Downstream

Once the world’s second-largest PV cell manufacturer, Taiwan’s upstream industry was crippled under its inability to compete with mainland China’s bullish global takeover in PV manufacturing. The island’s government has put forth efforts to keep Taiwan’s PV supply chain intact – and ambitious goals and initiatives are driving demand from the downstream up.

The Chinese Tier 1 solar company had hoped to finalize the sale of six PV power projects in the fourth quarter of last year, but delays to necessary government approvals mean Q4 revenue is lively to be around $700 million lower than expected.

Leading module manufacturer Canadian Solar posted revenue of $912 million for the third quarter of 2017, significantly above the figure of $692 million for the previous quarter. The company also saw quarterly shipments rise to 1.87 GW.

Last week’s Renewable Energy India exhibition was a busy, bustling affair that highlighted the rude health and impressive energy of India’s solar sector. There are still many hurdles to overcome, however, if India is to develop its own domestic manufacturing industry.

Module manufacturing heavyweight Canadian Solar today announced the start of commercial operation on a 27.3 MW PV power plant in Tottori Prefecture, Japan.

The second quarter financial results for the Chinese-Canadian solar firm reveal above-guidance growth in revenue and shipments, while profit rises to $167.8m for the quarter.

Solargiga Energy’s shipments of PV cells, solar panels, silicon ingots and wafers reached 1.16 GW in the first half of 2017, up nearly 55% year on year. Revenue from its production business rose 16.2% on the year to CNY 1.97 billion ($291.6 million), according to unaudited preliminary operating statistics filed to the Hong Kong stock exchange.

The Chinese vertically integrated solar firm posted a Q1 net loss of $23.2 million and revenues of $156.6 million – down 32.5% and 39.9% sequentially and year-on-year respectively.

The Chinese solar company increased its revenue sequentially despite falling shipments having begun monetizing new power plants globally. Gross profit rose to $91.4 million.

The Chinese solar power company has signed an inaugural dual-tenor green project bond with Goldman Sachs Japan to aid the construction of its Gunma Aramaki solar power plant.