NPD Solarbuzz Inc. (Santa Clara, California, US) has released a new report which finds that solar photovoltaic (PV) production equipment spending fell 72% to USD 3.6 billion in 2012.

NPD Solarbuzz' most recent "PV Equipment Quarterly" covers crystalline silicon technologies from ingot to module as well as thin-film PV. The report found that the leading equipment suppliers in 2012 were GT Advanced Technologies, Meyer Burger, Applied Materials and Apollo Solar.

"Spending for 2013 is forecast to decline even further to USD 2.2 billion, levels not seen in the industry since 2006," said NPD Solarbuzz VP Finlay Colville.

"This marks an effective halt to capacity investment by PV manufacturers, as well as a lack of upgrades, whether in new technology or higher efficiency. Spending on high-efficiency process steps barely contributed to 2012 shipments, representing less than 5% of PV equipment spending."

Eight suppliers with more than USD 100 million in 2012 revenues

The company found that the leading four suppliers all had PV-specific revenues in excess of USD 400 million, whereas the number of PV equipment suppliers with revenues greater than USD 100 million fell to eight, instead of 23 in 2011.

NPD Solarbuzz also found that PV equipment backlogs have fallen to a low not seen since the first half of 2006, which it blames on excessive investment in 2010 and 2011.

2013-01-18 | Courtesy: NPD Solarbuzz | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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