In addition to Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell maker Motech Industries which has marketed own-brand PV modules in the US market, Taiwan-based PV module makers Win Win Precision Technology, TSEC and Gintung Energy as well as solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer maker Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) plan to tap the US market specifically for rooftop PV systems, according to industry sources.
Win Win Precision will begin to export 300W PV modules made of high-efficiency solar cells to the US market in March 2015, the sources said. Gintung has had its PV modules in the process of certification and expects to begin shipments to the US market as early as March, the sources indicated. TSEC will set up a subsidiary in Los Angeles in March specifically for marketing own-brand PV modules in the US, the sources noted. SAS has acquired Germany-based own-brand PV module maker Aleo Solar AG for marketing in Europe and plans to extend own-brand marketing to the US, the sources said.
Since the US has imposed anti-dumping tariffs at an average rate of 19.50% on Taiwan-made solar cells, Taiwan-based makers' cells are not price competitive in the US market and therefore they have shifted to marketing own-brand PV modules, the sources indicated. However, Taiwan-based makers are unable to compete with China-based ones on price for PV modules used in large-scale ground-mounted PV power-generating stations and so need to target distributed rooftop PV systems, the sources said.
