Polysilicon price reaches $39.3/kg — the highest since 2011
The price of polysilicon last week reached its highest level since 2011 and, according to Chinese module manufacturer JinkoSolar, there are no visible signs that it could drop this year, as predicted by several analysts.
REC Silicon reports loss in Q4, but remains optimistic
REC Silicon ASA got a boost by Hanwha Solutions’ investment and is now looking to restart Moses Lake facility, along with eyeing opportunities in battery materials.
Starting with polysilicon, full solar value chain relief is on the way, said ROTH webinar
Philip Shen, managing director, ROTH Capital Partners, hosted top analysts from PV InfoLink to discuss their outlook on pricing, supply, and demand at each step in the solar value chain.
U.S. House unanimously passes forced labor bill for Xinjiang region
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act would ban all imports from the Chinese region, unless the U.S. government determines the products were not made with forced labor. The region supplies 50% of the world’s polysilicon, an essential material in solar PV.
Solar employed 231,000 in the U.S. in 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic and higher productivity rates cut U.S. solar jobs by about 6.7% in 2020.
Europe had just 650 MW of solar cell manufacturing capacity at the end of 2020
The Photovoltaics Report published by Fraunhofer ISE said that Europe had just 1.25 GW of solar wafer production capacity at the end of 2020.
Senate passes bill to ban Xinjiang imports, State Department issues a warning to businesses
The bill would shift the burden of proof to importers and now heads to the House, which passed a similar measure last year. A State Department advisory warned businesses to exit supply chains with ties to the Chinese region.
Border action ordered for solar components made by Chinese manufacturer
The action was taken under Section 1307 of the Tariff Act and targets Hoshine Silicon Industry Co. and its subsidiaries. Goods may be immediately detained under the action.
Labor Department updates forced labor list to target polysilicon from region in China
The Labor Department said it took the “extraordinary measure” in response to the “severity of the ongoing human rights abuses.”
SEIA has a ‘strong sense’ that U.S. solar supply chains are shifting, but hard numbers are scarce
The industry’s leading trade group has called for supply chains to shift by the end of June, and pressure grows on the Biden administration to act on allegations of forced labor use.
