Manufacturing

According to India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), domestic manufacturing capacity of photovoltaic cells and modules has grown to 2 GW. It also estimates India’s potential solar power per square kilometer to be 30 to 50 MW.

MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. is considering a name change to SunEdison to “better reflect” its business. It has also announced the establishment of SunEdison Capital and released its expectations for 2013.

Last year, the U.S. reproached China for being “generous to a fault” to its domestic solar manufacturers, even as the rest of the industry suffered from declining subsidies, rising inventories and internecine cost competition. But can punitive tariffs really bring prices up to parity and alleviate the pain?

Gestamp Solar and Solarpack have officially inaugurated two 20 MW photovoltaic plants in Peru. A total of US$196 million was invested in the project, which was completed last October.

2013 will be another tough year for the photovoltaics industry, although global markets continue to grow. This was the message on the first day of SEMI Europe’s Fab Managers Forum, held yesterday in Berlin, Germany.

JA Solar has commenced shipments of its modules to a 35 MW photovoltaic project in Israel.

The Japanese photovoltaic market has significantly changed since the introduction of FITs last July. With domestic demand growing faster than expected, Japan’s Government has proposed a FIT reduction of around 10%.

Less than three years after the announcement of its opening, and on the back of insolvency rumors, Suntech is closing its Goodyear photovoltaic module manufacturing facility in Arizona, the U.S.

SolarWorld AG has delayed the release of its Q4 and FY 2012 financial report while it continues to work on a restructuring plan. Görg law firm and Houlihan Lokey investment bank have been brought in to help.

Speculation is mounting that the Wuxi Suntech Power Company unit of Suntech Power Holdings Company Limited will file for bankruptcy protection this month. The company has declined to comment. Update: Suntech has announced a preliminary solution with its bondholders.