Global PV markets

The Korean photovoltaics industry is at a crossroads and the next two years will be pivotal for the country in terms of its position in the global solar market. Upcoming elections hold some promise for Korea, if the United New Democratic Party gains power. However, with capacity expansions on hold, and a small domestic installation market, it could quickly be pushed under by other Asian regions, like China. In other news, the industry is said to be shifting its sales focus from the west to the east.

The third annual PV Power Plants conference in Vienna continued today with questions being raised about the hidden cost of falling module prices. Specifically, it was asked what kind of R&D will be able to be undertaken by photovoltaic module manufacturers in a price war?

In the week that the changes to Germany’s feed in tariffs (FITs) were passed into law, the third-annual PV Power Plants EU conference in Vienna has heard that there is potential in Germany’s near neighbors.

The Canadian province of Ontario had its say this week in Geneva at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) hearing.

German-based vertically integrated company Conergy has posted a significant EBIT loss for 2011. In its annual report released today, the company has attributed a decision to shift inventory and equipment write offs, at its Frankfurt (Oder) fab, for the result.

U.S. cell and module manufacturer SunPower Corp. has announced that its 160 mm, 24 percent Maxeon solar cell is now in commercial production.

The 9th International Green Energy Expo 2012 (IGEE) kicked off today, March 28, in Daegu, South Korea. In contrast to the two solar events held in Shanghai, China last week, the exhibitors, including Korea’s heavyweights, were out in force. There are mixed feelings however, over the future of the Korean solar industry. On the one side is a clear lack of political support and on the other, a stark focus on research and development, and equipment. Many capacity ramp ups have also been put on hold.

International photovoltaic companies exhibiting at Ecobuild, which took place in London last week, see the U.K. market as important for being able to accommodate and reward companies with long-term strategies.

On the eve of delivering his company’s first 30 megawatt (MW) of photovoltaics to Pacific Gas & Electric under the utility’s 250 MW Utility Owned Generation program, Boris Schubert, the CEO of Q-Cells North America, tells pv magazine why he is betting on the continued rapid growth of photovoltaics on this continent, and how his company will seek out a lion’s share of the market.

While much of the solar industry’s attention has been focused on legislative and trade moves in the U.S., floundering companies in Germany and the significant cuts to support programs there, Japan may provide the photovoltaic good news story that the industry is looking for.