Proposed change in scope of US-China trade case unlikely to have major impact
The U.S. Department of Commerce has proposed a change in the scope of its anti-dumping case against Chinese solar products, to include wafers and cells manufactured in any nation. GTM Research says that this is likely to have little impact on market dynamics.
Mercom Capital: Downstream dominates as solar investment levels rebound in Q3 2014
While VC funding is up and a third yeildco IPO was held, Mercom’s Q3 report shows that the biggest sources of available capital in the solar industry are still Chinese banks.
SolarCity, Vivint take more than half of the U.S. residential market in Q2
The latest numbers from GTM Research’s Leaderboard service find that the top two residential installers have increased their combined market share to more than 50% for the first time. This increasing consolidation impacts the landscape of PV module and inverter suppliers.
GT Advanced Technologies files for chapter 11 bankruptcy
GT’s surprise bankruptcy filing follows on news that Apple will not use its sapphire screens for the iPhone 6. Like all major PV equipment makers, GT has also suffered from the severe three-year downturn in equipment spending.
RGS Energy pulls out of large commercial solar
The company formerly known as Real Goods will focus on the residential sector, where it holds a top-10 position among installers, as well as commercial PV under 200 kW.
Vivint Solar IPO nets US$309 million despite troubled market
Vivint Solar has successfully launched its initial public offering under the symbol VSLR, as ongoing protests in Hong Kong impact global markets. The pricing of the company’s shares came in US$16, the low end of estimates.
NRG moves deeper into U.S. residential solar with Pure Energies acquisition
The energy company plans to fold Pure Energies, which it describes as a leader in the area of web-based customer acquisition, into its NRG Home Solar business. This follows on NRG’s acquisition of Roof Diagnostics Solar in March.
Asian solar boom raises clean energy investment volumes in Q3 2014
Chinese solar represented 22% of all new clean energy investments during Q3 2014, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). This high level of investment is making up for depressed European solar markets.
Latin American solar markets explode in 2014, 2015
The latest report by GTM Research predicts that 805 MW of solar PV will be installed across the region in 2014, a six-fold increase over 2013. The company forecasts another 2.3 GW of new PV in 2015.
Brightsource, Abengoa scrap plans for controversial solar CSP project
Despite a recommendation of approval by regulators, the project company has abandoned its application for the 250 MW solar power tower project in the California desert. Palen drew fire from conservationists due to potential impacts on birds.
