First Solar first half revenue growth of 103.5%

The world's thin-film solar module manufacturer First Solar 7 on 30 announced Q2 results: revenue in 2008 from 267 million U.S. dollars during the same period grew 97 percent to 525.9 million U.S. dollars. First Solar2009 in the first quarter revenues of 418.2 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 112%. Taking all these data, the first half of 2009, the First Solar reached 944.1 million U.S. dollars in revenue, an increase of 103.5%.

First Solar full year 2008 revenues of 1,246,300,000 U.S. dollars, while in 2009 the first half of First Solar's revenue reached 944.1 million U.S. dollars, and this results in the first half of the overall downturn in the industry under the condition achieved by This shows that the company's strong market competitiveness. Business degrees in the industry gradually picked up under the good, First Solar's performance in the second half looking forward to more.

Declining cost of First Solar is continuing to strengthen the competitiveness of the root of the problem. 4-quarter 2008 average production of First Solar's cost has been reduced to 0.98 U.S. dollars per watt, is the world's first production cost is lower than 1 U.S. dollars per watt of solar energy companies. At present, the First Solar manufacturing cost per watt has slipped to 0.87 U.S. dollars.

In addition, First Solar had previously said that the plan in 2014 its CdTe thin film solar cell module manufacturing costs per watt will reach 0.52 ~ 0.63 U.S. dollars, compared to the current 0.93 U.S. dollars-per-watt cost of about 30 ~ 40% decline in conversion efficiency from the current 10.9 % try for to 12.5%, 1.6 percentage points to upgrade.

First Soalr as a result of strong performance, well-known management consulting firm Navigant Consulting has estimated that in 2009 will exceed China's First Solar and Suntech Power Japan's Sharp to become the world's largest manufacturers of photovoltaic components. In the production of solar cells, First Solar is also expected to more than Germany's Q-Cells, the world's largest manufacturer of solar cells.

Aug. 3, 2009

Luxembourg Institute developed a conversion rate of 12% of the CIGS solar cells

Luxembourg Institute of the University developed a solar cell conversion efficiency of 12% of the CIGS (Cu, In, Ga, Se)-based solar cell modules. The Institute is located in Luxembourg at the University of TDK's industry-university co-operative research projects "TDK Europe Professorship" under the framework in April 2007 established. Mainly engaged in the new solar cell materials and manufacturing process development.

In order to enhance solar cell conversion efficiency of the Institute, developed a thin-film solar cell absorption layers and isolation layers. The future will be located at the Institute in Berlin, Germany, Helmholtz-Zentrum Munchen layer to develop the use of these solar cells.

In addition, the Institute has also successfully developed a non-high In the solar cell. Manufacturing methods can be used in the plating method to reduce costs. Conversion efficiency of 3.2%. According to the Institute of solar cells that use the same kinds of material conversion efficiency of solar cells is the world record of 3.4 percent.

Jul. 31, 2009

MEMC joint venture with Q-Cells solar power plant operators

MEMC Electronic Materials and Q-Cells subsidiary of Q-Cells International will be a joint venture to construct and operate a solar energy power station, which MEMC will invest 100 million U.S. dollars. The first project is located in Germany, Bavaria Strasskirchen, crystalline silicon solar modules used to build 50MW solar park. MEMC will own 50% stake. After completion of the project, the two companies said that the solar park will be sold to a third party. The project will use 225,000 modules installed on the ground of 135 hectares can be made available to 15,000 users, 35,000 tons per year reduction in CO2 emissions.

The new joint venture with Q-Cells appear to the previously announced co-operation with LDK Solar is different. With Q-Cells in the LDK in China and Europe in solar energy projects, LDK does not bear any financial cost. "MEMC sell silicon to Q-Cells, to comply with MEMC sales revenue will be calculated strategy to get the two sides recognized the cost of silicon will be included in the final product cost of sales," MEMC's SVP and CFO Ken Hannah said.

Hannah also pointed out that, MEMC has begun shipping to the Q-Cells silicon, and then be manufactured into the new solar battery park.

"We believe that the active participation of the lower reaches of the solar project, MEMC will receive greater value," MEMC President and CEO Ahmad Chatila said. At present, the common level of Germany's leading photovoltaic solar power plant projects, dominated by thin film technology, especially in First Solar's CdTe components. This latest joint venture the two companies shows that the traditional crystalline silicon PV manufacturers and silicon suppliers are also willing to projects in the high consumption of large-scale investment in order to compete with thin film technology.

Jul. 27, 2009

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