polysilicon

Solar manufacturers Longi and Zhonghuan Semiconductor have reported output at their factories in the two provinces has been reduced by earthquakes that happened on Friday night and before dawn on Saturday. Elsewhere, module maker Jolywood has announced the signing of an agreement with the city government of Taiyuan, in Shanxi province, to build a TOPCon solar cell fab with a 16 GW production capacity.

Shareholders will vote on whether to approve the sale of ten solar farms to generate $320 million towards paying down its heavy debt pile.

The discussion about the extent to which forced labor exists in the solar value chain continues. A video, a university report, a ministerial response and a parliamentary machinations formed notable developments of the debate last week.

The Chinese polysilicon manufacturer said it only discovered this month that the stock in its solar project division – which it had pledged to secure a $60 million loan which GCL says was never delivered – had been claimed by the lender a year ago, on the grounds the finance agreement had been breached.

China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) has allocated some $77 million for residential PV incentives. This should be enough to deploy another 1 GW of rooftop PV.

Recent financial statements from the big module manufacturers indicate that higher prices for polysilicon and PV glass since the third quarter of 2020 have dealt a severe blow to profits in the module business. Module manufacturers have gradually scaled down capacity utilization since the Lunar New Year, as demand has been weaker than expected, given the absence of China’s usual June 30 installation rush, as in past years. In April, Tier-1 module makers further cut utilization rates to 55-70%. PV InfoLink’s Corrine Lin examines the price trends that are developing in 2021.

Deloitte has walked away from the polysilicon manufacturer, despite the latter having followed the accountant’s recommendation to appoint a third party to investigate why a near-$80 million payment was made in September 2019. Apparently the parties could not agree the detail of the investigation to be carried out.

China-based wind turbine manufacturer Mingyang Smart Energy wants to build a heterojunction module factory with a capacity of 5 GW. Both Longi and Tongwei have raised the prices of their wafers and cells, respectively.

The polysilicon manufacturer has once again rejected allegations of forced labor by opening the doors of its factory in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to international investors and journalists. Video footage of the event was published by the company on its website.

A new report from Bernreuter Research reveals that Wacker Chemie lost its top spot in the 2020 global polysilicon rankings. It was also the only western company among the “Big Six” that are expected to form a new polysilicon super league in the PV industry. Overall, these six reached a total polysilicon capacity of 470,000 MT last year.