Coming off the strong year that was 2010 in the global solar photovoltaic world, Solarbuzz’s Quarterly report has countered that 2011 may be a rockier road. The research company is estimating that Germany’s first quarter 2011 end-market demand for solar PV has been performing at less than 50% of what it was in the first quarter of 2010 and maintains that even though module manufacturers worldwide have been reducing prices, the market has yet to feel a positive effect.
In releasing 2010 financial results this week, centrotherm photovoltaics achieved record results, dominated by revenue generation in its Solar Cell & Module segment, while revenue from its Silicon & Wafer segment and Thin Film Module segment declined compared to 2009. Group revenue reached €624.2 million, a 22.6% increase over revenue of €509.1 million in 2009. Solar Cell & Module segment revenue reached €404.5 million, up 68.6% compared to the previous year and represented 64.8% share of total revenue.
China Sunergy saw its revenues increase sequentially and year over year, while its quarterly shipments came up a bit short of guidance. The company’s results reflect the shift in focus to in-house module manufacturing that occurred in November 2010, following the acquisitions of CEEG (Shanghai) Solar Science & Technology and CEEG (Nanjing) New Energy.
Siemens Industry has debuted a new program that allows customers to take advantage of solar power benefits without making a large initial capital investment. The Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) platform from Siemens building technologies division presents all different customers the chance to take part in the PPA, but is especially aimed to entice the public sector who is unable to take advantage of solar federal tax incentives.
Q-Cells Malaysia has appointed Franz Vollmann as its new managing director. Vollmann succeeds Q-Cells Malaysia founder Bernhard Rack and will be responsible for managing the operation and future growth of the company’s production facilities. He starts his new role on April 1.
According to the latest report by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) the feed-in tariff rates in Australia’s Capital Territory (ACT) need to be reduced. The report proposes that the premium cash rate paid to generators of renewable energy - including those with home solar energy systems - should drop from 45.7c a kilowatt hour to 39c a kilowatt hour. Any changes made will only affect new market entrants who install after July 1, 2011.
During the European Photovoltaics Industry Association’s (EPIA) annual general meeting in Paris, France, the members of the association elected Dr. Martin Heming as its new director of the board. In addition to his board appointment, Heming serves as Schott Solar’s CEO.
David Goldman and Jay Meridew have joined Solon as executives in the company’s finance division. Goldman has been appointed the new vice president of project finance and strategic planning and will manage all financing for Solon’s commercial and utility-scale solar projects. Meridew will oversee accounting and information technology practices in his role as vice president of finance.
After last week closing seven nuclear plants for at least three months the German Government is now said to be discussing plans to raise the size of its renewable energy fund from €300 million to €1 billion. Amid fears of radiation leaks following Japan's nuclear crisis Chancellor Angela Merkel has ordered safety checks on the country’s plants constructed before 1980.
The Italian solar industry looks set to receive a major boost after the government appeared to come out in support of leaving subsidies for pre-existing projects unchanged at a meeting with the four Italian solar associations. The meeting took place in Rome on Friday and relates to all projects connected to the grid before the end of 2011.
