Solarbuzz forecasts 16.3 GW PV market size in 2010; projects demand growth of 25 percent in 2011

SAN FRANCISCO, USA: Global solar photovoltaic demand grew 196 percent to reach 10.6 GW in the first 9 months of 2010 putting the PV industry on course for a record year, according to a report issued this week by Solarbuzz, an international solar energy market research and consulting company.

In the latest edition of Solarbuzz Quarterly, 2010 market size has been increased to 16.3 GW from the previous 15.2 GW forecast. Soaring PV markets around the world have led to global demand more than doubling, with European markets taking a 78 percent share.Source: Solarbuzz, USA.

Third and fourth quarter 2010
Third quarter 2010 demand was 4 GW, down marginally from 4.1 GW from the prior quarter due to slower market uptake in Germany after mid-year reductions in incentive tariffs. However, fourth quarter 2010 demand is projected to increase by 43 percent to an all time quarterly high of 5.7 GW. On the supply side, Chinese manufacturers accounted for 66 percent of Q3'10 global cell production, up from 50 percent one year earlier, as they continue to grow market share.

JA Solar had the highest cell shipments in third quarter, while eight out of the top 12 were Chinese or Taiwanese manufacturers. The fastest growing large cell manufacturer was Taiwan's Motech Industries, followed by Trina Solar and JA Solar in equal second place.

Looking into 2011
Aggregate PV manufacturers' solar shipment* growth is projected at 46 percent in 2011. This is in contrast to a slowing global market growth rate, which is forecast to be 25 percent in 2011, following incentive tariff cuts in the dominant German market and policy adjustments in the Czech Republic and France, in particular.

Instead, 2011 market expansion will be driven by Italy, United States, China, Canada, India and smaller markets in Europe and Asia.

As a result of excess production, factory gate module prices are projected to drop by more than 15 percent over the year to fourth quarter 2011, led down by low cost Asian producers.

"Wholesalers in Germany will defer purchases in the early months of 2011 until they start to see improving price offers from module suppliers," said Craig Stevens, President of Solarbuzz. "However, more competitive pricing will emerge during second quarter that will be sufficient to re-stimulate that market during the second half of the year."

Weak first quarter 2011 demand in Germany will be the primary cause of module inventory build of over 3 GW in the PV chain. However, some leading manufacturers integrated into the downstream have established better positions by building up project pipelines in other European countries, the US and Asia.

Many other manufacturers are dependent on upfront payments and penalty clauses to ensure wholesalers and project developers follow through on framework supply contracts as prices fall.Source: Solarbuzz, USA.

ib vogt GmbH secures second order in Falta solar hub in India

BERLIN, GERMANY: ib vogt GmbH has been commissioned by Sonthalia group to undertake the concept study and further engineering services for a Photovoltaic factory in Falta Solar Hub/India. The realisation of the factory is planned in 2011/2012.

The Solar Mission approved by the Indian government for solar electricity plans to generate 20.000 MW of solar power in India by the end of 2022, as a consequence thereof 2.000 MW should be provided by the state West Bengal.

The Falta solar hub in South-24 Parganas is expected to generate about 300 MW of solar energy by completion of the six solar module manufacturing factories. Two factories are already in operation and two more will start production in the next months. Followed by the Sonthalia PV factory and another factory that is already planned.

For ib vogt, the project represents a further important step in strengthening the international position of the vogt group. With the new established subsidiary ib vogt India Pvt. Ltd. in Gurgaon/Delhi and a local partner network they are prepared for future projects in India.

The vogt group SE will be also represented at the Intersolar India in Mumbai 14-16 December 2010 in Hall 6, booth 6280.

64MW inline RUV in Canada

CANADA: Eclipsall, a brand new Canadian Solar Enterprise that was founded in 2009 coinciding with the launch of Ontario's Green Energy Act, has announced the launch of a manufacturing plant near Toronto, to produce solar PV panels in mid 2011.

For this purpose, the company has purchased a turnkey solar module manufacturing line from RIMAS in the Netherlands. This 64MW manufacturing plant is equipped to meet all demands for the local market and competitively bring European solar manufacturing knowledge and quality into Canada.

The lean semi-automated production facility, will allow Eclipsall to provide the beautiful Ontario region with investment grade crystalline solar PV modules, and will provide direct employment to more than 90 people.

The manufacturing concept is enhanced by strict quality measurement equipment, such as the Resonance Ultrasonic Vibrations (RUV) crack detection methodology from RUV Systems. In this case RUV provides full incoming inspection of 2.400 solar cells per hour, prior to the stringer process, thus ensuring only stable solar cells are allowed into the line. For Eclypsall a double RUV unit is being interfaced with a Somont Rapid 4 stringer system.

Phoenix Solar builds solar park in Greece with peak power of 2 MW

SULZEMOOS, GERMANY: Phoenix Solar E.P.E., the Greek subsidiary of Phoenix Solar AG, an international photovoltaic system integrator listed on the German TecDAX, has signed its largest contract to date for the construction of a grid-connected photovoltaic plant.

