Manufacturing

Conergy, S.A.G. Solarstrom and Phoenix Solar have released their third quarter (Q3) financial results. While all reported strong international sales and positive progress in some business areas, none escaped the wrath of the weak market conditions.

Astronergy has completed a photovoltaic plant in China. At 20 megawatts (MW), it is said to be one of the largest projects of its kind in the country. The company’s CEO predicts two gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity will be reached in 2011.

Tying in with other reports published, new research has found that the photovoltaic equipment market is likely to halve next year, due to dwindling demand.

A spatial concept from Spain won this year’s Bauhaus Solar Award 2011 in Erfurt, Germany. Second prize, meanwhile, was awarded to two students from Munich.

Last night, U.S.-based Energy Conversion Devices announced it has suspended all its manufacturing operations and will introduce significant job cuts. Two Asian solar cell manufacturers are also said to be on the brink of insolvency, and more can be expected.

Due to the current weak market conditions, Spanish company Silicio Solar is about to halt its solar ingot und wafer production for at least three months. The future for the 800 employees is uncertain.

Both Germany-based Centrosolar Group AG and aleo solar AG have reported some positives in their third quarter (Q3) 2011 results. The companies did not escape unscathed, however, with losses experienced, revised revenue guidance announced and production scalebacks.

pv magazine has learned that the 360 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic project announced by Moncada Group earlier this week has received all necessary permits.

Roth & Rau has introduced shorter working hours in response to the “drastic” decline in demand for its solar modules and systems. Due also to the deterioration of some customers’ creditworthiness, the company’s sales and EBIT have been hit hard.

The expectations of Germany’s photovoltaic machine manufacturers will not be fulfilled in the current financial year. The 2012 market environment is also forecast to remain difficult.