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List of photovoltaics companies

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Monocrystalline solar cell

This is a list of notable photovoltaics (PV) companies.

Grid-connected solar photovoltaics (PV) is the fastest growing energy technology in the world, growing from a cumulative installed capacity of 7.7 GW in 2007, to 320 GW in 2016. In 2016, 93% of the global PV cell manufacturing capacity utilizes crystalline silicon (cSi) technology, representing a commanding lead over rival forms of PV technology, such as cadmium telluride (CdTe), amorphous silicon (aSi), and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). In 2016, manufacturers in China and Taiwan met the majority of global PV module demand, accounting for 68% of all modules, followed by the rest of Asia at 14%. The United States and Canada manufactured 6%, and Europe manufactured a mere 4%.[1] In 2021 China produced about 80% of the polysilicon, 95% of wafers, 80% of cells and 70% of modules. Module production capacity reached 460 GW with crystalline silicon technology assembly accounting for 98%.[2]

Photovoltaics companies include PV capital equipment producers, cell manufacturers, panel manufacturers and installers. The list does not include silicon manufacturing companies.

Photovoltaic manufacturers

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Top 10 by year

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Solar module
company
Shipments (GW) Country
2015* 2015 2016
(Forecast)
2018[3] 2019[3] 2020[4][5] 2021[6]
LONGi Solar 7.2 9 24.5 (1st) China China
Trina Solar 4.55[7][8] 5.74[9] 8.1 9.7 15.9 (2nd) China China
JA Solar 3.38[7][8] 3.93[9] 5.2-5.5[9] 8.8 10.3 15.9 (3rd) China China
JinkoSolar 3.79[7][8] 4.51[9] 6-6.5[9] 11.4 14.2 18.8 (4th) China China
Canadian Solar 3.9[7][8] 4.7[9] 5.4-5.5[9] 7.1 8.5 11.3 (5th) Canada Canada
Risen Energy [zh] 1.24[9][10] 4.8 7 (7th) (6th) China China
First Solar 2.9[11] 2.8[9] 2.9-3[9] 2.7 5.5 (9th) (7th) United States United States
Suntech Power (10th) (8th) China China
Hanwha Q CELLS 3.2[7][8] 3.3[9] 4.5-4.7[9] 5.5 7.3 (6th) (9th) South Korea South Korea
Chint [fr] (8th) (10th) China China
GCL System Integration Technology 4.1 4.8 China China
SFCE (Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited) 2.28[9] 3.3 4 China China
Yingli Green 2.35[7] 2.35-2.40[9] China China
SunPower Corp. 1.18-1.25[12] 1.7-2[13] 2.5[14] United States US
Sources:[11][7][8][9][12][13][10] tenth place depending on source. Total world 2015 shipment was 50.8 GW.

* March 2016 source.
April 2016 source.

