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NEWS & VIEWS |
Taipei,
Sunday, July 20, 2008
08:29 (GMT+8)
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Subject: Bits + chips > Solar |
SAS solar wafer capacity running short of demand; secures more polysilicon Jul 18, 10:25 Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) is said to see its solar wafer capacity running short of demand. Amid strong orders, the company is expected to expand capacity, as well as secure additional polysilicon. Read more |
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Thin-film solar capacity fully booked; more lines to come online, says Sunwell Jul 17, 15:49 Sunwell Technology has already found capacity fully booked at its first thin-film solar cell line which entered volume production this month. In light of the strong orders, the company will start equipment installation at its second line during late 2008, with third and fourth lines also planned. Read more |
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Solar companies say Taiwan government incentive program unrealistic Jul 17, 12:36 Taiwan government's planned incentive program to encourage photovoltaic (PV) investment is not very much appreciated by market players, as a critical portion of the act is still pending to be discussed by Taiwan's legislature (Executive Yuan), and real benefit that industry players will enjoy still remains a doubt. Read more |
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LED companies Everlight and Epistar to partner on CPV power plant Jul 15, 17:06 LED companies Everlight and Epistar are cooperating with Yee Fong Chemical and Everphoton to set up the first concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) power plant in Asia by the end of 2008, with the plant to have an estimated initial capacity of 1MWp, according to the market sources. Read more |
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Visual Photonics Epitaxy aims to grow concentrator PV conversion rate to 40% Jul 15, 15:38 Epitaxy wafer maker Visual Photonics Epitaxy aims to further boost the power conversion rate of its concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) wafers to 40% within three years, according to a company executive speaking during a product launch on July 14. Read more |
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Gintech affiliate officially starts solar wafer shipments this month Jul 15, 14:43 Eversol, a Taiwan-based solar wafer supplier affiliate company of Gintech Energy, will have shipments to its parent company officially begin in July. Read more |
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Sunwell places 180MW repeat order with Oerlikon Jul 15, 10:34 Sunwell, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMC Magnetics, has announced that it has ordered another two end-to-end thin film silicon production lines from Oerlikon Solar. One 60MW line will be delivered to the existing Sunwell production facility in Taiwan and the other 120MW line will be shipped to a new site currently under construction. Both lines comprise Oerlikon Solar's latest tandem cell technology, micromorph raising module efficiency by up to 50%. Start of production is scheduled in 2009. Read more |
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Solar inverter market to grow by 40% in 2008 Jul 15, 01:15 The global solar inverter market is projected to grow by more than 40% in 2008 driven primarily by continued strong demand from both Germany and Spain. Read more |
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Taiwan government to lift subsidy ceiling for solar equipment production, says paper Newswatch | Jul 14, 10:50 The Taiwan government is planning to lift the subsidy ceiling for solar equipment makers, aiming to grow self-sufficiency to 80%, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report. Read more |
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As more players eye polysilicon production, tight supply of crucibles becomes a concern Jul 11, 16:34 While the growing number of polysilicon makers are expected to help eventually ease worries about a materials shortage fin the photovoltaic (PV) industry, the rush to build more polysilicon plants is leading to a possible shortage of some key manufacturing components, namely crucibles, which are used for silicon ingot production, according to industry players. Read more |
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Taiwan's Tainergy signs US$3 billion solar wafer supply contract with MEMC Jul 11, 11:51 MEMC Electronic Materials and Tainergy Tech of Taiwan announced today that they have executed a definitive agreement for MEMC to supply solar wafers to Tainergy. Read more |
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Thin-film solar panel chemical and material sales to more than double in two years, says Information Network Jul 11, 09:56 Consumption of chemicals and materials for amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cell production is expected to more than double through 2010, hitting revenues of US$575 million, according to the Information Network. Read more |
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San Chih announces solar ingot investment in China Jul 10, 14:21 San Chih Semiconductor, the parent company of Green Energy Technology, has announced it will establish a solar ingot sawing production base in China. Read more |
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Thin-film photovoltaic market to reach 26 gigawatts by 2015 Jul 10, 12:20 The thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) market will produce the equivalent of 26 gigawatts (GW) by 2015 and will generate well over US$20 billion in revenues in that same time frame according to industry analyst NanoMarkets. By 2015, NanoMarkets expects that TFPV will account for more than half of the world's production of photovoltaics. Read more |
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Green Energy progresses on China investment; secures new polysilicon supply Jul 10, 11:56 Green Energy Technology has recently announced that its board of directors has approved plan to invest in China, and the company has also landed additional polysilicon supply, according to company filings with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE). Read more |
