Capital spending along the PV supply chain is expected to crash to $2.3bn this year, its lowest level since 2006, according to market researcher IHS.
By contrast, PV manufacturers spend more than $12bn on new machines in 2011, and $3.6bn last year as the industry downturn grew fangs.
That inability to upgrade equipment or build new, more efficient production lines, has both hampered technological development of solar energy and hammered the sector’s toolmakers – such as Applied Materials, GT Advanced, Meyer Burger and Centrotherm.
Switzerland’s
