China’s cheap electricity crowds out foreign polysilicon
Imports from South Korea and the U.S. dwindled, year-on-year, ensuring Germany’s Wacker and the Malysian unit of Korean company OCI will supply the bulk of the world’s non-Chinese solar polysilicon this year.
Silver prices expected to rise by 11% this year
Silver demand for PV production worldwide is forecast to grow to 105 million ounces this year, as overall demand hits an eight-year high. Prices for the precious metal could reach a seven-year high of $30.00 per ounce this year but, according to the Silver Institute, this level is still far away from any critical threshold that would make silver supply for the solar industry problematic.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Tongwei and Jinko team up, as NEA sets new 2030 targets
China’s National Energy Administration expects renewables to represent 40% of the nation’s energy consumption by 2030, and proposed new targets for local and regional government authorities. On the manufacturing side, Tongwei and JinkoSolar announced plans to deepen their strategic cooperation, and Huadian Group has launched its first tender this year for 7GW each of modules and inverters.
Indian manufacturer to open 750 MW solar fab by April
Solar manufacturer Premier Energies is setting up a factory in Telangana with an annual cell and module production capacity of 750 MW. The fab will be equipped to produce large-format panels with wafer sizes up to 210mm.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Increasing wafer prices and new glass and polysilicon orders
Zhonghuan and Longi raised the prices of their wafers before the Chinese New Year holiday. Longi also secured more polysilicon and glass through two different orders, with OCI Group and Flat Glass, respectively.
Nexwafe raises €10 million for commercialization of wafer tech
Wafer manufacturer Nexwafe is currently trying to commercialize its highly efficient monocrystalline wafer technology.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: More wafer and polysilicon capacity and new suppy deals
Wuxi Autowell has begun construction on its 50 GW wafer factory in Guangdong province and Longi and Wuxi Shangji Automation have announced new supply deals. GCL-Poly has announced it will raise the production capacity of its factory in Jiangsu from 6,000 to 10,000 metric tons – despite the company suffering a cross-default at the weekend.
Panasonic to exit solar manufacturing
The Japanese brand will continue to sell third-party-made modules under its brand in its home market, as it already does overseas, but in-house PV wafer, cell and module production will halt by the end of fiscal year 2022.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Another huge glass order and new profit forecasts
Module maker Risen has agreed to buy 34 GW of solar glass from Flat Glass Group (FGG). Both Trina and Goodwee announced strong profit growth for 2020.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Strong profit growth for Sungrow, new wafer prices from Longi
Furthermore, Risen predicts its solar module shipments will reach 15 GW this year and Sze Tan Hung has increased her stake in solar cell and panel maker Solargiga.
