Corrine Lin

The SNEC 2020 PV Power Expo opened on Aug. 8 in Shanghai. Unlike previous versions, the world's largest solar profession fair was primarily participated in by Chinese individuals this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While the profession fair made use of to provide insights right into international market fads, quantities were reduced this year as a result of a buyer/seller standoff amid climbing rates triggered by the recent mishaps at polysilicon plants in Xinjiang. Likewise, there was little adjustment in technologies. PV InfoLink's Corrine Lin offers insights right into cells and modules at SNEC 2020.

As the Covid-19 pandemic takes the globe by tornado, worldwide supply chain procedures stay interrupted, as well as solar events that were kept in the very first quarter of the year saw less producers showing their most recent items.

Production procedures in China are starting to go back to regular, with Taiwan-based study company PV InfoLink reporting 80% ability application throughout the supply chain in March. However the wider effect that Covid-19 will certainly carry international need for PV continues to be to be seen, and also will certainly rely on the degree to which the break out can be consisted of, claims PV InfoLink principal expert Corrine Lin.

After the “June rush” to complete solar projects in China – as well as the commissioning rush in Vietnam, which saw higher-than-expected demand of 4 GW in the first half – the growth of the regional solar market started to slow down in July and August, before anticipated Chinese demand picks up the slack again. With unexpectedly low demand in the third quarter, module manufacturers reacted first by marginally reducing utilization rates. Cell producers then cut production after cell prices collapsed.

A maturing PV market does not automatically deliver certainty in terms of technology roadmaps and industry dynamics. Crystalizing trends and anticipating developments is the business of analysts, so pv magazine assembled four of solar’s best to talk about prices, technology and market-defining policy developments.