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Mosel secures 7-year solar wafer supply from Nexolon Jul 9, 01:15 Mosel Vitelic has signed yet another contract with Korea-based solar wafer supplier Nexolon worth a total of US$360 million over a seven-year period, according to the Taiwan-based solar cell maker. Read more |
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Solar wafer suppliers Green Energy and SAS may raise quotes Jul 9, 01:00 Solar silicon wafer suppliers Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) and Green Energy Technology are considering raising their contract manufacturing quotes soon because of rising production costs, according to industry sources. Read more |
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Chroma Ate anticipates it will sustain strong sales in 3Q Jul 8, 14:48 IC testing equipment supplier Chroma Ate saw its second-quarter sales grow by 10% on quarter, and the company anticipates a seasonal upturn will help sustain strong sales in the third quarter, with the company citing its order-booking status. Read more |
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Solargiga expected to benefit from Toyota solar-powered hybrid car Jul 8, 14:10 As a solar wafer supplier for Japan-based Kyocera, Solargiga is expected to benefit from the launch of a new solar-powered hybrid car from Toyota Motor, as Kyocera is the solar panel supplier for Toyota, according to industry players. Read more |
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Visual Photonics Epitaxy preps volume production of high-efficiency concentrator solar cell Newswatch | Jul 8, 11:15 Visual Photonics Epitaxy is preparing volume production of its concentrator photovoltaic (CPV), which delivers a higher power conversion efficiency, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report. Read more |
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SAS US subsidiary said to have broken even earlier than expected Jul 7, 17:02 Sources at Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) indicated that the company's US-based subsidiary Globitech will see its monthly profits break even earlier-than-expected, with industry sources indicating that Globitech, an epitaxy wafer maker, broke even for the month of May, while its June's results were also expected to be promising. Read more |
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Taiwan thin-film solar module makers secure new orders Jul 7, 14:12 During a recent photovoltaic (PV) show in Germany, Auria Solar and Green Energy Technology secured thin-film solar module orders that exceed their available capacity, according to industry sources. Read more |
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Neo Solar Power sales soar in 1H08; capacity trails behind demand Newswatch | Jul 7, 11:40 Having already seen sales soar by over 200% on year in the first half of 2008, Neo Solar Power indicated that its capacity is trailing behind demand while utilization rate remains at high levels. Read more |
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New LDK Solar polysilicon plant to benefit Taiwan solar-cell vendors Jul 3, 11:12 The recent equipment installation at LDK Solar's new polysilicon plant in China is good news for Taiwan's solar-cell makers, as they are expected to benefit from increased material supply. According to institutional investors in Taiwan, Gintech Energy is regarded as the biggest potential beneficiary, as a significant portion of materials from LDK Solar are reserved for the Taiwan maker. Read more |
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Polysilicon consultant companies eyeing Taiwan market Jun 30, 15:11 A growing numbers of technology-transfer consulting companies are eyeing the substantial business in Taiwan as more newcomers try to enter into polysilicon production, according to industry sources. Read more |
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Solar-cell spot pricing surges by over 10% in a month Jun 27, 15:45 Spot pricing for solar cells has surged by over 10% in a month with a premium of almost 20% over contract quotes. The upsurge is due to a rapid order pull-in from system maker wishing to enjoy the government incentives offered in Spain before the program expires. Read more |
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System Integrator Stark invests in solar business Newswatch | Jun 27, 10:12 System integrator Stark Technology has announced plans to partner with Solartech Energy to establish a solar-cell-related component subsidiary in Jiangxi, China. Read more |
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Taiflex Scientific aims to double solar-module backsheet sales contribution Newswatch | Jun 26, 12:06 Through securing materials from DuPont, printed circuit board (PCB) maker Taiflex Scientific anticipates that the sales contribution from its solar-module backsheet production will increase to 8-10% by the end of the year. Read more |
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Formosa Sumco taps into solar ingot production Jun 26, 11:49 Formosa Sumco Technology announced it is extending its business from silicon wafer production to solar ingot production with production and shipments for Taiwan-based solar cell makers slated to begin in August. Industry players acknowleged the move, citing the substantial gross margin and the company's established advantage in polysilicon supply sufficiency. Formosa Sumco announced the plan during a recent shareholder meeting. Read more |
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Unitech starts solar-cell production Jun 26, 11:39 Printed circuit board (PCB) maker Unitech Printed Circuit Board officially started operation at its solar-cell plant on June 25, holding the official opening ceremony at its new solar cell plant in Yilan, eastern Taiwan. Read more |
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Wafer Works epitaxy wafer subsidiary aims to grab 20% of China market Jun 24, 15:20 China-based Wafer Works Epitaxial, an epitaxy wafer subsidiary at Wafer Works, aims to grab one-fifth of the epitaxy wafer market in China while also extending its presence among local Taiwan semiconductor players. Read more |