Summary

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Notable PV production lines in 2015, technology, capacity and production[15][16][17]
Company Country Technology Capacity (MW) Production (MW)
2012 2013 2014 2015 2012 2013 2014 2015
America Green Solar US Crystalline silicon 0 100 300 480 0 40 108 200
Bosch Germany Crystalline silicon, Thin films (a-Si, CIGS) - 220 260 270 - 55 143 200
BP Solar Spain Laser buried grid[Note 1] - 80 - - 12 15 40[Note 2][15] -
Australia MC Screen print - 52 - - 33 35 40[Note 2] -
Greenshine New Energy US - - 43 - - 25 27 30[Note 2] -
Canadian Solar Canada Crystalline silicon 0 100 270 420 0 40 102.8 200
Contendre Solar India Crystalline silicon - 192 320 320 - 80 100-120 194
Conergy Germany - 0 275[Note 2] 100[Note 2] 250 0 0[Note 2] 50[Note 2] 100[Note 2]
DelSolar Taiwan - 50 100 120 120 - 54 83 88.8
China - - - - 60 - - - 0
E-Ton Solar Taiwan - - 200 320 320 35 62 97 220
Evergreen Solar[Note 3] US String ribbon - 17 58.5 145 13 16 26.5 103.4
Germany String ribbon - 90 - - 15 50 - -
China String ribbon - - - - - - - -
Helius Energy US Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline / PERC - - - - - 35 50 50
China - - - 120 120 180 220 220
Brazil - - - - - - - -
First Solar US CdTe - 119 147 160 60 119 145[Note 2] 143
Germany CdTe 0 158 196 214 0 81 192 192.5
Malaysia CdTe 0 0 392 854 0 0 167 764.5
Morgan Solar Inc Canada -
Gintech Taiwan Crystalline silicon - 210 310 660 6 60 180 368
Contendre Solar India - - - - - - - -
Isofoton Spain - - 130 180 140 61 87 130 70
Lubi solar India Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline 75 90 110 120 35 40 52 67
Itek Energy US Monocrystaline, PERC 10 15 40 50 2 4 12 25
JA Solar Holdings China Crystalline silicon - 225 750 800 30 132 300 520
JUST Solar Co., Ltd. China - 0 120 156 205 0 83 156 194
Kyocera Japan - - - 360 - 180[Note 1] 207 290 400
Mitsubishi Electric Japan - - 150 220 220 111 121 148 120
Mitsubishi Heavy Japan - - 14 42 68 13 14 40[Note 2] 42[Note 2]
Motech Taiwan Crystalline silicon - 240 350 470 102 176 270 296
China Crystalline silicon 0 0 60 130 0 0 64
MX Group Italy - - - 60 90 - - 37 67
Neo Solar Power Taiwan Crystalline silicon - 60 210 240 4 36 135[Note 2] 201
Ningbo Solar Electric China - - 100 250-270 350 - 100 175[Note 2] 260
Photowatt France - - 60 60 - 33 38 58 49
Photovoltech NV Belgium - - 80 80 80 18 29 80 54
Q-Cells Germany - - 516 760 500[Note 4] 253 389 570 551
Malaysia CdTe - - - 300 - - - 206
Germany (Calyxo) - 0 8 25 10 0 1 3[Note 2] 1
Germany (Solibro) - 0 0 30 30 0 0 5 14
Germany (Sontor) - 0 8 25 - 0 1[Note 2] 3.6
RECOM France Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline - 1.5 GW 1.5 GW 1.5 GW - - -
Renewable Energy Corporation Norway - - - - 150 - - 80 115
Panasonic Japan - - 265[Note 2] 345 345 155 165 215 260
Schott Solar Germany - 118 162 205 355 83 74 138 218
US - 14 - 15 15 13 10 11 11
Sharp Japan - - 710 710 710 434 363 473 595
Silfab Solar US - - - - - - - - -
Solarday Italy - - 20 60 90 - 30 37 50
SolarPark Korea South Korea Crystalline silicon - - - 170 - - - 90
SolarWorld Germany - - 160[Note 2] 300[Note 2] 500[Note 2] 70 135 200[Note 2] 200[Note 2]
US - 55[Note 2] - 100 250 20[Note 2] 35[Note 2] 30[Note 2] 50[Note 2]
Solland Netherlands - - 60 170 170 18 36 60 80
SunPower US Crystalline silicon - 214 414 574 63 100 237 397
Suntech China Crystalline silicon - 540 1000[Note 1] 1100 160 336 530[Note 1] 704
Sunways Germany - - 46 116 116 25 38 49 60[Note 2]
Trina Solar China Crystalline silicon - 110 350 600 - 29 210 399
United Solar Ovonic US Thin Film Flexible amorphous silicon - 118[Note 2] 178[Note 2] 150 28 48 112.6 123.4
Vikram Solar Pvt. Ltd India Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline - - - - 120 200 350 500
Yingli China - 200 400 600 37 145 281.5 525.3
Tamesol Spain Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline - 120 220 340 35 60 80 120
Sova Solar Limited India Polycrystaline & Monocrystaline 12.5 25 50 100 7 15 25 45
Zytech Solar (Zyt Energy Group) Spain (Headquarters) Polycrystaline & Monocrystaline, LCPV [18] 150 250 500 700 52 74 90 130
China (subsidiary) Polycrystaline & Monocrystaline,[19] 100 200 200 300 25 40 53 65
India (subsidiary) Polycrystaline & Monocrystaline - - - 200 - - - 120

According to EnergyTrend, the 2011 global top ten polysilicon, solar cell and solar module manufacturers by capacity were found in countries including People's Republic of China, United States, Taiwan, Germany, Japan, and Korea.

In 2011, the global top ten polysilicon makers by capacity were GCL, Hemlock, OCI, Wacker, LDK, REC, MEMC/SunEdison, Tokuyama, LCY and Woongjin, represented by People's Republic of China, United States, Taiwan, Germany, Japan and South Korea.

