There was a significant increase in the number of new products announced throughout the PV supply chain in 2010, compared to previous years. A key trend has been products focused on the utility-scale market, such as central inverters and technologies designed to cut the balance of system (BOS) costs for installations. In our review of the Top 10 most viewed products on the PV-Tech website, the diversity in the list is refreshing and covers a wide-range of subjects from solar cell metallization pastes to modules and inverters.
Having dominated the headlines in the Top 10 PV-Tech news stories of 2009, First Solar remains a highly popular read. However, after sifting through Google Analytics to compile this year’s Top 10 most-read news stories, it appears only two of these are related to First Solar. Two different market research companies' reports also proved popular, as did most news pieces on feed-in tariffs.
Evonik has introduced a highly transparent and also weathering-resistant barrier film based on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) that can replace glass plates as a front cover.
Demand for PV cells and modules remained strong in the third quarter, according to a new report from IMS Research. A new leader appeared in solar cell production in the form of JA Solar, which increased its cell production by an impressive 35% in the quarter to top the rankings for the very first time.
