Europe’s solar technology specialists may need up to €7 billion (US$8.51 billion) in capital investment in order to scale up domestic manufacturing to be globally competitive, according to a panel of industry leaders.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has said it expects annual solar PV additions globally to surpass 160GW by 2022, affirming the technology’s position as the “new king” of global electricity markets.
Europe’s solar industry has lauded the inclusion of a commitment to "re-ignite" Europe's solar manufacturing sector within the European Commission’s refreshed industrial strategy.
Leading monocrystalline wafer producer and ‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member, LONGi Green Energy and subsidiary, LONGi Solar respectively, have continued an unprecedented sales run, notching up first 2021 revenue (operating income) of RMB 15.85 billion (US$2.44 billion), its second highest quarterly figures.
‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member First Solar has hit a nameplate Series 6 CdTe thin film manufacturing capacity of 7.9GW in the first quarter of 2021, after ramping its second and last converted factory in Malaysia.
Solar manufacturers that plan on setting up integrated, higher capacity plants in India will be given preference in the country’s new production-linked incentive (PLI) programme.
In an exclusive interview with PV Tech’s Carrie Xiao, LONGi’s vice president of its business division Jun Lv has stressed that the industry must move beyond discussions around wafer and module size and refocus on innovations driving conversion efficiency and reduce cost
Switzerland-headquartered PV module manufacturer Meyer Burger has formally unveiled its range of heterojunction (HJ) solar modules for mass production.
Canadian Solar provides a detailed analysis of the technologies that are combining within its new HiKu7 and BiHiKu7 series of modules, driving power outputs beyond 600W.
LONGi’s ascent to the top of the solar module shipments league table captured headlines last week, but it also cements the view that consolidation in the sector is inevitable, with an oligarchy of majors dominating market share. Carrie Xiao assesses the prospects of those top five companies as 2021 heats up.
