SAS looking for mergers, says chairman

While Taiwan-based PV makers have generally been struggling in the adverse business climate, solar wafer maker Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) remains in good financial health, and is looking for opportunities to merge with fellow makers, according to company chairman MK Lu.

China’s PV supply chain is more advantageous than Taiwan’s because the former has complete vertical integration, lower production cost, a global market share of 75% for solar cells as well as large domestic demand and strong support from the China government, Lu said.

However, the China government will gradually lower PV feed-in tariff rates, local governments have decreased financial support for China-based PV makers and most of China-based PV makers have high debt ratios, Lu noted.

In comparison, Taiwan-based PV makers have survived unfavorable situations by virtue of good financial health and R&D capability, Lu said. T

he Taiwan government has begun to boost PV power generation in Taiwan, facilitating local PV firms to invest in setting up PV power stations and/or rooftop systems using in-house-produced solar cells or PV modules. This will help them expand in overseas markets, Lu indicated.

To become internationally competitive, however, it is necessary to consolidate Taiwan-based PV makers into 3-4 major firms, Lu indicated.

SAS chairman MK Lu
Photo: Nuying Huang, Digitimes, January 2017

Categories: Green energy Solar

Tags: chairman SAS

Companies: Sino-American Silicon Products

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