Date: 02/12/2010

IMS estimates solar inverter shipment grew by 50% to reach 7.3GW in Q3'10

Solar inverter shipments grew by 50% in Q3'10 to reach 7.3 GW - another record quarter for the industry which earlier peaked at 5 GW the previous quarter according to IMS Research's recently released report on the global market.

According to IMS Research, whilst the majority of these shipments were for installations in Germany, growth slowed substantially in this region and the biggest contributors to the market's huge increase were Italy and Asia. Other European markets also fared well and have grown by more than 300% year-on-year.

IMS study finds EMEA accounted for around 80% of inverter shipments in Q3'10, down from 90% the previous quarter, partly driven by high growth of the Americas market which is estimated to have doubled in size from the same period last year. Indeed, all regions recorded impressive growth, generating more than $2 billion in revenues for suppliers during the quarter.

According to PV Analyst Tom Haddon, "Again we are referring to a record quarter for inverter suppliers with the previous record of 5 GW of shipments in Q2'10 being beaten by almost 50% in Q3'10". Haddon added "Q4 however is likely to be a much weaker quarter, as Germany, the largest market, continues to slow. Additionally, significant inventory now exists in the supply chain and a sharp correction seems inevitable".

For the second consecutive quarter, IMS Research's analysis found factory-gate inverter prices fell due to the continuing shift towards larger inverters, which have an inherently lower price per Watt.