Canadian Solar adding 3GW of module capacity in 2020 despite lack of demand

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Canadian Solar plans to increase module assembly capacity by 3GW in 2020, giving the company a total nameplate capacity of 16GW, while shipments were guided between a range of 10GW to 12GW for the year. Image: Canadian Solar

‘Solar Module Super League (SMSL) member, Canadian Solar plans to increase module assembly capacity by 3GW in 2020, giving the company a total nameplate capacity of 16GW, while shipments were guided between a range of 10GW to 12GW for the year. 

The SMSL, known for quarter-on-quarter capacity tweaking, added approximately 820MW of global module assembly capacity in 2019 that was above previous guidance. As a result, module assembly capacity in 2019 reached approximately 13GW. 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Canadian Solar also ended 2019 with 9.6GW of solar cell capacity, a 300MW uptick from previous guidance of 9.3GW of capacity planned for year end. The company plans to add 500MW of solar cell capacity in 2020, taking nameplate capacity to 10.1GW. 

Wafer capacity expansions have not been on the cards since 2018 and so the latest guidance is no new wafer capacity expansions in 2020, leaving capacity at 5GW. 

However, the SMSL added 200MW of ingot production in 2019, taking capacity to 1,650MW, while plans for 2020 are to expand slightly to 2,350MW.  The company did not highlight whether the ingot production expansions related to cast-mono (multi), p-type mono or n-type mono production.

The company rarely details capacity expansions on a geographical basis but has major manufacturing operations in China and much smaller operations in South East Asia, as well a OEM contracted production in Vietnam and Brazil. 

Canadian Solar did not provide any explanation as to why the module assembly capacity expansions were required in 2020, given that module assembly capacity in 2019 reached approximately 13GW and able to meet the high-end of shipment guidance for 2020 of 12GW. 

Canadian Solar did not provide any explanation as to why the module assembly capacity expansions were required in 2020, given that module assembly capacity in 2019 reached approximately 13GW and able to meet the high-end of shipment guidance for 2020 of 12GW.
10 March 2026
Frankfurt, Germany
The conference will gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

October 15, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Geronimo has begun construction on it’s150MW solar project in Illinois and commissioned the 125MW PV project in Michigan.
October 15, 2025
Indian module manufacturer Saatvik Green Energy, through its subsidiary Saatvik Solar Industries, has secured solar PV module orders worth INR6.89 billion (US$78 million).
Premium
October 14, 2025
OCI Holdings’ decision this week to buy a Vietnamese solar wafer facility to supply the US solar cell manufacturing industry makes clear the biggest vulnerability facing the sector today.
October 13, 2025
Korean chemical production firm OCI Holdings has acquired a 65% stake in a Vietnamese solar wafer production plant, intending to export solar wafers to the US.
October 13, 2025
Two Chinese state-owned energy enterprises have signed cooperation agreements on PV and wind power projects with Saudi companies, with the total contract value exceeding RMB30 billion (US$4.2 billion). 
October 13, 2025
US solar manufacturer T1 Energy has acquired a minority stake in fellow US-based solar cell producer Talon PV.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK