Photovoltaic panel manufacturer cooperation

How has global solar PV manufacturing capacity changed over the last decade?

Global solar PV manufacturing capacity has increasingly moved from Europe, Japan and the United States to China over the last decade. China has invested over USD 50 billion in new PV supply capacity – ten times more than Europe − and created more than 300 000 manufacturing jobs across the solar PV value chain since 2011.

Why have solar PV companies been terminated in Europe?

Various solar PV firms have been terminated production in Europe as an outcome of the global financial crisis 2007/2008 which cause current capacity shortages (). As a result, the current dominance of China in the solar PV industry indicates a double-sided dilemma for the EU.

Why do solar PV companies need inter-organizational relationships?

According to the business network theory, inter-organizational relationships allow for the development of efficient collective knowledge-sharing routines and joint learning channels, helping involved solar PV firms to gain competitive advantages concerning market entry and market penetration strategies ().

Where is the solar PV industry Upstream Network competence?

In the past, solar PV industry upstream network competence was mainly concentrated on the US, Germany and Canada. Chinese firms have gained significant upstream network positionings in recent years through fine-grained and intensified relationship engagements, targeting to improve their research and development and component supply quality.

Where are solar PV panels made?

Today, China’s Xinjiang province accounts for 40% global polysilicon manufacturing. Moreover, one out of every seven panels produced worldwide is manufactured by a single facility. This level of concentration in any global supply chain would represent a considerable vulnerability; solar PV is no exception.

Who are the leading solar PV companies in the world?

Table 2. Primary and secondary data sources Selection of six globally leading solar PV firm: First Solar Inc. (USA), Hanwha (South Korea), Q-Cells (Germany), Jinko Solar Holding Co. Ltd. (China), LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd. (China), and Suntech (China).