Phoenix Solar is to build a solar power plant with a peak power of two megawatts in the vicinity of Nafpaktos in central Greece for Douneika Energy EE, a group of Greek investors. The project was developed by the investors with the assistance of Athens-based Phoenix Solar E.P.E., and is financed by a Greek bank. Construction work is already under way.

Douneika Solar Park is being built using crystalline modules on around six hectares of hilly terrain. With a solar irradiation of 1,580 kWh/m², the investors are anticipating an annual energy yield of 2.9 million kilowatt hours.

“The solar market in Greece will come to around 110 megawatts in 2010, with the majority of the capacity in medium size systems”, stated Dr Christos Protogeropoulos, General Manager of Phoenix Solar E.P.E.

“In 2011, we estimate that the Greek solar market will grow to a volume of some 200 megawatts. Our intention is to contribute to boosting this growth in the years ahead. To this end, we will be drawing on our project pipeline with solar projects in the double-digit megawatt range. The legal framework conditions here in Greece are stable and, in the meantime, German as well as Greek banks have financed photovoltaic projects in Greece.”

DuPont and Everbright collaborate on largest thin film solar rooftop installation in China

HONG KONG: DuPont, through its wholly owned subsidiary, DuPont Apollo Ltd, and China Everbright International Ltd have jointly announced the completion of an on-grid 1.3 megawatt (MW) rooftop photovoltaic installation at the DuPont Apollo production facility in Guangming New District, Shenzhen. The project is considered the largest single structure thin film photovoltaic rooftop installation in China to date.

“DuPont Apollo is pleased to collaborate with Everbright on this large-scale rooftop installation to support the daily operation of our production facility with clean and cost-effective solar electricity,” said David Chu – DuPont Apollo leader. “We hope this project will be a role model for other businesses that wish to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels by generating the electricity they need on their own rooftops.”

Initiated in July, the installation covers about 23,000 square feet of roof space at the production plant, and is constructed of 13,000 high-performance amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film photovoltaic modules made by DuPont Apollo. It has the capacity to generate an annual output of approximately 1.5 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity and reduces greenhouse gases by offsetting about 1,480 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The system is expected to operate for 25 years.

“We are pleased to join hands with DuPont Apollo to further advance the creation and application of clean energy and contribute more to the development of renewable energy in China which has a very prosperous future,” said Chen Xiaoping, chief executive officer – Everbright International. “Our collaboration with DuPont Apollo has made this showcase project a significant green milestone in Shenzhen’s history and has provided remarkable value to both the society and economy as a whole.”

MEMC and Flextronics to produce solar panels for SunEdison in Ontario

TORONTO, CANADA & SINGAPORE: SunEdison, a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc., announced that its affiliate, MEMC Singapore, is partnering with Flextronics (Nasdaq: FLEX), a multi-billion dollar electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, to produce solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at Flextronics' facility in Newmarket, Ontario. Located in York Region, production of the solar panels is expected to result in more than 100 new jobs for the province.

Scheduled to begin production during the second quarter of 2011, Flextronics will produce MEMC branded solar panels that will be used by SunEdison for its solar PV projects. This will enable SunEdison and its project partners to exceed the 60 percent domestic content requirement of Ontario's Feed-in Tariff Program (FIT) while supporting SunEdison's anticipated growth in the region.

"This initiative not only satisfies the domestic content requirement for SunEdison, but also signals a significant long-term investment in the Ontario solar market," said Carlos Domenech, President of SunEdison. "We see tremendous opportunity in supplying high-quality panels to accommodate the large volume of projects in the area."

"Flextronics has some of the most advanced clean tech manufacturing capabilities in the industry, enabling the competitiveness of our customers both globally and also in local markets such as Ontario," said E.C. Sykes, president of Flextronics Industrial. "We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with MEMC. They are a trusted partner and together we look forward to bringing new jobs to the community."

"Growing Newmarket's economy with clean and green technologies is a priority of the Town Council and a focus of our economic development strategy," said Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen. "The establishment of a green industry leader such as SunEdison in Newmarket aligns perfectly with the town's commitment to the environment, our focus on advanced manufacturing and creating more homegrown jobs."

"We are partnering with Flextronics, the Town of Newmarket and the Region of York because of their clear dedication to sustainability," said Jason Gray, Vice President and Country Manager, SunEdison. "We are committed to creating green jobs and building a green economy for Ontario. This initiative will provide an initial 50 megawatts of annual panel capacity that will have the potential to scale to 200 megawatts over time, and therefore, the potential to add even more green jobs for the province."

This announcement follows SunEdison's previously announced plans to produce solar racking equipment with Samco Solar, a division of Samco Machinery Ltd. based in Scarborough, Ontario.

Mandatory use of local content for solar projects to continue – clarification

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, had announced a policy to introduce domestic content, wherein 30 percent domestic content is mandatory for the solar thermal power projects in the first phase of the Mission.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) grid power projects are to be selected in two stages. In the first stage 150 MW capacity projects are being selected, where the crystalline silicon modules should be manufactured in the country.

However, for the second stage of selection of about 300 MW capacity projects, it is mandatory to use domestic solar cells and modules. There is no move to defer this policy.