Solar module maker United Renewable Energy Co (URE, 聯合再生) forecast shipments would grow next year on a gradual recovery in demand in Taiwan and overseas markets, after solar installation this year fell behind the company’s 2.2-gigawatt (GW) target.
During the first 10 months of this year, about 1.4GW of solar systems were deployed, bringing the total installation to 13.8GW, URE chief financial officer Pan Lay-lay (潘蕾蕾) told a conference yesterday.
As Taiwan needs to set up 6GW solar installations to reach its target of 20GW by the end of 2026, government agencies might speed up paperwork to push for new solar projects, Pan said.
Photo: Chang Hui-wen, Taipei Times
“We are optimistic about our solar product shipments growth next year versus this year,” Pan said.
Still, URE expects solar product prices to remain in a “severe” situation next year, as oversupply in China continues to pressure global solar capacity, she said.
As the US imposed heavy anti-dumping duties on solar cells and modules from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam would prevent Chinese companies from getting around the restrictions, URE has decided to shut down its solar cell production line in Thailand and to transform the unit into an energy total solution provider, Pan said.
In the past, the company produced solar cells in Thailand for the US market, she said.
The company also plans to build a new solar module production line next year to produce next-generation TOPCon solar wafers, Pan said.
The production line would have a capacity of 40GW a year, she said.
Meanwhile, URE plans to revamp an existing solar module production line, which has 400GW capacity, to enhance its competitiveness, she added.
The company reported losses of NT$1.92 billion (US$58.8 million) in the first three quarters of this year, compared with losses of NT$1.73 billion a year earlier. Revenue during the first 10 months fell 60 percent to NT$4.19 billion from NT$10.27 billion in the same period last year.
Contract chipmaker United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電) yesterday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Polar Semiconductor LLC to collaborate on the production of 8-inch wafers in the US. The collaboration aims to strengthen 8-inch wafer manufacturing in the US amid Washington’s efforts to increase onshore manufacturing of semiconductors, contribute to supply chain resilience against shifting geopolitical dynamics, and ensure a secure domestic supply of power semiconductors critical to automotive, electric grids, robotic manufacturing and data centers, the companies said in a joint statement. Under the MOU, Polar and UMC will identify devices for Polar to manufacture at
TARIFF TALKS: The US secretary of commerce is eyeing more than US$300 billion in investments and said Taiwan would train US workers, but Taipei has denied the latter US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the US is expecting a large investment pledge from Taiwan in trade talks, while President William Lai (賴清德) listed areas that need improvement in order for projects to be completed. “We’re in the midst of discussions,” Lutnick said on Wednesday. “But the fact is, this administration’s goal is to bring semiconductor manufacturing to America.” Lai on Wednesday said Taiwan is supportive of US President Donald Trump’s goal of reindustrializing the US, including efforts to ramp up semiconductor production. Such a goal would require the US to reduce its reliance on Taiwan as a key source
The demise of the coal industry left the US’ Appalachian region in tatters, with lost jobs, spoiled water and countless kilometers of abandoned underground mines. Now entrepreneurs are eyeing the rural region with ambitious visions to rebuild its economy by converting old mines into solar power systems and data centers that could help fuel the increasing power demands of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. One such project is underway by a non-profit team calling itself Energy DELTA (Discovery, Education, Learning and Technology Accelerator) Lab, which is looking to develop energy sources on about 26,305 hectares of old coal land in
Netflix on Friday faced fierce criticism over its blockbuster deal to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. The streaming giant is already viewed as a pariah in some Hollywood circles, largely due to its reluctance to release content in theaters and its disruption of traditional industry practices. As Netflix emerged as the likely winning bidder for Warner Bros — the studio behind Casablanca, the Harry Potter movies and Friends — Hollywood’s elite launched an aggressive campaign against the acquisition. Titanic director James Cameron called the buyout a “disaster,” while a group of prominent producers are lobbying US Congress to oppose the deal,
RSS