Leading PV energy provider (PVEP), First Solar reported first quarter revenue of US$755 million in the quarter, a decrease of US$320 million from the fourth quarter of 2012 but exceeded slightly the top range of guidance.
Citing improved margins against very tight capital expenditure control, PV module manufacturers are increasingly outsourcing part of their production needs, benefiting the likes of Flextronics, Jabil Circuits and JA Solar, according to a new report from IHS.
Yingli Solar has been crowned as the top module producer for the first time as well as the top cell manufacturer in 2012, according to rankings compiled by GTM Research.
US-based three-dimensional solar cell start-up Solar3D is in discussions with the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering to facilitate the fabrication of its new cell technology.
Manufacturer Kyocera Solar is planning to lay off staff at its manufacturing plant in San Diego, California, because of weak demand for US-made solar modules.
JA Solar has started production of its metal wrap-through (MWT) solar cells in China as a precursor to plans to be announced about its next-generation solar cell technology.
US manufacturer and developer First Solar has sold its 139MW Campo Verde solar project in California to Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power and Turner Renewable Energy.
ReneSola has reported neither workers nor operations at its polysilicon factory in Meishan, Sichuan, were affected by the magnitude-7 earthquake that devastated parts of the south-west region over the weekend.
