Markets & Finance

Aggressive targeting of the US PV inverter market by European suppliers has led to a fragmented supplier base, while revenues from inverters in the US, China and Japan leaped by US$1.7 billion in 2013, according to new analysis by IHS.

Leading merchant solar cell producer, Neo Solar Power Corporation (NSP), has reported a new historical high in monthly shipments and expects the trend to continue due to strong demand and rising ASPs.

Leading photovoltaics energy provider, First Solar, has reported first quarter 2014 revenue well above guidance on a PV project pull-in but reiterated full-year revenue guidance would be unchanged at up to US$4 billion.

Inverter manufacturer Enphase Energy reported revenue of US$57.6 million for the first quarter of 2014, up 26% on the same period last year.

PV equipment specialist, centrotherm reported first quarter 2014 revenue of €39.5 million of which around 50% was attributed to payments on its turnkey polysilicon plant being built for Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) in Qatar.

Banking giant Wells Fargo has invested US$100 million of tax equity financing in nine PV projects in North Carolina.

Market research firm, IHS has published its PV module supplier rankings for 2013, highlighting the continued dominance of Chinese producers but resurgence from two major Japanese firms.

Bankrupt German-based PV firm, Sunways has sold its PV inverter and BIPV businesses to Shunfeng Photovoltaic for an undisclosed sum.

Advanced thermal processing equipment supplier, BTU International has reported first quarter 2014 sales of US$11.7 million, up 6.3% compared the previous quarter.

Despite a booming domestic market, Japanese electronics giant Panasonic reported stagnant PV module system sales for financial year 2013.