April 2013 – Solar Magazine

China – Market research predicts China’s demand for PV in 2014 is 0.9-3.6GW

China – Market research predicts China’s demand for PV in 2014 is 0.9-3.6GW
Taking in consideration China’s reputation as the promised land for the solar industry, the newst report from Solarbuzz sayz that there are wild fluctuations in demand of the country, this could mean suppliers which rely on markets outside the People’s Republic will enjoy an advantage.
The solar market research company, in its latest edition of NPD Solarbuzz Quarterly, predicts that demand in China up to April 2014 will vary wildly between 0.9 and 3.6 GW per quarter.
Although NPD Solarbuzz is forecasting that will add up to more than 20% of global demand over the next four quarters, it will make managing inventories tough for companies focused on the Chinese market, whereas companies dependent on other regions will benefit from more predictable levels of demand.
The report’s authors say demand in Europe, of which 65% will come from established German, Italian, French and U.K. markets, will amount to between 2.7 and 3.2 GW quarter on quarter.
The rest of the world, with Japan predictably strong in the first half of the 12-month cycle and the U.S. mirroring that seasonality in the following six months – supported by emerging markets in south east Asia and the Middle East – will also supply more predictable demand in the year ahead.

A new „Top Brand PV” award is given to Trina Solar in Germany

A new „Top Brand PV” award is given to Trina Solar in Germany!

Taking in consideration the their brand and brand awarness, german installers have once more given Trina Solar top marks. For this achievement, EuPD Research has rewarded the manufacturer with the premium seal “Top Brand PV” for the second time running.

The PV module, solutions and services provider Trina Solar has once again been awarded the “Top Brand PV” seal in the “Modules” category in Germany. EuPD Research awards this seal only to leading photovoltaic manufacturers who have completed an in-depth quality check.

Therefore, Trina Solar now belongs to the worldwide elite brands in the solar industry. The seal is awarded each year only to those manufacturers whose brands are rated unusually highly in comparison to their competitors by installers. Trina Solar has received top marks for their brand, brand awareness and market penetration for the second time running in an independent installer survey by the Bonn based market and opinion research institute EuPD Research.

The “Top Brand PV“ seal was developed by EuPD Research in 2010 as a way of objectively evaluating the brand management strategies of module and inverter manufacturers. The branch seal is awarded after the completion of a complex market analysis based on qualified statements regarding the brand awareness of market intermediaries and the buying behavior of their customers. This way, manufacturers receive an unfiltered assessment of their own brand as well as feedback on where potential lies to optimize their brand management.

For wholesalers, installers and end customers, the PV seal provides an independent aid for orientation when choosing a premium brand. Trina Solar now once more belongs to the small group of elite brands worldwide who are qualified to carry the seal.

Ulrich Mamat, Regional Sales Director and Managing Director of Trina Solar Germany, explained: “It is an honor to receive the Top Brand PV award in back-to-back years. We have continually increased our brand awareness over the last few years – our strong local presence, with contacts on the ground, has been crucial to achieving this. Furthermore, we see ourselves as a partner to our customers, offering not only modules of the highest quality but also value-added services as a key part of our portfolio. For example, installers benefit from the training opportunities provided by the Trina Solar Training Academy, and from our popular Partner Plus program, which was very well received and played a major role in increasing awareness of the Trina Solar brand.”

Bosch confirmed exiting the crystalline solar sector

After some time of speculations, today Bosch has confirmed that the will exit the crystalline solar sector. From 2014 they will suspend the ingot, wafer and cell productions. More than 3000 employees will be affected.
Bosch
Ending a shaky week for solar – Suntech finally entered into insolvency on Monday after mounting rumors – Robert Bosch GmbH has today confirmed it will cease its solar activities, following months of speculation. The engineering and electronics company has been investing in the industry since 2008.
In addition to ceasing production of ingots, wafers and cells, Bosch has said it will “quickly” sell off its individual business units, and end all development and marketing activities. This will include selling its 150 MW photovoltaic module plant in Vénissieux, France (which opened just last year) and scrapping its Malaysian plans for a manufacturing facility.
Aleo solar AG, of which Bosch owns 90.7%, will also be heavily affected, as Bosch seeks to sell its shares. According to aleo, Bosch has “assured aleo solar AG of financing until the end of March 2014.”
In a statement, it said, “Irrespective of the search for a buyer, aleo solar AG has already taken action: We have closed our factory in Spain, commenced the liquidation of our joint venture in China and have disposed of our shares in Bosch CISTech. We are now examining further activities for improving our earnings.”
Justifying today’s decision, Bosch said that it has been unsuccessful in achieving competitiveness in the solar industry, despite having “comprehensively examined every aspect of its solar business.”
“We have considered the latest technological advances, cost-reduction potential, and strategic alignment. And there have also been talks with potential partners. However, none of these possibilities resulted in a solution for the Solar Energy division that would be economically viable over the long term,” stated Volkmar Denner, chairman of the Bosch management board.
Stefan Hartung, chairman of the Bosch Solar Energy AG supervisory board and member of the Robert Bosch GmbH management board responsible for the Energy and Building Technology business sector, added, “Despite extensive measures to reduce manufacturing cost over the past year, we were unable to offset the drop in prices, which was as much as 40 percent.”
Despite the cutbacks, Bosch has said it will keep on Bosch Solar CISTech GmbH, located in Germany’s Brandenburg. “Its future alignment will be decided at a later date,” said Bosch in a statement released. Aleo solar sold its equity stake in CISTech to Bosch in December.
A Bosch spokesperson further told pv magazine that voltwerk electronics GmbH, Conergy’s ex-photovoltaic inverter subsidiary, which was acquired by Bosch last April, will not be affected, since it is not part of the company’s solar business.
Overall, Bosch’s solar division employs 3,000 people, of which 850 are based at aleo and 150 at CISTech. It is not yet clear how many jobs will be lost.
In the figures
In January, Bosch reported that while sales rose across all its divisions by 1.6% in 2012 to total revenues of €52.3 billion (US$69.7bn), the company forced to take an impairment of as much as €1 billion from its solar business.
Meanwhile, last August, the company announced the closure of its thin film production in Erfurt. However, it also took over Ersol and Johanna Solar, as well as a part of Aleo Solar; and acquired Voltwerk, the inverter partner of Conergy.