news digest ♦ Solar
The US based company is forecast to install 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of solar systems in 2013, more than double the 516 megawatts (MW) in 2012, says IHS.
This high rate of growth will allow First Solar to maintain its leadership in the EPC business for the year, despite even faster growth from Chinese rivals, No. 2 China Power Investment Corp. (CPIC) and third-ranked GD Solar.
EPCs, or system integrators, are vertically integrated contractors that build large-scale solar projects. Companies like First Solar are capable of a full range of installation tasks, including designing installation projects, procuring materials and building assignments.
First Solar and a number of companies build projects developed in-house, generating revenue from the sale of completed PV power plants. Others focus on EPC for third- party developers, sometimes in combination with in-house development.
First Solar’s growth is built on its strategy to cultivate a pipeline of PV projects, in which it takes on major undertakings, sells them to other firms and then uses the proceeds to buy other large-scale installations.
For example,in May, First Solar announced the sale of the Campo Verde Solar Project, which is under construction in Southern California. Campo Verde will have a nameplate capacity of 139 MW of alternating current (MWac) when it is completed at the end of 2013.
With the money it made from the sale, First Solar expanded its pipeline with the acquisition of three other projects under development with a total capacity of 260 MWac, due for completion by the end of 2015.
“First Solar’s successful strategy of acquiring, installing and divesting projects will keep the company among the world’s leading solar system integrators over the next years,” says Josefin Berg, senior analyst for downstream solar research at IHS. “This approach not only offers a sales outlet for modules, but more importantly also generates project-sales revenue that cushion the company when seeking new growth markets.”
In January, First Solar took a major step toward expanding its business outside the United States when it acquired Chilean PV developer Solar Chile and its early-stage 1.5 GW project.
EU bites back at China for
dumping solar in Europe German firm CdTe manufacturer Calyxo welcomes new regulations after the company was able to survive the years of Chinese dumping in Germany
Many manufacturers of CdTe and CIGS thin film solar panels in Europe are welcoming the agreements between the EU and China over imports of Chinese Solar panels.
New laws will apply to Chinese modules offering a minimum 122
www.compoundsemiconductor.net August/September 2013
price of EUR (€) 0.56/Wp in the European region in the near future.
For customers of Chinese companies, which will buy at lower prices, punitive tariffs in a range from 37.2 to 67.9 percent will apply, as EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht has declared.
As one of few companies in the European Union, Calyxo was one of the firms able to survive the years of Chinese dumping in Germany.
With a current capacity of 85 MW, Calyxo says it is the largest CdTe module manufacturer in Europe. The firm continues to provide affordable modules made in Germany based on an innovative atmospheric production process and also offers suitable mounting systems, complete design and installation of PV-systems.
“Module prices below €0.56 / Wp can be realised without any problem by Calyxo today and marginal higher BOS costs can be compensated by our customers based on a price advantage of the modules and additional yield of thin film modules. As a consequence, our customers not only have lower investment costs, but also a better return on their investment. Our capacity expansion at Thalheim comes online exactly at the right point in time,” says CEO Florian Holzapfel.
Calyxo claims CdTe modules have a better yield - performance than crystalline modules due to excellent temperature coefficients and good performance under low light conditions.
With the production line expansion at Thalheim, Calyxo is now able to mass produce its low cost CdTe modules.
PacWest to bring DayStar’s
CIGS modules to Brazil With the amount of solar potential, combined with its high electricity rates and desire to preserve the environment, Brazil is uniquely positioned for rapid growth in the solar sector
PaWest Equities has secured an invitation from the Brazilian government to install its DayStar’s CIGS module production line to Brazil.
The CIGS line of solar manufacturing equipment in Brazil was acquired in a deal some analysts value at over US $55 million.
PacWest Equities is expected to open a multi-product suite of solar products for production and distribution in Brazil and other South American countries.
DayStar Technologies, Inc. holds 51 patents, patents pending, international patents, and Intellectual Property.
The technology cost over $100 million to develop, with $67 million going to Research and Development, $12 million to build the prototype line, and $27 million going to the actual production line.
The aforementioned are now in possession of PacWest
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