Digitimes Research: Emerging solar markets see rapid installation growth in 1Q13

May 3, 16:07

Solar demand in major markets in Europe continues to grow steadily as governments lower incentives. In the first quarter of 2013, total new solar installations in Germany, Italy,...

Sapphire substrate market in oversupply

Apr 24, 14:58

The market of sapphire substrates, an upstream material for LEDs, has been in oversupply with prices falling. The prices are lower than the production costs of many firms. This has...

China LED tube, light bulb penetration rate to exceed 15% in 2013

Apr 17, 22:14

Under the 12th Five-Year Plan, local governments in China continue to promote LED lighting. Due to lack of strong international sales in 2012, China-based LED lighting firms have...

Solar demand in emerging Asian countries to grow by 28% annually through 2017, says Solarbuzz

Apr 2, 10:40

Solar demand from the emerging Asia Pacific and Central Asia (EAPCA) region is forecast to exceed 3GW by 2017, according to Solarbuzz. Compared to 723MW of solar demand in 2012, this...

China LED firms shift investment focus to downstream segments

Apr 1, 11:26

China government's subsidy programs for upstream LED firms have been causing oversupply of LED chips, inflicting losses on Taiwan-based LED chipmakers. However, the subsidy programs...

Digitimes Research: Japan 2013 solar installations to reach over 3GW

Mar 25, 11:08

The Japan government continues to promote the use of renewable energy and lower the percentage of electricity generated from nuclear power. In July 2012, the government announced...

Taiwan government helps domestic firms enter Australia solar market

Mar 19, 15:35

Taiwan's Bureau of Energy has invited the Australian Solar Council and representatives from large-size engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms to join an investment...

China reportedly may cut solar incentives

Mar 18, 11:40

China's solar incentive reportedly may face a significant cut under new energy subsidy policies in order to encourage market mechanism in the industry.

Commentary: The rise and the possible fall of Suntech

Mar 15, 14:40

Suntech Power Holdings, a China-based solar module giant, said on March 11, 2013, that it has signed a forbearance agreement with the holders of more than 60% of the firm's 3% convertible...

Some tier-one Taiwan solar cell makers see increased orders from Japan

Mar 5, 11:05

Due to the expectation that Japan will lower its solar feed-in-tariff (FIT) in April and the US punitive tariffs' impacts on China-made solar products, some tier-one Taiwan-based...

Digitimes Research: US, India continue to promote solar with policies

Feb 27, 14:16

As solar markets in Europe are growing slowly, emerging solar markets have become the focus.

Taiwan solar industry needs branding and distribution channels, says TSEC chairman

Feb 19, 16:07

Taiwan's solar industry needs to improve from its weakness of lacking brand recognition and control over distribution, said Ellick Liao, chairman of Taiwan Solar Energy (TSEC).

Digitimes Research: Europe solar installations to account for 35% of global installations in 2013

Feb 4, 10:48

Over-investment in 2010-2011 caused the solar industry to suffer from falling prices and increasing net losses in 2012. However, due to policy promotions and solar incentives in various...

China may set tougher regulations for solar firms

Jan 23, 15:57

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has reportedly held a meeting regarding solar industry regulations. The meeting reportedly set regulations such as firms needing...

China market: Golden Sun projects reach total installation capacity of 4.54GW in 2012

Jan 22, 10:45

China's Golden Sun Demonstration projects achieved a total installation capacity of 4.54GW in 2012, up 548.57% from 2011, according to media reports from China. China's government...

Taiwan market: MOEA subsidies help sales of energy-saving home appliances

Jan 18, 15:29

Due to oil and electricity price hikes, the second wave of energy-saving home appliance subsidies introduced by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) in 2012 showed positive...

Commentary: Europe solar market to see adjustments; Asia demand to rise in 2013

Jan 15, 15:45

The solar market saw many unexpected events in 2012. Solar makers believe in 2013, the Europe market will see adjustments such as Germany installations declining to government-planned...

Everlight to ship nearly 50,000 LED street lamps to Taiwan government projects by end of 2Q13

Jan 15, 14:18

Taiwan-based Everlight Electronics has won two contracts from the Kaohsiung City Government, southern Taiwan, to each supply about 10,000 LED street lamps, and together with contracts...

Access to China domestic solar demand limited

Jan 4, 14:52

The China government has been eager to develop and expand domestic solar demand because the solar supply chain faces anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations in international...

Taiwan solar firms not keen to invest in China projects

Dec 27, 11:06

China's domestic solar demand has been rising, but due to risks, Taiwan-based makers believe the best way to enter the market is to provide products such as solar cells instead of...

Japan likely to cut solar feed-in tariff in 2013, say Taiwan makers

Dec 26, 11:11

The Japan government is likely to reduce the feed-in tariff (FIT) rate for solar PV system installations from JPY42 (US$0.50)/kWh currently to either JPY36/kWh or JPY32/kWh in March...

Taiwan Bureau of Energy to help solar firms develop US, Thailand markets

Dec 19, 21:36

Taiwan's Bureau of Energy plans to hold a business conference regarding Taiwan-based firms developing markets such as the US and Thailand on December 21, 2012.

Only 20% of projects obtain subsidies in 2012 second phase of Golden Sun Project

Nov 26, 11:52

According to China-based media reports, the China government has been eager to create domestic demand, but due to the limited budget, the second phase of the Golden Sun Demonstration...

Germany switches focus to rooftop systems in 2013

Nov 26, 10:43

Germany may stop all incentives for ground-mounted large-size solar installations in 2013. Hence, In September, installations in Germany which were close to 1GW, more than 80% of...

Taiwan LED industry output in 4Q12 to fall slightly, says IEK

Nov 23, 11:06

According to the Industrial Economics and Knowledge Center (IEK), Taiwan's total LED industry output value in the third quarter of 2012 was NT$24.2 billion (US$830 million), representing...

US financial institutes may securitize solar PV system projects

Nov 8, 21:52

US financial institutes may securitize solar PV system projects. Solar firms believe securitization of solar PV projects could help firms obtain funds easier, which would benefit...

Digitimes Research: South Korea aggressively promotes LED commercialization policies

Nov 8, 14:40

To promote the commercialization of LED lighting, South Korea's Knowledge Economy Ministry announced in 2006 a "15/30" plan, which means to achieve 30% LED lighting commercialization...

Taiwan government to offer NT$10 billion loans to support green-energy industry

Sep 25, 12:21

Taiwan government's National Development Fund (NDF) will offer 15-year loans totaling NT$10 billion (US$338 million) to finance exports of green-energy products, including solar,...

Germany may cut solar incentives in November

Aug 16, 01:15

Germany is likely to cut solar incentives again in November because installations in the first half of the year exceeded the annual target of 2.5-3.5GW and reached 4.3GW. The figure...

Global solar installations increase due to government policies, says PIDA

Aug 6, 12:08

Solar installations in 2012 will continue to be affected by government policies, according to Taiwan's Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association (PIDA).

No end-of-year rush expected for Germany solar market in 2012, says IHS

Aug 3, 10:18

A midyear subsidy change approved by the German government for solar PV installations in rooftops will continue to drive solar demand for the remainder of 2012, although no year-end...

Italy solar market set for disaster as new incentive budget could be blown, says IMS Research

Jul 24, 14:15

The budget available to for Italy's Conto Energia V (CE5) solar PV incentive program could be cut to less than half of the intended amount, wiping out any feed-in-tariff (FIT) budget...