Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

Changes to India’s 2011 to 2012 Union Budget have seen solar modules and lanterns reclassified as renewable energy items, rather than electrical items. This means they are now exempt from customs duty.

Helios USA, LLC has opened a new manufacturing facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Over 50 new jobs are expected to be created.

Mounting equipment may not be the most high-profile PV component, but it is a critical piece where innovative designs can make a big difference to costs. In an interview, Unirac executives discuss their strategies for the North American and U.S. solar markets, and the competitive landscape of a sector that is getting crowded.

The CIGS PV market is poised for a comeback according to a new report, which identifies three markets ripe for development, and discusses China’s potential to take the production lead. However, if it wants to make an impact, it must first overcome its manufacturing hurdles.

According to attendees, this year’s SNEC PV is even bigger than its predecessor, and has a much larger Chinese presence. Quality, meanwhile, is the buzzword on everyone’s lips.

Oerlikon Solar has secured an order for its KAI equipment from Chinese photoelectric glass manufacturer Dong Xu Ltd. It is unknown how much the order is worth, or the amount of equipment sold.

Canadian Solar has entered into a sales contract with S.A.G. Solarstrom AG. It has also supplied PV modules to SolarLAB2.

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings is to invest approximately HK$17.7 billion (around USD$2.27 billion; €1.66 billion) in the expansion of its polysilicon and wafer production facilities in China.

Power-One, Inc. has opened its first North American inverter manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Initial capacity will be one gigawatt (GW).

Under a new agreement, Suntech Power Holdings will supply around USD$80 million worth of solar power systems to Peak International Trade (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. The United Nations will then deploy them.