The weak demand that has blighted the solar industry for much of 2011 is likely continue into the new year, according to a new report on the US market from ClearSky Advisors. Despite a growth in installed capacity, overcapacity in the supply chain will continue to affect module prices, with ClearSky forecasting these to fall for at least the first half of 2012.
After a record revenue financial year, Applied Materials is experiencing a significant reduction in equipment orders and revenue from PV manufacturing customers. Though cancellations were minimal, backlog decreased by 26% to US$2.4 billion, of which 14% is within its EES division, which includes PV equipment. Management expects PV related global CapEx to at fall by at least 50% in 2012 as manufacturers combat massive overcapacity and focus on cell efficiency improvements and technology buys.
Australian Capital Territory is launching a new incentive scheme to promote large-scale solar in the state. It is Australia’s first scheme targeting larger systems and aims to help install projects totalling up to 210MW.
Upon expiry of a recent five-year contract, long-standing employee and current CFO, Sabine Kauper will leave Phoenix Solar at the end of the year. Her replacement, Dr. Bernd Köhler comes from Siemens and will assume responsibility for finance, along with Personnel and Organisation Development, International Process and IT Management, Internal Audit and Law from January 1, 2012.
(Update) The CEO of solarhybrid said it is enlisting the help of First Solar to help equip a 1.5GW project pipeline it is on the verge of buying from Solar Millennium. First Solar would not confirm the existence of the supposed deal, telling PV-Tech it had no comment at this time.
aleo solar has helped finance and equip a new 1MW PV system in Vittorio Veneto, Italy. The Germany-based module manufacturer joined forces with Ailita Engineering and Italian bank BIIS on the project, which was connected to the grid in May.
ForVEI investment company revealed that it had bought two solar PV facilities developed by the OPDE Group amounting to a total of 7.93MW. The €33 million (US$45 million) project was financed by Intesa Sanpaolo with the power plants located in the Italian Piedmont region. Both solar farms are fully operational with the 6.19MW Tortona project and the 1.74MW Predosa installation utilizing Trina Solar and Canadian Solar modules, SMA inverters and Mecasolar single-axis solar trackers.
Abengoa has begun ramping up its 280MW CSP Mojave Solar Project after the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) approved its power purchase agreement (PPA) with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E).
Rapidly declining prices for wafers and modules due to overcapacity and weak demand have significantly impacted expected third-quarter results at LDK Solar. The integrated PV manufacturer warned that it expected to write down US$45 to US$50 million of inventories and expected to report negative gross margin between 3.5% and 5.0%. The company lowered revenue guidance to be in the range of US$460–$470 million, down from previous guidance of US$630–$680 million.
