The battle lines are forming over the dumping complaint initiated by SolarWorld Industries America, with cell/module manufacturers, installers/distributors, and equipment manufacturers forming coalitions and position statements, including the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy and SEMI’s PV Group. Continue Reading
Category Archives: Solarbuzz
Polysilicon Spot Prices Fall to $20-25/Kg in China
By Charles Annis and Ray Lian
Polysilicon prices have a history of dramatic changes, but until recently, polysilicon prices had held up better than wafer and module prices. This encouraged continued capacity expansion despite growing concerns of over-supply throughout the supply chain. Now, sluggish end-market demand in 2011 has exacerbated the glut, and severe price erosion since mid-September suggests the poly bubble has now fully burst.
Will 1603 Be Extended?
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) held an “Update from Washington” session at Solar Power International 2011 to discuss the latest news on congressional debates and policy initiatives. Among other efforts being made to advance policy initiatives for solar, SEIA considers extending the 1603 Treasury Program to be a key priority. Continue Reading
US Solar Market Entry
It is clear after the first day of Solar Power International 2011 that there’s still lots of interest (and confusion) surrounding entry into the US market. Many companies—European, Asian, and even American—are looking to move into new markets or expand their existing presence. We’ve talked with several people about how to determine the best strategy for success in the US, including which segments to target, which states are going to be hot, and what kind of pricing they need to be competitive. Continue Reading
Applied Materials is First PV Equipment Supplier to Reach US$1B in Revenue
By Finlay Colville – Senior Analyst, Solarbuzz and Charles Annis – Vice President, Manufacturing Research, DisplaySearch
As originally featured on PV-Tech.org on November 17, 2010, our analysis reveals that Applied Materials (AMAT) has just reached a significant landmark. They are the first equipment supplier to reach and exceed the US$1 billion barrier for PV-specific trended Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) tool revenues. This is based on AMAT FY2010 results, which reported fourth-quarter net sales within its Energy & Environmental Services (EES) segment (includes PV tool revenues) of US$606 million. In spite of the dwindling backlog and subsequent discontinuation of one of its flagship PV-specific products, AMAT’s PV revenues have stabilized at, and then considerably exceeded, the US$1 billion trended TTM level.
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