BUSINESSNEWS
Germany’s solar continues to thrive
The rapid growth of PV in Germany continues. Several companies, including First Solar, Avancis, SolarWorld and Juwi, have announced new investments in Germany. First Solar is even doubling its production capacity in the country. These developments underscore the industry’s strength and add a vote of confidence for future market growth. First Solar’s announcement marks the largest foreign investment in Germany’s renewable energies industry this year.
US-based First Solar announced yesterday an investment of over USD 200 million in its facility in Frankfurt (Oder) in Eastern Germany. The investment will make it the largest thin-film plant in Europe and boost annual production capacity to 446 MW.
This week France-based Saint-Gobain subsidiary Avancis announced its investment in a new plant in the Eastern German city of Torgau. The new facility will be Avancis’ second German plant manufacturing thin-film CIGS panels.
Air Liquide announces deals
The Asia-Pacific region now hosts more than 70% of the solar cells produced in the world, estimated to surpass 10 GWp in 2010. Air Liquide is strengthening its market leadership position in the supply of gases and precursors to the solar photovoltaic manufacturers by signing over 10 new longterm contracts with photovoltaic industry leaders in China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan.
The latest contracts make the Group the supplier of over 120 photovoltaic customers worldwide, with an overall manufacturing capacity above 13,000 MWp per year, which equals around 50% of the worldwide production capacity.
In Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China, Air Liquide has just signed a long-term agreement for the turnkey supply of gases and precursors, equipment and installation, and on-site services, to Guodian Solar, a subsidiary of the
Guodian Group, one of the five leading power groups in the country. Guodian Solar is a high-tech green energy company that integrates applications-R&D with largescale manufacturing with plans up to above 1,000 MWp capacity within three years, and a focus on advanced crystalline Silicon and Thin Film solar cells technologies.
In Shanghai, China, Air Liquide has further developed its existing supply relationship with Suntech Power, the world largest crystalline Silicon cell manufacturer, by signing a contract for the long-term supply of nitrogen, equipment and on-site services to its new production fab. In Kansai, Japan, Air Liquide has entered into a long-term agreement to supply Silane gas to fabs of a world’s leading manufacturer of high- efficiency Silicon Thin Film solar cells, supporting its current ramp plans to double its capacity.
German-based solar companies SolarWorld and Juwi have also announced new investments in Germany recently. SolarWorld reported a EUR 350 million investment in a new production plant in the eastern German city of Freiberg. This facility will increase SolarWorld’s solar wafer production capacity to 750 MW by year’s end.
At the same time, Juwi is investing in a new facility which will employ up to 80 new workers. The company is one of the world’s largest in planning, constructing and operating renewable energy projects in the solar, wind and bioenergy and related segments.
Italian goal for Siemens
Siemens Energy has received an order from Italy for a photovoltaic plant with a peak output of 15 megawatts (MW). The customer is Ital Green Energy, a subsidiary of the Marseglia Group. The San Donaci solar power plant located in the Apulia region is to be connected to the Italian grid by late 2010 and will then supply clean electricity to around 5,500 Italian households. Siemens partner will be Italiana Costruzioni 2000, a Marseglia Group company, which will be in charge of all the civil works, and supply and erection of the support structures.
“In the past we’ve successfully completed numerous projects with the Marseglia Group,” said René Umlauft, CEO of the Siemens Renewable Energy Division. “With our comprehensive know-how spanning the entire energy conversion chain, we’ll also be supporting Ital Green Energy in the future.”
Components and solutions for PV plants are part of Siemens’ Environmental Portfolio, with which the company posted revenue amounting to approximately EUR23 billion in fiscal 2009. In the same period, the company enabled customers to reduce their CO2 emissions by 210 million tons.
Spanish to revise subsidies
A report from Dow Jones suggests there is to be a reduction for PV solar energy plants in Spain. With the country facing austerity measures the industry awaits to see which way the Spanish government fiscal decisions will have on the PV industry in an area that has provided strong growth for the global market. The report cites insiders close to the decision making process as saying the reductions could be as much as 30% for energy plants that are already in development. The cuts could be even harsher for new developments in the country. The Industry Ministry has said it will release its official plans on July 1st.
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www.solar-pv-management.com Issue IV 2010
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