List of photovoltaics companies explained

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

Top 10 by year

Solar module
company
Shipments (GW)Country
data-sort-type=number2015*data-sort-type=number2015data-sort-type=number2016
(Forecast)
data-sort-type=number2018[3] data-sort-type=number20192020[4] [5] 2021[6]
LONGi Solar -  -  - 7.2924.5(1st) China
Trina Solar4.555.74 - 8.19.715.9(2nd) China
JA Solar3.383.935.2-5.58.810.315.9(3rd) China
JinkoSolar3.794.516-6.511.414.218.8(4th) China
Canadian Solar3.94.75.4-5.57.18.511.3(5th) Canada
 - 1.24 - 4.87(7th)(6th) China
First Solar2.92.82.9-32.75.5(9th)(7th) United States
Suntech Power(10th)(8th) China
Hanwha Q CELLS3.23.34.5-4.75.57.3(6th)(9th) South Korea
(8th)(10th) China
GCL System Integration Technology4.14.8 China
SFCE (Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited) - 2.28 - 3.34 China
Yingli Green2.352.35-2.40 -  -  - China
SunPower Corp.1.18-1.25 - 1.7-2 - 2.5[7] US
Sources:[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] tenth place depending on source. Total world 2015 shipment was 50.8 GW.
  • March 2016 source.

April 2016 source.

Summary

Notable PV production lines in 2015, technology, capacity and production[15] [16]
Company Country Technology Capacity (MW) Production (MW)
data-sort-type="number" 2012 !data-sort-type="number" 2013 !data-sort-type="number" 2014 !data-sort-type="number" 2015 !data-sort-type="number" 2012 !data-sort-type="number" 2013 !data-sort-type="number" 2014 !data-sort-type="number" 2015
US Crystalline silicon 0 100 300 480 0 40 108 200
Germany Crystalline silicon, Thin films (a-Si, CIGS) - 220 260 270 - 55 143 200
Spain - 80 - - 12 15 40[17] -
Australia MC Screen print - 52 - - 33 35 40 -
US - - 43 - - 25 27 30 -
Canada Crystalline silicon 0 100 270 420 0 40 102.8 200
India Crystalline silicon - 192 320 320 - 80 100-120 194
Germany - 0 275 100 250 0 0 50 100
Taiwan - 50 100 120 120 - 54 83 88.8
China - - - - 60 - - - 0
Taiwan - - 200 320 320 35 62 97 220
Evergreen Solar[18] US - 17 58.5 145 13 16 26.5 103.4
Germany - 90 - - 15 50 - -
China - - - - - - - -
Helius EnergyUSMonocrystalline & Polycrystalline / PERC-----355050
China---120120180220220
Brazil--------
US - 119 147 160 60 119 145 143
Germany 0 158 196 214 0 81 192 192.5
Malaysia 0 0 392 854 0 0 167 764.5
Morgan Solar IncCanada-
Taiwan Crystalline silicon - 210 310 660 6 60 180 368
India - - - - - - - -
Spain - - 130 180 140 61 87 130 70
India Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline 75 90 110 120 35 40 52 67
Itek EnergyUSMonocrystaline, PERC10154050241225
China Crystalline silicon - 225 750 800 30 132 300 520
China - 0 120 156 205 0 83 156 194
Japan - - - 360 - 180[19] 207 290 400
Japan - - 150 220 220 111 121 148 120
Japan - - 14 42 68 13 14 40 42
Taiwan Crystalline silicon - 240 350 470 102 176 270 296
China Crystalline silicon 0 0 60 130 0 0 2 64
Italy - - - 60 90 - - 37 67
Taiwan Crystalline silicon - 60 210 240 4 36 135 201
China - - 100 250-270 350 - 100 175 260
France - - 60 60 - 33 38 58 49
Belgium - - 80 80 80 18 29 80 54
Germany - - 516 760 500[20] 253 389 570 551
Malaysia - - - 300 - - - 206
Germany (Calyxo) - 0 8 25 10 0 1 3 1
Germany (Solibro) - 0 0 30 30 0 0 5 14
Germany (Sontor) - 0 8 25 - 0 1 3.6
France Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline - 1.5 GW 1.5 GW 1.5 GW - - -
Norway - - - - 150 - - 80 115
Japan - - 265 345 345 155 165 215 260
Germany - 118 162 205 355 83 74 138 218
US - 14 - 15 15 13 10 11 11
Japan - - 710 710 710 434 363 473 595
US - - - - - - - - -
Italy - - 20 60 90 - 30 37 50
South KoreaCrystalline silicon - - - 170 - - - 90
Germany - - 160 300 500 70 135 200 200
US - 55 - 100 250 20 35 30 50
Netherlands - - 60 170 170 18 36 60 80
US Crystalline silicon - 214 414 574 63 100 237 397
China Crystalline silicon - 540 1000 1100 160 336 530 704
Germany - - 46 116 116 25 38 49 60
China Crystalline silicon - 110 350 600 - 29 210 399
US - 118 178 150 28 48 112.6 123.4
India Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline - - - - 120 200 350 500
China - 200 400 600 37 145 281.5 525.3
TamesolSpainMonocrystalline & Polycrystalline-120220340356080120
Sova Solar LimitedIndiaPolycrystaline & Monocrystaline12.525501007152545
Zytech Solar (Zyt Energy Group)Spain (Headquarters)Polycrystaline & Monocrystaline, LCPV [21] 150250500700527490130
China (subsidiary)Polycrystaline & Monocrystaline,[22] 10020020030025405365
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