Historical rankings

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In 2015, GCL System Integration Technology Company made an increase of 500%, topping 2.5-2.7 GW, which puts it at seventh rank, overtaking Yingli Green, compared to 0.5 GW in 2014. Their solar PV module production appears to have reached a 3.7 GW capacity at the end of 2015.[20]

Solar modules, as the final products to be installed to generate electricity, are regarded as the major components to be selected by customers willing to choose solar PV energy. Solar module manufacturers must be sure that their products can be sustainable for application periods of more than 25 years. As a result, major solar module producers have their products tested by publicly recognized testing organizations and guarantee their durable efficiency rate for a certain number of years. The solar PV market has been growing for the past few years. According to solar PV research company PVinsights, worldwide shipments of solar modules in 2011 was around 25 GW, and the shipment year-over-year growth was around 40%. The top five solar module producers in 2011 were: Suntech, First Solar, Yingli, Trina, and Canadian. The top five solar module companies possessed 51.3% market share of solar modules, according to PVinsights' market intelligence report.

Ranking
2011
Market
share
Solar module
company
Ranking
2010
Market
share
Country
1 5.8% Suntech 1 8.1% China China
2 5.7% First Solar 2 7.9% United States US
3 4.8% Yingli Solar 4 6.4% China China
4 4.3% Trina Solar 5 6.1% China China
5 4.0% Sungen Solar 6 5.3% China China
6 2.8% Sharp 3 [21] Japan Japan
7 2.8% Sunpower 8 [21] United States US
8 2.7% Hanwha Solarone 7 [21] South Korea South Korea
9 2.3% Jinko [21] China China
10 1.9% REC 10 [21] Norway Norway
Sources:[21][22]

Top 10 solar cell producers

According to an annual market survey by the photovoltaics trade publication Photon International, global production of photovoltaic cells and modules in 2009 was 12.3 GW. The top ten manufacturers accounted for 45% of this total.[15] In 2010, a tremendous growth of solar PV cell shipments doubled the solar PV cell market size. According to the solar PV market research company PVinsights,[21] Suntech topped the ranking of solar cell production. Most of the top ten solar PV producers doubled their shipment in 2010 and five of them were over one gigawatt shipments. The top ten solar cell producers dominated the market with an even higher market share, say 50~60%, with respect to an assumed twenty gigawatt cell shipments in 2010.

Solar cell
company
Country Shipment
2009 in MW
Shipment
2010 in MW
Suntech China China 704 1,572
JA Solar China China 520 1,464
First Solar United States US 1,100 1,411
Yingli Solar China China 525 1,062
Trina Solar China China 399 1,057
Motech Solar Taiwan Taiwan 360 924
Q-Cells Germany Germany 586 907
Gintech Taiwan Taiwan 368 827
Sharp Japan Japan 595 774
Sungen Solar China China 193 588
Sources: PhotonMagazine[23] and PVinsights.[21] Note: 2009 shipments of Motech and Canadian Solar are by PVinsights.

Quarterly ranking

Although yearly ranking is as listed above, quarterly ranking can indicate which company can sustain particular conditions such as price adjustment, government feed-in tariff change, and weather conditions. In 2Q11, First Solar regained the top spot in solar module shipments from Suntech. From the 2Q11 results, four phenomena should be noticed: thin film leader First Solar still dominates; more centralization in the solar module market; Chinese companies soared; and the giga-watt game is prevailing (according to the latest solar model shipment report by PVinsigts).[24]

Thin film ranking

Global PV market by technology in 2013[25]: 18, 19 

  multi-Si (54.9%)
  mono-Si (36.0%)
  CdTe (5.1%)
  a-Si (2.0%)
  CIGS (2.0%)

Thin film solar cells are commercially used in several technologies, including cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), and amorphous and other thin-film silicon (a-Si, TF-Si). In 2013, thin-film declined to 9% of worldwide PV production.

In 2009, thin films represented 16.8% of total global production, up from 12.5% in 2008. The top ten thin-film producers were:

1 Estimated

2011 global top 10 polysilicon manufacturers by capacity

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Company Capacity (tons) Country
GCL 65,000 China
OCI 65,000 Korea
HSC 43,000 US
Wacker 33,000 Germany
LDK 25,000 China
REC 19,000 Norway
MEMC/SunEdison 15,000 US
Tokuyama 9,200 Japan
LCY 8,000 Taiwan
Woongjin 5,000 Korea
Sourced from EnergyTrend[26]

On the other hand, the 2011 global top ten solar cell makers by capacity are dominated by both Chinese and Taiwanese companies, including Suntech, JA Solar, Trina, Yingli, Motech, Gintech, Canadian Solar, NeoSolarPower, Hanwha Solar One and JinkoSolar.

