Materials

Despite record low polysilicon prices seen in January 2016 marking a clear oversupply, PV manufacturing capacity expansions and projected end-market demand could reverse the situation by the end of 2016, specifically in China.

UK-based multicrystalline wafer producer PV Crystalox Solar inferred in a financial statement that it could finally benefit financially from the divergence of polysilicon and wafer prices, after several years of loss making.

SolarCity, the largest residential solar PV installer in the US said in its fourth quarter 2015 earnings call that its ambitious 1GW Buffalo Riverbend manufacturing facility had been impacted by longer than expected equipment lead times, pushing some equipment installs into the second-half of 2016.

New research undertaken by Solar Intelligence, part of PV Tech’s parent company Solar Media Ltd., can exclusively reveal the forecasted breakdown of production for the different technologies being used within the solar industry in 2016.

US-based polysilicon producer REC Silicon said in a trading update ahead of releasing fourth quarter results at the end of the week that it would shutdown its Silane IV production unit and remaining FBR production at its Moses Lake plant.

Taiwan-based solar wafer producer Green Energy Technology (GET) reported a significant leap in sales for the month of January on the back of higher prices due to industry supply constraints.

Finlay Colville looks at how the world's top solar cell manufacturers are increasing their market share.

PV module assembly equipment specialist Spire Corporation said it would focus on the turnkey PV manufacturing segment after completing the sale of its sun simulator business to Eternal Sun.

Major polysilicon producer Wacker Chemie said that its new polysilicon plant in the US had started ramping and existing plants remained at full-capacity despite continued price declines that have reached record lows.

Asia-based polysilicon producer Tokuyama Corp said it would take a one-time impairment charge of ¥123.4 billion (US$1.02 billion) on its two polysilicon plants in Malaysia as ASPs were lower than expected and not inline with previous business guidance.