europe since withdrawing from the EU Minimum Import Price (MIP) agreement in October, 2016.
Taiwan-based solar cell and wafer producers had been impacted by a major slowdown in PV project development in China in the third quarter of 2016. However, signs of a recovery emerged at the beginning of the fourth quarter and escalated further in November.
High-efficiency PV module manufacturer SunPower has sold two Californian projects, totalling more than 134MW amid recently announced restructuring plans.
Integrated PV module manufacturer Zhongli Talesun Solar, part of Zhongli Science and Technology said it was supplying 96MW modules from its production plant in Thailand to ColGreen North Shore for a single PV power plant in California, US.
Major PV inverter manufacturer Sungrow Power Supply said its inverter testing centre in China has been qualified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), to participate in the UL Witness Testing Data Program (WTDP).
Taiwan-based merchant cell and module producer Neo Solar Power (NSP) reported an unexpected slump in November sales after several months of recovery, which was said to be due to deferred customer orders.
High-efficiency PV module producer and project developer SunPower has announced further restructuring plans that include the closure of its 700MW, IBC solar cell plant in the Philippines and a 25% reduction in its global workforce.
Finland-based energy firm Fortum has invested €5.2 million in Exeger Sweden AB, dye-sensitized solar cell start-up to help support the launch of commercial products in 2017.
