Fab & Facilities

Switzerland-based Sputnik Engineering, well known under its PV inverter brand, SolarMax, is following SMA Solar in restructuring its operations as markets shift away from Europe and the PV industry becomes increasingly global.

Plans to build a fully integrated PV supply chain within Saudi Arabia are continuing slowly with reports that Idea Polysilicon Company (IPC) has received four bids to build its proposed 10,000MT polysilicon plant and ingot/wafer operations.

A potential shift by Chinese PV manufacturers to avoid anti-dumping duties in the US and EU as well as in India has started with plans by Hareon Solar to build a 300MW solar cell plant in Taiwan.

A deal that would see Conergy’s sales operations sold and split from its PV module and mounting systems manufacturing operations has been signed between US-based financial investor, Kawa Capital Management, Conergy and the preliminary insolvency administrator of Conergy.

Thin-film manufacturer SoloPower has announced it is looking for new investors as its restructuring process continues.

Energy company E.ON’s solar subsidiary, E.ON Climate and Renewables (EC&R), has completed its US first projects, in Arizona.

PV system integrator, Phoenix Solar, has signed a contract with solar developer Silicon Ranch for a 38.6MW solar plant near Atlanta, Georgia.

SolarWorld has confirmed it will lay off 100 people from its plant in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Japanese PV manufacturer Panasonic is to close its module factory in Hungary at the expense of 550 jobs.

Citing changing market conditions and an extended period of consolidation within the solar sector, PV inverter market leader, SMA Solar Technology plans to reduce its headcount further by around 700 full-time positions in Germany by the end of 2014.