Total global PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in the first quarter of 2016 surpassed 22.3GW, the second highest quarterly figure, according to the latest preliminary analysis by PV Tech. Image: Wuxi Suntech (SFCE)

Total global PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in the first quarter of 2016 surpassed 22.3GW, the second highest quarterly figure, according to the latest preliminary analysis by PV Tech.

The previous quarter (4Q-15) holds the record at over 27GW, while it should be noted over 25.5GW was announced in November, 2015 alone.

Therefore, the total announcements in back-to-back quarters exceed 49.4GW, completely overshadowing the previous year period when announcements nudged past 16GW.

The previous quarter (4Q-15) holds the record at over 27GW, while it should be noted over 25.5GW was announced in November, 2015 alone.

With regards to dedicated solar cell capacity expansion announcements the first quarter exceeded 7GW, compared to 15GW in the previous quarter, yet the second highest on a quarterly run rate since the beginning of 2014.

New announcements of integrated solar cell and module assembly lines reached 3.5GW in the quarter, while the fourth quarter of 2015 did not generate any announcements.

Dedicated module assembly announcements in the quarter reached around 12GW, almost identical to the previous fourth quarter of 2015.

As with some major announcements made in November, 2015 a number of announcements in the first quarter of 2016 were planned phase expansions.

In the first quarter (February) for example, the 1.5GW Jinergy Clean Energy Technology Co and SunEdison partnership actually included plans for a first phase expansion of only 500MW in 2016. Another 1GW integrated cell/module plant in January was touted as 1GW but the first phase would be 120MW.

New announcements of integrated solar cell and module assembly lines reached 3.5GW in the quarter, while the fourth quarter of 2015 did not generate any announcements.

Geographical split

Month-to-month and quarter-to-quarter, the geographical location for new capacity announcements can vary considerably. As already highlighted March, 2016 expansions all resided in Asia, compared to eight country locations outside Asia in February. Therefore, it is prudent to look at full-year geographical splits to identify real trends.

As a reference point for the first quarter of 2016, a total of 13 countries were locations for companies to announce planned expansions and new PV manufacturing plants.

Dedicated solar cell and module assembly announcements (8) in the quarter were led by China with 7.1GW of new expansion plans.

Dedicated solar cell and module assembly announcements (8) in the quarter were led by China with 7.1GW of new expansion plans. India followed with a total of over 5.7GW with only three separate announcements. The third leading country was South Korea with 2.2GW of new expansion plans from only two announcements. Malaysia with four announcements was fourth with a total of 2.2GW.

The fifth most popular location with four announcements in the first quarter of 2016 was Vietnam, which attracted 1.1GW of expansions and new plants.