EnergyTrend, a division TrendForce, has recently published a new report Market of Advanced PV Technology. According to the report, requirements outlined in China’s Top Runner Program (3rd phase) will drive solar PV companies to improve efficiency in order to win the biddings on projects. This will further accelerate the development of next-generation solar cell technologies such as N-type.
China’s solar market continued its explosive growth in 2017, pushing the size of global solar market to over 100GW for the first time. EnergyTrend, a division of TrendForce estimates that the worldwide demand will increase further in 2018 to 106GW, but the distribution of demand by region will change.
The United States will impose 30% tariff on solar cell and module imports, according to the announcement made by U.S government on January 22. EnergyTrend, a division of TrendForce, makes the following notes regarding the impacts of this new decision on the industry.
The demand for xEV battery sees significant growth in 2017 due to the development of new energy vehicles, resulting in a 114% price surge for cobalt. In order to ease the cost pressure, battery makers are looking for ways to decrease the amount of cobalt used in xEV battery manufacturing. EnergyTrend, a division of TrendForce, forecasts that xEV battery with lower ratio of cobalt will be the mainstream product in 2018, easing the tight supply of cobalt.
Major Chinese LED chip suppliers including San’an Optoelectronics and HC SemiTek have lowered their product prices recently, indicating the end of LED chip price hike that had lasted for one and a half year. According to LEDinside, a division of TrendForce, the recent price drop signals the end of LED chip undersupply, and the next year will witness a balance in LED chip supply and demand.