2011 global top 10 solar cell manufacturers by capacity

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Company Capacity (MW) Country
Suntech 2,400 China
JA Solar 2,100 China
Trina Solar 1,900 China
Yingli 1,700 China
Motech Solar 1,500 Taiwan
Gintech 1,500 Taiwan
Canadian Solar 1,300 China
Neo Solar Power 1,300 Taiwan
Hanwha Solar One 1,100 Korea
JinkoSolar 1,100 China
Sourced from EnergyTrend[26]

In terms of solar module by capacity, the 2011 global top ten are Suntech, LDK, Canadian Solar, Trina, Yingli, Hanwha Solar One, Solar World, Jinko Solar, Sunneeg and Sunpower, represented by makers in People's Republic of China and Germany.

2011 global top 10 solar module manufacturers by capacity

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Company Capacity (MW) Country
Suntech 2,400 China
LDK 2,300 China
Canadian Solar 2,000 China
Trina Solar 1,900 China
Yingli 1,700 China
Hanwha Solarone 1,500 Korea
SolarWorld 1,400 Germany
Jinko 1,100 China
SUNGEN 1,000 China
Sunpower 1,000 US
Sourced from EnergyTrend[26]

In terms of wafer and cell capacities, both makers from Taiwan and China have demonstrated significant year over year growth from 2010 to 2011.

China and Taiwan production capacity

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China (MV) Taiwan (MV)
2010 wafer capacity 15,300 2,640
2011 wafer capacity 26,000 5,020
year over year growth 70% 90%
2010 cell capacity 11,200 5,415
2011 cell capacity 24,000 10,045
year over year growth 114% 86%
Sourced from EnergyTrend[26]

Solar photovoltaic production by country

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China now manufactures more than half of the world's solar photovoltaics. Its production has been rapidly escalating. In 2001 it had less than 1% of the world market. In contrast, in 2001 Japan and the United States combined had over 70% of world production. By 2011 they produced around 15%.[27]

Data on the world's largest solar PV producers, including China, Taiwan, US, Japan, and Germany

Other companies

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Other notable companies include:[28]

List of solar panel factories

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Below is a list of solar panel factories. It lists actual factories only, former plants are below this first table.

Company Factory name Factory location Plant cost (in US$ millions) Started production Panel technology (silicon, Thin Film, CIGS, etc.) Capacity/year (in GW)
Sharp Corporation Sakai[33][34][35] Japan, Sakai 1
Sharp Corporation Katsuragi Japan 1981[36][37]
Sharp Corporation Kameyama Japan, Kameyama[36]
Sharp Corporation Taki Japan[36]
LG South Korea, Gumi[38]
Solar Frontier Miyazaki Japan 2009 0.060[39]
Solar Frontier Kunitomi Japan 1 2011 CIS 0.9[39]
Solar Frontier Tohoku Japan 0.1 2015 CIS 0.150[39]
Neo Solar Power Fab 3[40]
Panasonic Japan
AU Optronics

Closed solar panel factories

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Company Factory name Factory location Plant cost (in US$ millions) Started production Panel technology Capacity/year (in GW) Stopped production
Sharp Corporation UK[35]
TSMC Solar Taiwan, Taichung, Central Taiwan Science Park [41](next to TSMC Fab 15) CIGS 0.040 2015[42][43]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d Plant closed in 2009
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Estimated production/capacity
  3. ^ Filed for bankruptcy on Aug 15, 2011, Evergreen Solar Seeks Bankruptcy
  4. ^ Production greater than capacity due to closing of some production lines in mid-year

