l'Actualité du Solaire

Two of the 21 companies among the 21 that have published their accounts have exceeded $100 million in investment during 2018.

- LONGi increased its research and development expenditures from $175.5 million in 2017 to $182.7 million in 2018, representing the

seventh consecutive year of increased spending and the second consecutive year of record spending in the photovoltaic industry. It is PV Tech's largest R&D expenditure for 2018.

- Hanergy Thin Film (now renamed Hanergy Mobile Energy Group) became the second largest R&D investor in 2018, spending $134.6 million, up from $79.2 million in the previous year, when it ranked fifth.

- GCL ranks third with spending of US$91.4 million, up from US$165.2 million in 2017, making it second only to LONGi.

- Tongwei has climbed up the rankings with research and development expenditure of US$88.8 million in 2018, up from US$53.4 million in the previous year. The company is fourth in 2018, up from seventh in 2017.

- First Solar (5th^{) and} SunPower (6th) ^spent$84.5 million and $81.7 million respectively in 2018.

- Zhongli Talesun (7th⁾ spent US$77.9 million on R&D in 2018 ($69.8 million the previous year).

- Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor (TZS) in 8th ^place spent US$59.9 million in 2018, ($53.5 million in 2017).

- JinkoSolar (9th⁾ increased its research and development expenditure to $53.3 million in 2018 ($45.2 million in 2017).

- Risen Energy (10th⁾ reduced its R&D spending in 2018 to $49.2 million, (down from $56.4 million).

PV Tech blog of August 29th

Editor's note In a business in perpetual evolution, investing little in research and development condemns the company to eventually lose part of its competitiveness compared to those who carry out important research. The latter will find processes, improvements or innovations that the former will not have the means to find.

Of course, there is research and research. It is not because we invest a lot that we find new solutions. In fact, some research is fruitless or wasted. But it is perseverance in the effort that pays off. The company derives processes or savings that distinguish it from less ambitious or less wealthy competitors.

The R&D budget is the easiest to cut. All that is needed is not to grant certain credits. Since all companies are aware of the fundamental role of R&D and its place in competitiveness, shrinking budgets reflect the situation of companies: they are cut back because the company's overall situation is worse. For a year or two at most, a reduction does not affect the company's results, which on the contrary are stimulated. It is then that turnover and profits are disrupted. For example, the reduction in First Solar's budget over the past two years is already reflected in the accounts, even though the company can announce increased sales and orders. The latter come from the R&D effort made three or four years ago.