SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Germany's Q-Cells AG was the world's largest producer of solar cells in 2007, surpassing Japan's Sharp Corp. in the rankings, according to preliminary results from PHOTON International.
With an annual production of 370 megawatts (MW) in 2007, Q-Cells jumped from second place in 2006 to the top spot in the rankings last year, according to the magazine. The figures are sourced from PHOTON International as part of its annual worldwide solar-cell production survey. The final results will be published in the March issue of PHOTON International.
According to the publication, Q-Cells had a slight lead over Sharp and China's Suntech Power Co. Ltd. in 2007.
Sharp--which has apparently fallen to second place in the solar-cell rankings--has announced an annual production of 363 MW for 2007, according to the publication.
High-flying Suntech jumped from fourth in 2006 to third place in 2007. That company has outlined a figure of "363 to 365 MW" in solar-cell production, according to the publication. Suntech's final numbers are due after the company publishes its fourth-quarter results on Feb. 20.
Q-Cells reported a production figure of 253 MW in 2006, meaning the German company increased production by 46 percent in 2007, according to the rankings. Suntech expanded its production even faster for a 127 percent growth, compared to the 160 MW of product it manufactured in 2006, according to the publication.
However, Sharp's production declined in 2007. In 2006, Sharp reported production of 434.7 MW. The fall ''is most probably due to the company's failure in securing enough silicon feedstock,'' according to the publication.
At present, Japan's Kyocera Corp. will be in fourth place with a 2007 production figure of 207 MW, while U.S.-based First Solar Inc. will probably secure fifth place with 200 MW of cell production in 2007, according to the rankings.
''The solar departments of large corporations -- such as Sanyo, Mitsubishi, BP Solar and Schott - have been left behind at least for now,'' according to the publication.
According to PV News, Sharp was the world's largest solar-cell maker in 2006, followed in order by Q-Cells, Kyocera, Suntech, Sanyo, Mitsubishi, Motech, Schott, Deutsche Solar, BP and SunPower.
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