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Solar cell investments to reach parity with semiconductor industry by 2010, says iSuppli Jun 24, 12:26 Worldwide investments in the production of photovoltaic (PV) cells will rise to the same level as those for semiconductor manufacturing by 2010, due to booming demand for solar energy, according to iSuppli. Read more |
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Solargiga to double solar ingot-slicing equipment amount through 2009 Jun 23, 11:49 In addition to an aggressive solar wafer production expansion, Solargiga Energy Holdings, a subsidiary of Wafer Works in China, also plans to double its corresponding solar ingot-slicing capacity to 150 million wafers in 2009, according to company executives. Read more |
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SAS guides 10% sequential sales growth in 3Q Jun 20, 15:16 During a June 19 investors conference, Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) chairman MK Lu guided third-quarter sales are to grow 10% on quarter. Read more |
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Unitech to volume produce solar cells in mid-June Jun 19, 11:55 Unitech Printed Circuit Board will move its solar cell plant into volume production in mid-June, with expansion already planned for 2009. Read more |
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Powercom to construct polysilicon fab in Taiwan Jun 19, 01:00 UPS maker Powercom has indicated that it plans to construct a polysilicon fab located in Yilan on the eastern coast of Taiwan. Powercom already has a subsidiary on solar cell production. Read more |
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DuPont sets up R&D center in Taiwan for solar cell materials Jun 18, 01:15 DuPont has set up an R&D center in Taiwan for the development of materials for crystalline silicon and thin-film solar cells. The company expects to invest US$3 million in the center. Read more |
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Neo Solar Power to add fourth solar cell production line Jun 17, 11:56 By adding a fourth production line, Neo Solar Power is expected to see its overall solar cell production capacity to more than double during year-end 2008. Read more |
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Wafer Works aims to achieve over NT$10 billion in sales in 2008 Jun 16, 10:59 Wafer Works aims to have its 2008 sales surpass NT$10 billion (US$32.8 million) in 2008 as it has sufficient funding from its Hong Kong-listed subsidiary Solargiga and an extending synergy from vertical integration, according to the company. Read more |
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SAS sources polysilicon from Arise Jun 16, 10:34 In addition to previously landing a contract for silicon wafers from Canada-based Arise Technologies, Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) announced that it will also procure polysilicon from the company and perform OEM production for its silicon wafer. Read more |
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Gintech inks solar wafer contract with Nexolon Jun 12, 16:50 Gintech Energy announced that it has signed a 6-inch solar wafer contract with the Korea-based Nexolon through 2014. Read more |
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Solar wafer pricing appreciates further Jun 12, 01:05 Players from the solar industry in Taiwan have been shocked by recent spot pricing trends for 6-inch solar wafers, as prices did not weaken as expected. Read more |
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Green Energy to focus on long-term customers in 2H08 Newswatch | Jun 11, 16:03 As solar wafer maker Green Energy Technology plans to increase its proportion of OEM customers, the company expects stable profitability, though its sales momentum may not be as strong as in the first half of 2008, according to the company. Read more |
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Powercom optimistic about deployment in solar business Jun 10, 12:09 After seeing its sales contribution from solar modules hit a record high in May, Powercom is positive about its extended presence beyond its core business of uninterrupted power systems (UPS) production, according to the company. Read more |
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Daily silicon: Q&A with Gary Homan, VP of Hemlock Semiconductor Jun 10, 10:50 What is going on in the polysilicon industry? It is common knowledge that silicon is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust (after oxygen) and the third in the planet's mantle (behind oxygen and magnesium), so any sort of silicon shortage may sound like nonsense. However, this is the situation. Read more |
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LDK Solar constructs huge polysilicon fab in China Jun 9, 16:15 In light of the dominant role that polysilicon plays in the solar cell market, LDK Solar is constructing a polysilicon fab housing an annual capacity of 15,000 tons, according to company executives. Read more |
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SAS and Green Energy see revenues hit record highs in May Jun 6, 16:43 Solar silicon wafer makers Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) and Green Energy Technology both saw their revenues hit their highest levels in May, according to data released by the companies. Read more |
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Gintech raises solar cell capacity goal for 2008 Jun 6, 01:55 Taiwan-based solar cell maker Gintech Energy has raised its 2008 capacity goal 17.8% to 660MWp from the original 560MWp, and it also plans to kick off construction of a new plant in August this year, according to company sources. Read more |
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Sun Well to volume produce thin-film solar cells in July Jun 4, 15:43 Sun Well Technology updated that it will start volume production of thin-film solar cells in July with a second production line already planned. Including the capacity from the planned line, the company is expect to deliver a total capacity of 60 peak megawatt (MWp). Read more |
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Scrap wafer price maintains stable Jun 4, 01:00 While the average selling price (ASP) of per kilogram of polysilicon has been volatile, ASPs for scrap wafers are maintaining stable, according to sources at solar cell makers in Taiwan. Read more |
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