PV and electronics equipment manufacturing and automation specialist Manz AG has reported continued demand for automation system in China for solar manufacturing applications that have generated €17.5 million in first half year revenue, up 66.7% from the prior year period.
High-efficiency PV module producer and project developer SunPower said it was reducing its focus in PV power plant development outside the US and focusing more resources to the distributed generation market in the US.
Taiwan-based solar cell and wafer producers are being impacted by slowing demand from China and unfolding overcapacity that has resulted in ASP declines hitting monthly revenue figures since June.
Chinese solar cell and module manufacturer Hareon Solar Technology is bouncing back after its US$90 million lawsuit last year with new investment in its PV business and a new partnership.
In this week's Movers & Shakers segment, PV Tech focuses on employment shakeups in the US, Europe and Asia as key renewables companies reveal some hires and departures from the last fortnight.
The largest dedicated and integrated monocrystalline product producer Longi Silicon Materials has signed a cooperation contract with China-based PV module manufacturer and EPC firm ET Solar to champion monocrystalline technology and products globally.
Leading ‘Silicon Module Super league’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar has announced that its chairman and chief executive officer, Jifan Gao has secured an investor consortium to take the company private and exit the NYSE in a US$1.1 billion transaction. The merger is currently expected to close during the first quarter of 2017.
Tesla Motors' possible acquisition of leading US residential PV installer SolarCity has been sealed with an all-stock transaction valued at around US$2.6 billion.
Recent first half 2016 downstream PV installation figures for China have led industry advisory firm AECEA to project full-year figures could be in the 25GW to 30GW range, significantly ahead of planned installs of around 18GW.
