capacity expansion

Softbank Vision Fund (SBVF) and GCL Group holding company have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch a US$930 million joint venture in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, primarily to manufacture PV ingots, wafers, solar cells and modules.

First Solar could establish new US-based manufacturing capacity citing President Donald Trump’s corporate tax reforms as the key enabler.

Taiwan-based PV cell and module manufacturer Motech Industries plans to deploy 400MW of solar in Pingtung County in southern Taiwan, according to a company executive, while it is also in early talks with other cell makers about setting up a module factory.

Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte today inaugurated the Philippines first solar module manufacturing facility with an expanded capacity of 800MW at Santo Tomas, Batangas, owned by renewable energy firm Solar Philippines.

India-based PV manufacturer and EPC firm Vikram Solar has expanded its module manufacturing capacity from 900MW to 1GW at its fab in Kolkata.

Analysts and developers alike have been saying that Mexico will be the next biggest solar market for years now. But according to GTM Research’s Manan Parikh, the time is finally approaching for solar to ‘take-off’ in Mexico.

Solar in Minnesota jumped 80% in the first three months of this year, with the state now harnessing almost half a gigawatt of installed capacity.

Virginia-headquartered utility Dominion Virginia Power has touted plans to boost its installed solar capacity for customers in Virginia and North Carolina.

Integrated PV firm Tata Power Solar has doubled its module manufacturing capacity and raised its cell capacity by 65% at its plant in Bangalore, southern India.

Module manufacturer Seraphim Solar is looking for fresh locations for future manufacturing plants and praises Mexico as both and end-market and a potential production centre.