US-based fabless PV module supplier, Andalay Solar has secured a 50MW annual sub-contracting manufacturing partnership with Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).
The Taiwanese PV manufacturing sector could use the very same loophole that put it in the US government’s crosshairs, to sidestep the punitive duties now faced by its own firms.
According to market research firm IHS, Chinese tier-1 PV module suppliers are mostly sold out in the first quarter of 2015 as demand remains strong from markets such as China, Japan and the UK as well as in South America and Central America.
PV manufacturer Hanwha Q CELLS, said it would close down all solar cell and module manufacturing capacity in Germany and relocate the lines to its main production facility in Cyberjaya, Malaysia with the loss of 550 jobs.
PV module assembly manufacturing consultancy specialist, J.v.G. Thoma is to supply a 70MW turnkey production line to start-up, Renovasol in Brazil. Financial details were not disclosed.
Leading PV manufacturer, Trina Solar, has started mass production of high-efficiency PERC (passivated emitter rear cell) technology with the expected availability of both multicrystalline and monocrystalline ‘Honey’ modules available in Europe this year and a global roll-out in 2016.
Indian PV manufacturer and project developer, Moser Baer Solar said that a strategy announced back in January 2012 to vastly improve its competitive position in the industry has been completed.
As a precursor to restarting polysilicon production, China-based LDK Solar said it had completed a US$70 million upgrade to its plant in Mahong, Jiangxi.
The previously announced plan to merge Hanwha Q CELLS into Hanwha SolarOne will enable the company to supply at least 600MW of PV modules to the US in 2015 that would be tariff-free.
PV equipment supplier SCHMID Group is partnering with Pekintas Group to build a 200MWp turnkey PV cell and module manufacturing facility in Russia for start-up, Solar Systems. Financial details were not disclosed.
