The United States, China mainland and Taiwan solar cell market to occupy

Despite Japan's solar cells and components suppliers have been occupied for several years dominated the global photovoltaic, but since the German implementation of the tax rebate incentive subsidy policy, it is very difficult for Japan to restore its market share. Despite recent efforts to make a lot, but in fact, Japan's share continues to decline in 2010 is likely it will be difficult to stop this trend. However, according to IC Insights, a recent report, the United States, China and Taiwan manufacturers of batteries and components of solar cells is to occupy the market.

IC Insights 2008 10 top manufacturers of solar cells including those from Japan, mainland China and Taiwan, the United States and German suppliers. However, Japan's Sharp Corp. Has lost its early years of 2006 and the first in the world rankings, the rankings in the latest Sharp has slipped to fourth place, behind Germany's Q-Cells AG, the United States First Solar Inc., and China's Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd.. Q-Cells and Suntech in 2007, has exceeded Sharp, and CdTe thin-film components manufacturer First Solar sales in 2008 jumped by 144 percent, more than Suntech and Sharp.

Sharp is not only a 2008 ranking of Japanese companies fell. Kyocera Corp. From fifth in 2007, dropped to sixth in 2008. Sanyo ranked seventh in 2007, and 2008 can not enter the Top 10, Mitsubishi's ranking also fell. Sharp has already announced ambitious plans to expand manufacturing capacity and sales in the near future silicon-based thin-film components, or they will be able to help the market regain Sharp.

In addition to First Solar, Top 10 ranked vendors rose from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. 2008 annual sales growth of 109 percent, ranking rose to seventh from 10th. Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. Sales growth of 93 percent, rising from ninth to eighth.

China Taiwan manufacturers Motech Industries Inc. Exchanged with Kyocera ranking rose from sixth to fifth, a 67 percent sales growth. Gintech Energy Corp. Was First Solar and the growth of the same amount of ranking rose to 10th place from 12th.

Jul. 23, 2009

China solar panel consortium to establish distribution centers in the United States

A consortium of 30 Chinese companies in the solar panel industry is setting up a U.S. sales hub in Eugene, the group’s president, Ocean Yuan, told The Register-Guard on Wednesday.The group, named Centron Solar, has leased a 25,000-square-foot warehouse in west Eugene, has 10 high-level managers on board and has ambitious plans to grow to 200 to 300 employees in a year, Yuan said.

The group probably also will set up one or two solar panel assembly lines in Eugene, creating about 50 “green” jobs. Those positions would pay about $20 an hour, including benefits, he said.The group’s members — mature manufacturers with proven technologies — have banded together to serve the vast potential market for affordable solar panels in the United States, Yuan said.

“Instead of coming in here by themselves and confusing the market with company names that the average American can’t even pronounce, we decided to combine forces and create an easy-to-pronounce, easy-to-remember name, which is Centron Solar,” Yuan said.Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy said she had met with the group’s representatives a couple of times, but hadn’t spoken with them recently.

Of course, we’re very interested in solar,” she said. “We believe it’s right for Eugene and right for our community energy goals.”Piercy said that if Centron Solar does end up creating hundreds of jobs in Eugene, “it would be terrific. It would be wonderful. We’ve been really trying to encourage solar development here.”A couple of other solar businesses besides Centron Solar have expressed interest in Eugene, Piercy said. “We’ve been following all the leads we get.”Solar panel manufacture uses technologies similar to semiconductor manufacture. When Hynix closed its computer-chip plant in west Eugene last year, eliminating 1,000 jobs, it set off speculation that a solar manufacturer might take up residence there.

Jul. 19, 2009