Identifying reliable module supply has become a huge challenge in the PV industry over the past couple of years. Moving forward, the industry needs to create a more globallydiversified manufacturing footprint, thereby avoiding any unexpected trade-related barriers that could be enforced. Understanding which module suppliers are going to prevail in this landscape will become of key importance over the next 12-18 months, Finlay Colville explains.
The PV industry is on track for strong growth in 2020, despite 10 months of the year being shrouded in uncertainty and perennial pessimism. And while almost all in the sector have been lamenting supposed softness in demand this year, attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, it turns out that the limiting factor to production and shipment volumes this year simply comes down to the supply of raw materials, namely polysilicon.
As a platform designed to map full industrial ecosystems, MAPPES.io is helping identify gaps and bottlenecks in PV manufacturing hotspots such as the US and India, explains its CEO, Ankit Singhal.
PV Tech Premium speaks with United Solar about the challenges of building polysilicon capacity outside of China and catering to the US and Indian markets.
China’s new set of rules, unveiled last week, are expected to “do a good job in cutting out low-cost, outdated technology across the value chain”, according to a report from PV Tech Research.