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.[23]

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
align=center 1 align=center 5.8% align=center 1 align=center 8.1% China
align=center 2 align=center 5.7% First Solaralign=center 2 align=center 7.9% US
align=center 3 align=center 4.8% align=center 4 align=center 6.4% China
align=center 4 align=center 4.3% align=center 5 align=center 6.1% China
align=center 5 align=center 4.0% Sungen Solaralign=center 6 align=center 5.3% China
align=center 6 align=center 2.8% align=center 3 align=center [24] Japan
align=center 7 align=center 2.8% align=center 8 align=center US
align=center 8 align=center 2.7% align=center 7 align=center South Korea
align=center 9 align=center 2.3% align=center  - align=center China
align=center 10 align=center 1.9% align=center 10 align=center Norway
Sources:[25]

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.[26] 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,[24] 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
2010 in MW
China 704 1,572
JA Solar China 520 1,464
US 1,100 1,411
China 525 1,062
Trina Solar China399 1,057
Taiwan 360 924
Germany 586 907
Gintech Taiwan 368 827
Sharp Japan 595 774
Sungen Solar China 193 588
Sources: PhotonMagazine[27] and PVinsights. 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).[28]

Thin film ranking

See also: List of CIGS companies.

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

Company Capacity (tons) Country
65,000 China
65,000 Korea
43,000 US
33,000 Germany
25,000 China
19,000 Norway
15,000 US
9,200 Japan
8,000 Taiwan
5,000 Korea
Sourced from EnergyTrend[29]

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

Company Capacity (MW) Country
2,400 China
2,100 China
1,900 China
1,700 China
1,500 Taiwan
1,500 Taiwan
1,300 China
1,300 Taiwan
1,100 Korea
1,100 China
South AfricaSourced from EnergyTrend

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

Company Capacity (MW) Country
2,400 China
2,300 China
2,000 China
1,900 China
1,700 China
1,500 Korea
1,400 Germany
1,100 China
1,000 China
1,000 US
Sourced from EnergyTrend
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

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

Solar photovoltaic production by country

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%.[30]

Other companies

Other notable companies include:[31]

