A genuine solar boom, the internationalization of manufacturing, yieldcos and technology to drive conversion efficiencies higher were major trends to emerge from the SNEC trade show and conference last week in Shanghai, China. Here are five of the key trends.

Trina Solar has announced its intention to construct a 700 MW cell and 500 MW module production facility in Thailand. Trina will invest US$160m on the factory building and tooling, with production at the site set to commence in late 2015 or early 2016.

Gross profits for PV module producers will top US$5 billion in 2015, more than doubling on 2014 results. This is the prediction of industry analysts IHS, which attributed the growing profits a 30% increase in end demand.

Leading module manufacturer Yingli Green Energy has hit the milestone of 13 GW of PV panel deliveries at the end of the Q1 2015. The milestone is welcome news for the company, after it postponed its 2014 annual report late last month and ceded its number one place, in terms of module output volume, to Chinese rival Trina Solar.

It looks increasingly likely that Australia will see a compromise on its Renewable Energy Target, the mechanism that underpins large-scale renewable development in the country. Key industry groups are aligning behind a 33 TWh compromise position, with the opposition Labor party saying it would agree to such a figure.

SolarWorld will introduce five-busbar technology to some of its Hillsboro, Oregon production lines. The MW capacity of the five-busbar production has not be revealed.

The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has officially spoken out against the European minimum price on PV modules on Chinese and Taiwanese solar cells and modules. EPIA has taken the position against the EU minimum price because of the negative impact it is having on the EU solar market.

German PV and battery manufacturing equipment supplier Manz has claimed a module efficiency world record for CIGS technology on its innovation line. The 16% conversion efficiency record was unveiled on Monday at the SNEC conference and trade show in Shanghai.

Eric Luo has applauded EPIA’s position on the EU minimum price, saying that renewable energy rollout should not be blocked anywhere in the world by protectionism. The Shungfeng CEO told pv magazine that the company is seeking to position itself as an integrated energy service provider as the solar market transitions from component sales to a service-based industry.

Given the big losses it occurred in 2014, equipment supplier Singulus is accelerating its shift in strategy and offering a debt-for-shares swap to bond holders. The measures are on the back of more than $50 million in losses in 2014.