PV Tech’s preliminary analysis of global PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in January, 2017 have remained subdued and continue the trend set in the second-half of 2016.
While third-party outsourcing of solar PV module assembly has been a constant feature of the PV industry for many years, the landscape of suppliers and the country of manufacturing has changed radically in the past two years, and will continue to do so out to the end of 2018.
While there is no shortage of leading indicators in the PV industry that can be used to predict future trends in manufacturing and across the various companies involved in this space, one of the most pertinent ones relates to capital expenditure (or capex).
Two companies are constructing a 1MW solar PV plant in Thailand using various combinations of technologies in order to set up a learning centre and advisory board to help solar developers across the Southeast Asia region.
An open fund for solar energy and energy storage in various emerging markets has been launched by Franck Constant, the co-founder of Sonnedix Group and director of Sithe Pacific, PV Tech can reveal.
Political changes over the last four years and the recent death of King Bhumibol has brought some inertia to the Thailand market, but industry members expect the market will return to strong growth in the second half of 2017.
Choosing good quality solar equipment will be essential to keep the solar industry sustainable in Southeast Asia, according to Wandee Khunchornyakong Juljarern, chairwoman and chief executive, SPCG, the largest solar installer in Thailand.
The Thai Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) has announced new solar development plans for 2017, which open up several opportunities for foreign investors to participate.
BCPG, the renewable energy power producer of Thai oil refiner Bangchak Petroleum, could potentially raise up to 5.9 billion baht (US$170 million) from an initial public offering (IPO) this month, according to the company.
Leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar exceeded PV module shipment guidance in the second quarter of 2016, partially driven by increased shipments to China. China became the largest contributor with external shipments growing 150.1% sequentially and 118.7% year-over-year. Quarterly module shipments were the second highest on record.