List of solar panel factories

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

CompanyFactory nameFactory locationdata-sort-type="number" Plant cost (in US$ millions)data-sort-type="number" Started productiondata-sort-type="number" Panel technology (silicon, Thin Film, CIGS, etc.)data-sort-type="number" Capacity/year (in GW)
Sharp CorporationSakai[36] [37] [38] Japan, Sakai1
Sharp CorporationKatsuragiJapan1981[39] [40]
Sharp CorporationKameyamaJapan, Kameyama
Sharp CorporationTakiJapan
LGSouth Korea, Gumi[41]
Solar FrontierMiyazakiJapan20090.060[42]
Solar FrontierKunitomiJapan12011CIS0.9
Solar FrontierTohokuJapan0.12015CIS0.150
Neo Solar PowerFab 3[43]
PanasonicJapan
AU Optronics

Closed solar panel factories

CompanyFactory nameFactory locationdata-sort-type="number" Plant cost (in US$ millions)data-sort-type="number" Started productiondata-sort-type="number" Panel technology data-sort-type="number" Capacity/year (in GW)data-sort-type="number" Stopped production
Sharp CorporationUK
TSMC SolarTaiwan, Taichung, Central Taiwan Science Park [44] (next to TSMC Fab 15)CIGS0.0402015[45] [46]