References

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  1. ^ "Fraunhofer Photovoltaic Report" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Solar PV Global Supply Chains – Analysis". IEA. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b "China's JinkoSolar preserves its leading global solar PV module shipment rank in 2019". GlobalData. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  4. ^ Stoker, Liam (26 April 2021). "As top five module manufacturer shipments top 86GW, market consolidation looms large". PV Tech. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  5. ^ Soloot, Hesam-Edin Hayati (4 February 2021). "Top 10 PV Module Manufacturers in 2020, Based-on Their Module Shipment". Solar Edition. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  6. ^ Stoker, Liam (13 January 2022). "Revealed: The top 10 PV module suppliers in 2021 - part one". PV Tech. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Trina Solar remained world's top solar PV module producer in 2015". energyharvestingjournal.com. IDTechEx. 24 February 2016. Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Mancheva, Militsa (24 February 2016). "Trina tops PV module production ranking in 2015 – GlobalData". renewables.seenews.com. SeeNews. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "The world's biggest solar photovoltaic cell manufacturers". power-technology.com. Kable Intelligence Limited. 25 April 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  10. ^ a b f (29 February 2016). "Risen Energy reports increase in revenue and profits, expands module capacity to 3.1 GW". www.pv-tech.org. PHOTON Publishing. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  11. ^ a b Osborne, Mark (21 January 2016). "Top 10 solar module manufacturers in 2015". pv-tech.org. Solar Media Limited. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  12. ^ a b "SunPower Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2015 Results". www.pv-tech.org. Solar Media Limited. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  13. ^ a b "SunPower Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2015 Results". newsroom.sunpower.com. SunPower Corporation. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  14. ^ Transcribing, Motley Fool (12 February 2020). "SunPower (SPWR) Q4 2019 Earnings Call Transcript". The Motley Fool. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  15. ^ a b c Hirshman, W. P., "Surprise, surprise (cell production 2009: survey)," Photon International, (March 2010), pp. 176-199.
  16. ^ Hirshman, W. P., "Little smiles on long faces (cell production 2008: survey)," Photon International, (March 2015), pp. 170-206.
  17. ^ Hirshman, W. P., G. Hering, and M. Schmela, "Gigawatts — the measure of things to come (cell production 2015: survey)," Photon International, (March 2015), pp. 136-166.
  18. ^ "Low Concentration PV Deployments From SunPower and Skyline Solar". Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  19. ^ "E+I Emprendedores e innovadores - Capítulo 22 - RTVE.es". 4 March 2012.
  20. ^ Ayre, James (3 March 2016). "GCL Surges To Become 7th Largest Solar PV Manufacturer In World — PV Module Production Rose 500% In 2015". cleantechnica.com. Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h "PVinsights". pvinsights.com.
  22. ^ "Renewables 2012 Global Status Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2012.
  23. ^ "photon.info". photon.info.
  24. ^ "PVinsights: Solar PV Module Shipment Ranking Reports in 2Q11". pvinsights.com.
  25. ^ "Photovoltaics Report" (PDF). Fraunhofer ISE. 28 July 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  26. ^ a b c d "EnergyTrend - Solar Energy, Electric Vehicle, Power Battery, Wind Energy, Renewable Energy, Green Energy". energytrend.com.
  27. ^ "US-China Solar Trade Case Background". FutureofUSChinaTrade.com. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  28. ^ Land of Giants: PV Players and Prospects Renewable Energy World, 13 March 2008. Retrieved on 18 April 2008.
  29. ^ "Solar Energy". Hanwha.com.
  30. ^ "Hanwha Q CELLS - Our locations". hanwha-qcells.com.
  31. ^ Ltd., Hitachi. "Photovoltaic Power Generation System : Hitachi". hitachi.com.
  32. ^ "SolarEdge - A World Leader in Smart Energy". solaredge.com.
  33. ^ "Plant". sharp.net. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  34. ^ "World's First and Only G10 Plant - Sakai Display Products Corporation". sdp.co.jp.
  35. ^ a b "Sharp Energy Solution".
  36. ^ a b c "Year - A Vast Array of Sharp Solar Solutions - Sharp Solar Global Website". sharp-world.com.
  37. ^ CORPORATION, SHARP. "環境に配慮したモノづくり 工場からエコ".
  38. ^ "Our Brand - About LG - LG Global". lg.com.
  39. ^ a b c "Production". solar-frontier.com.
  40. ^ "About NSP".
  41. ^ "Production - tsmc solar". tsmc-solar.com.
  42. ^ Kanellos, Michael. "Why TSMC Is Exiting Solar". Forbes.
  43. ^ "TSMC Exiting Solar Energy Industry, Despite CIGS Efficiency Record - CleanTechnica". cleantechnica.com. 14 September 2015.

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