Major polycilicon producer, Wacker Chemie saw an abrupt demand decline in the fourth quarter of 2011 as PV customers reduced inventory levels and cancelled contracts due to some customers exiting the industry. Polysilicon spot prices fell below Wacker’s long-term pricing levels for the first time in many years, sparking price renegotiations.
MEMC has been forced to lower fourth quarter revenue guidance, just over a month after revisions were made as the company announced a major restructuring effort due to lower than expected PV project interconnections carried out by project developer subsidiary, SunEdison. MEMC revised revenue to be in the range of US$698 million to US$733 million, compared to December, 2011 guidance of between US$789 million to US$861 million.
First Solar recently held its inaugural annual Supplier Recognition Day, which was said to have been attended by approximately 60 companies that were considered critical suppliers to the company. At the event, encapsulant supplier, STR Holdings, was recognised as one of three suppliers, with the NOVA award, designed to recognise premier suppliers that significantly support its mission.
Weak pricing, especially on the spot market, has forced REC to reduce monocrystalline wafer production at its Glomfjord, Norway facility by 50%. The announcement comes soon after reducing multicrystalline wafer production at its facility in Herøya, Norway by 60% in late November, 2011. REC said that the temporary shutdown would affect approximately 65 employees at its Glomfjord facility.
Taiwan-based solar wafer producer, Green Energy Technology (GET) reported net sales for December 2011 of NT$880 million (US$29.05 million), down approximately 57%, compared to the same month in 2010. Total net sales for 2011 reached NT$18,615 million, (US$614.5 million) up 7.6% from 2010.
Daqo New Energy was named a 2011 China Cleantech Top 20 winner by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Tsing Capital. The award aims to recognize organizations in the cleantech sector in China that support the sustainable growth in the country.
Flamac, a unit of SIM vzw, advised that it will work with imec to develop new semiconductor materials for solar cell applications. The collaboration will see the companies produce materials that are alternates for the standard CIGS solar cells.
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has given an exclusive patent licence to equipment specialist, Natcore Technology to use its diffused emitter technology ‘Black Silicon’ with Natcore’s liquid phase deposition (LPD) technology. The black silicon process has been claimed by Natcore scientists and NREL researchers to reduce average reflectivity to less than 1.5%, compared to current advanced antireflective coatings that are said to reduce the average reflectivity to approximately 6%. The aim is to commercialize the technology in 2012.
Financially challenged silicon metal supplier, Timminco has tapped Bank of America for the remaining US$2.9 million of a revolving credit facility, resulting in the company having to pursue alternative sources of financing. The Canada-based materials producer recently reported third quarter sales of US$28.6 million and a net loss of US$2.4 million.
Dow Corning has signed a long-term contract to supply Air Products with its electronic-grade silane. Air Products will distribute the gas to its clients in the PV and electronics industries.