See also

References

[47]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fraunhofer Photovoltaic Report.
  2. Web site: Solar PV Global Supply Chains – Analysis . 2022-08-15 . IEA . en-GB.
  3. Web site: China's JinkoSolar preserves its leading global solar PV module shipment rank in 2019. 2020-02-10. GlobalData. en-GB. 2020-05-23.
  4. Web site: Stoker . Liam . 2021-04-26 . As top five module manufacturer shipments top 86GW, market consolidation looms large . 2022-08-15 . PV Tech . en-US.
  5. Web site: Soloot . Hesam-Edin Hayati . 2021-02-04 . Top 10 PV Module Manufacturers in 2020, Based-on Their Module Shipment . 2022-08-15 . Solar Edition . en-US.
  6. Web site: Stoker . Liam . 2022-01-13 . Revealed: The top 10 PV module suppliers in 2021 - part one . 2022-08-15 . PV Tech . en-US.
  7. Web site: Transcribing. Motley Fool. 2020-02-12. SunPower (SPWR) Q4 2019 Earnings Call Transcript. 2021-01-07. The Motley Fool. en.
  8. Web site: Top 10 solar module manufacturers in 2015 . Osborne . Mark . 21 January 2016 . pv-tech.org . Solar Media Limited . https://web.archive.org/web/20160315063459/http://www.pv-tech.org/editors-blog/top-10-solar-module-manufacturers-in-2015 . 15 March 2016 . live . 31 July 2016.
  9. Web site: Trina Solar remained world's top solar PV module producer in 2015 . 24 February 2016 . energyharvestingjournal.com . IDTechEx . https://web.archive.org/web/20160320200634/http://www.energyharvestingjournal.com/articles/9131/trina-solar-remained-worlds-top-solar-pv-module-producer-in-2015 . 20 March 2016 . live . 31 July 2016.
  10. Web site: Trina tops PV module production ranking in 2015 – GlobalData . Mancheva . Militsa . 24 February 2016 . renewables.seenews.com . SeeNews . https://web.archive.org/web/20160327192046/http://renewables.seenews.com/news/trina-tops-pv-module-production-ranking-in-2015-globaldata-514299 . 27 March 2016 . live . 31 July 2016.
  11. Web site: The world's biggest solar photovoltaic cell manufacturers . 25 April 2016 . power-technology.com . Kable Intelligence Limited . https://web.archive.org/web/20160427145001/http://www.power-technology.com/features/featurethe-worlds-biggest-solar-photovoltaic-cell-manufacturers-4863800/ . 27 April 2016 . live . 31 July 2016.
  12. Web site: SunPower Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2015 Results . 17 February 2016 . www.pv-tech.org . Solar Media Limited . https://web.archive.org/web/20160427113639/http://www.pv-tech.org/news/sunpower-reports-flat-2015-revenue . 27 April 2016 . live . 31 July 2016.
  13. Web site: SunPower Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2015 Results . 17 February 2016 . newsroom.sunpower.com . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160328080727/http://newsroom.sunpower.com/2016-02-17-SunPower-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Fiscal-Year-2015-Results . 28 March 2016 . live . 31 July 2016.
  14. Web site: Risen Energy reports increase in revenue and profits, expands module capacity to 3.1 GW . f . 29 February 2016 . www.pv-tech.org . PHOTON Publishing . https://web.archive.org/web/20160731152802/http://www.photon.info/en/news/risen-energy-reports-increase-revenue-and-profits-expands-module-capacity-31-gw . 31 July 2016 . live . 31 July 2016 .
  15. Hirshman, W. P., "Little smiles on long faces (cell production 2008: survey)," Photon International, (March 2015), pp. 170-206.
  16. 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.
  17. Estimated production/capacity
  18. Filed for bankruptcy on Aug 15, 2011, Evergreen Solar Seeks Bankruptcy
  19. Plant closed in 2009
  20. Production greater than capacity due to closing of some production lines in mid-year
  21. News: Low Concentration PV Deployments From SunPower and Skyline Solar. 2017-12-28.
  22. Web site: E+I Emprendedores e innovadores - Capítulo 22 - RTVE.es. 4 March 2012.
  23. Web site: GCL Surges To Become 7th Largest Solar PV Manufacturer In World — PV Module Production Rose 500% In 2015 . Ayre . James . 3 March 2016 . . Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc. . 31 July 2016 .
  24. Web site: PVinsights. pvinsights.com.
  25. Web site: Renewables 2012 Global Status Report. https://web.archive.org/web/20121215215616/http://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012.pdf. dead. December 15, 2012.
  26. Hirshman, W. P., "Surprise, surprise (cell production 2009: survey)," Photon International, (March 2010), pp. 176-199.
  27. Web site: photon.info . photon.info.
  28. Web site: PVinsights: Solar PV Module Shipment Ranking Reports in 2Q11. pvinsights.com.
  29. Web site: EnergyTrend - Solar Energy, Electric Vehicle, Power Battery, Wind Energy, Renewable Energy, Green Energy. energytrend.com.
  30. Web site: US-China Solar Trade Case Background. FutureofUSChinaTrade.com. 19 March 2012.
  31. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reworld/story?id=51590 Land of Giants: PV Players and Prospects
  32. Web site: Solar Energy. Hanwha.com.
  33. Web site: Hanwha Q CELLS - Our locations. hanwha-qcells.com.
  34. Web site: Photovoltaic Power Generation System : Hitachi. Hitachi. Ltd.. hitachi.com.
  35. Web site: SolarEdge - A World Leader in Smart Energy. solaredge.com.
  36. Web site: Plant . sharp.net . 18 July 2018.
  37. Web site: World's First and Only G10 Plant - Sakai Display Products Corporation. sdp.co.jp.
  38. Web site: Sharp Energy Solution .
  39. Web site: Year - A Vast Array of Sharp Solar Solutions - Sharp Solar Global Website . sharp-world.com.
  40. Web site: 環境に配慮したモノづくり 工場からエコ. SHARP. CORPORATION.
  41. Web site: Our Brand - About LG - LG Global. lg.com.
  42. Web site: Production. solar-frontier.com.
  43. Web site: About NSP.
  44. Web site: Production - tsmc solar. tsmc-solar.com.
  45. Web site: Why TSMC Is Exiting Solar. Michael. Kanellos. .
  46. Web site: TSMC Exiting Solar Energy Industry, Despite CIGS Efficiency Record - CleanTechnica. cleantechnica.com. 14 September 2015 .
  47. Web site: Energy Solutions .