The rapid evolution of photovoltaic technology has continued, as modules with peak power outputs in excess of 550W are emerging fast. Driven by a thirst for more power and increasingly larger cells, developers and EPC now face tougher procurement decisions than ever before. But is the industry ready for such a jump? Liam Stoker investigates
Despite only being released last year, the G12 210mm large area-size wafer has quickly attracted supporters, with more than 120GW of cell manufacturing expansions announced and a solar ecosystem evolving around it. Carrie Xiao analyses the figures behind its rise.
PV Tech’s analysis of ‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JA Solar’s capacity expansion announcements in the first nine months of 2020 have revealed the company has already announced a total of over 104GW of combined plans, including ingot/wafer, solar cell and module assembly.
Supply deals from major state-owned power groups in China and growing demand for component replacements look set to send inverter demand to new highs, PV Tech analysis has shown.
The rapid transition in the upstream manufacturing solar sector to significantly larger p-type and n-type monocrystalline wafers, cells and modules may be hailed as a new era for the industry in higher module performance and a leap in reducing PV power plants LCOE (Levelized Cost of Electricity) in a rapidly changing downstream market that becomes subsidy free, bidding orientated and targeting grid parity and beyond. But issues such as reliability lurk just below the surface.
As China enters its usually frantic solar build-out season, a shadow is being cast by module price hikes and supply bottlenecks. PV Tech’s Carrie Xiao gets the inside scoop on how solar deployment in China risks being pushed into next year.
Speaking to PV Tech, Huawei’s president of Smart PV Business Guoguang Chen reveals the key details and drivers behind its home energy storage play, slated to launch later this year
The latest findings from PV-Tech’s unique bankability analysis – the PV ModuleTech Bankability Ratings report – have now been completed, forming the basis of the Q3’20 rankings for leading global module suppliers. This article discusses the main findings of the new report.
PV Tech continues its deep-dive into the making of Trina Solar’s new Vertex platform, delving into the thought process behind the manufacturer’s ‘low voltage, high current’ approach, how Trina intends to scale up manufacturing, and why it believes the solar supply chain must unite behind 600W+ modules.
