NSP

TrendForce says the country deployed more than 1 GW of new PV for the first time last year, and predicts this year may see as much as 1.5 GW of new solar capacity. The nation’s cumulative capacity reached 2,618 MW at the end of last year, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

EnergyTrend has released a report suggesting that Taiwan is on its track to meet the target of building 20 GW solar PV by 2025. While decreasing module prices makes it easier for investors and stakeholders to achieve this goal, Taiwan’s module manufacturers are struggling to compete with the price developments this year. Many companies in Taiwan will, therefore, turn their eyes to the downstream market, the report claims.

In the latest news emerging from the struggling world of Taiwanese solar cell makers, Motech has announced more layoffs, and a NT$4.8 billion loan; GET has let 203 employees go; and shares of the new UREC merger are said to be down. India’s safeguard tariffs are also hitting the country’s manufacturers hard.

The newly minted merger of Neo Solar Power, Gintech and Solartech is planning a module factory, the second such factory to be announced by a large Asian PV maker since solar tariffs were finalized.

The Taiwanese Government is set to invest in the United Renewable Energy Company (UREC), which is expected to be officially formed in Q3 2018 by solar cell makers, Neo Solar Power (NSP), Gintech Energy and Solartech Energy. The new company will shift focus from cell manufacturing to downstream solar PV.

Neo Cathay Pacific, which is a joint venture between Neo Solar Power and Cathay Life Insurance, has, via its own subsidiary Si One Corp, secured NT$5bn syndicated loan to develop 100 MW of solar projects in Taiwan.

Newly formed United Renewable Energy Co. is the result of the merger between three of Taiwan’s leading solar companies. Move comes at a time of intense competition in the Taiwanese solar space.

Three of Taiwan’s largest solar cell and module manufacturers – Gintech, Neo Solar Power and Solartech – will suspend common stock transactions next week, prompting rumors that a merger between the three firms could be on the cards.

The sale of the Taiwanese company’s Zhunan fab for around $41 million is part of wider transformation strategy towards monocystralline PERC production.

Neo Solar Power’s subsidiary has completed the transfer of 100% of shares of its solar project in Fukushima, in what is the first ever large-scale solar transaction by a Taiwanese company in Japan.