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In order to overcome their plight, Taiwanese PV power suppliers should develop in the direction of PV modules and systems, away from thin-margin PV-cell contract production, remarked Hung Chuan-hsien, chairman of United Renewable Energy.
At a press conference prior to 2018 Energy Taiwan, Hung blamed the current problem of local PV power suppliers to their focus on PV-cell contract production, whose price reaches only US$0.1/W, 6% of US$1.5/W of PV power rate, urging them to tap the market of PV modules and system, with capacity reaching NT$5 trillion. United Renewable Energy derives from the merger of Neo Solar Power, Gintech Energy, and Solartech Energy, scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1.
Hung noted that local suppliers have been complacent in PV-cell contract production, which, though, has been in constant decline, from the peak output value of NT$300 billion in 2004-2005.
At the press conference, Liao Kuo-jung, chairman of TSEC Corp., also pointed to the huge domestic market potential for PV systems, deriving from the government's 20 GW PV power target, which will enable local suppliers to shed their reliance on exports of PV cells and modules, as in the past. He also expected alleviation of the impact of China's new 531 policy, which triggered a wave of dumped sales, in Q1 2019.
Meanwhile, Liao was upbeat about the potential of PV recycling business, which involves 66 million solar panels weighing 1.2 million tons, for 20 GW PV power capacity targeted by the government. At NT$18.5 apiece, those solar panels would entail NT$8.4 billion recycling cost, a fraction of over NT$600 billion carbon value deriving from reduction of carbon emission by 30 million tons from PV power generation totaling 500 billion kWh.
On the solid base built by PV Taiwan over the past 11 years, 2018 Energy Taiwan puts several shows under the same roof, covering PV power, wind power, hydrogen energy and fuel cell, and smart energy storage. 176 exhibitors display their products and services at over 510 booths, expected to attract over 10,000 visitors.
(First photo courtesy of Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine FlickrCC0 1.0, written by Daisy Chuang)