The Taiwan pavillion was well received at the Intersolar Europe fair held in Germany this year, and is expected to help Taiwan’s solar photovoltaic industry generate business worth US$130 million, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) said Friday.
The world’s largest solar photovoltaic fair ran from June 13-15, and was held in Munich this year, attracting over 1,900 manufacturers from 49 countries, and 80,000 professional buyers.
This is the fifth year that Taiwan has set up a pavillion at the fair, and 44 companies have participated in the fair this year, including Inventec Solar Energy, Sun Well Solar, and Perfect Source Tech, said TAITRA.
Taiwan’s pavillion attracted buyers from European countries, including Lithuania, Ukraine, and Greece, as well as Central Asian countries and African countries.
However, the council noted that Taiwan’s companies were facing new challenges as global solar energy market trends shifted in the second half of 2012.
As many uncertainties plague Europe’s economic outlook, it is expected that Germany and Italy will be lowering subsidies in the solar photovoltaic industry, and the main sources of growth in the market will shift to North America and emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the council.
Taiwan is one of the world’s main solar energy hubs with 160 manufacturers in the solar photovoltaic industry providing a complete chain supply, including manufacturers in crystal silicon, membrane materials and photovoltaic concentrators.
According to Taiwan’s Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association’s latest statistics, in 2010 Taiwan’s photovoltaic industry’s total value was about NT$190 billion (US$6.35 billion), and the power output of cells totalled 3,400 Megawatt Peak.
That year Taiwan ranked second in global shares, taking 14.1 percent of the market, while China took top spot.
To further stimulate Taiwan’s photovoltaic industry, TAITRA will also be leading delegations to attend major photovoltaic exhibitions in the second half of 2012, including the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference in Malaysia, and United States Solar Power International 2012.
The trade council will also be hosting Photovoltaic Taiwan, an international solar energy exhibition this year, which will run from Oct. 3-5 at the Taipei World Trade Center.
