India deployed a record 9,255MW of solar in 2017, up 94% from the previous year, but uncertainty and a slowdown looms in 2018, according to the latest quarterly report from consultancy firm Bridge to India.
China-based integrated monocrystalline PV manufacturer Solargiga Energy Holdings said it would expand module assembly capacity by 1GW at its existing manufacturing facilities at a cost of RMB160 million (US$25.2 million).
The Indian Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has withdrawn its anti-dumping petition regarding PV imports from China, Taiwan and Malaysia, but intends to put in a fresh petition to strengthen its case.
Major PV module materials and N-type mono IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact) bifacial module manufacturer Jolywood has reported preliminary unaudited 2017 financial results, posting an increase in revenue of 133.68%.
The WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) has granted India’s request for the establishment of a panel to determine whether India complied with the previous ruling against its Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) for solar cells and modules.
Solar PV manufacturer SolarWorld Americas said it had been given a US$5 million loan to support a return to full manufacturing capacity, which would add around 200 jobs, sometime in the third quarter of 2018.
The major manufacturing transition by First Solar to its large-area Series 6 CdTe thin-film module format is well underway and, going by recent management commentary in its fourth quarter 2017 conference call with financial analysts, has increased its tempo slightly, not least due to updated spending plans for the second time in a few months.
China-based integrated PV module manufacturer Wuxi Suntech Power Co said it had started supplying high-performance multicrystalline half-cut cell modules to European customers, offering power classes of 295/290W.
Ayala Corporation, part of Filipino conglomerate Ayala Group, has acquired a controlling stake in Silicon Valley-based firm Merlin Solar Technologies, which produces flexible, mobile and wearable crystalline silicon solar modules.
The government of India will come down hard on those flouting the Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) rules – in WTO permitted cases – where imported solar modules are used, but declared as locally made.
