Major PV inverter manufacturer Sungrow Power Supply Co, recently reported a relatively strong rebound in revenue (up 10%) in the first half of 2018 but on a quarterly basis the second quarter sales increased 29% from the previous quarter, indicating that greater dependence on China and the utility-scale market with central inverters, creates a ‘solarcoaster’ ride.
PV and electronics equipment manufacturing and automation specialist Manz AG has secured another advanced payment for CIGS (Copper, Indium, Gallium, DiSelenide) thin-film manufacturing equipment, which is part of a major production order with Chinese partners, the Shanghai Electric Group and the Shenhua Group.
State-owned utility State Grid China, one of the world’s largest employers, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with German technology association VDE for cooperation in a range of priority areas, kicking off with a focus on smart energy and smart mobility.
Major PV inverter manufacturer Sungrow Power Supply Co is expecting the global floating solar (FPV) market to experience explosive growth in the next two to three years, in which it is targeting becoming the leading supplier of floating solar systems.
Leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar has reported higher than guided second quarter PV module shipments and reiterated total shipments guidance to be in the range of 11.5GW to 12GW in 2018.
Major PV inverter manufacturer SMA Solar Technology has once again reiterated sales and earnings guidance for 2018, after reporting first half year results but has become increasingly bearish on the global solar market, while its solar product order backlog takes a dive.
China-based PV module manufacturer Jiangsu Seraphim Solar System Co has been accredited with a TUV SUD, IEC CTF (Customer Testing Facilities Certificate), which reduces time to market of new materials and modules under development.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Amtech Systems is restructuring its solar cell manufacturing equipment business with job losses after China-based customers have pushed-out capacity expansion plans after government cuts were made to downstream solar installation targets as deployments far exceeded goals.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has blocked the US$232 million investment by Shenzhen Energy in three projects owned by Recurrent.
