A total of 6.4GW of new manufacturing capacity announcements, across thin film, crystalline silicon solar cell and PV module assembly were made in May 2015, a new record high in more than four years, according to PV Tech’s initial analysis.
New manufacturing capacity announcements in May are also the highest so far in 2015, more than double the 2.96GW announced in February and the 2.62GW announced in March.
PV Tech provides a unique and detailed analysis of capacity expansion announcements on a quarterly basis within sister technical journal, Photovoltaics International.
Due to the May capacity expansion figures, the second quarter of 2015 has already exceeded the 6.28GW of capacity announcements made in the first quarter.
However, unless further major announcements are made in June, it is unlikely that the second quarter would surpass capacity announcements totalling 7.64GW made in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Although 2014 was significant in ushering in the next major capacity expansion phase after three years of limited capital expenditures, the current and previous two quarters indicate a significant overall higher intensity to expansion plans, highlighted by the recent 1.5GW solar cell expansion by Hanwha Q CELLS.
Not all the capacity announcements in the current and previous two quarters are expected to be implemented in 2015. Initial analysis of all the announcements made in May indicate that around 2GW of the 6.4GW planned was highly unlikely to ramp until 2016 onwards.
The most significant trend from the May capacity expansions was the significant 2.7GW of solar cell announcements, the highest in over four years and higher than the 2GW announced in November, 2014.
Solar cell capacity expansions have lagged module assembly announcements overall through 2014 and 2015 so far. The majority of solar cell announcements relate to high-efficiency PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) technology.
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