This article reveals the top 10 module suppliers of 2018, based purely on own-brand shipped module MWp-dc volumes. This ranking complements our recently published top 10 cell producers feature.
PV CellTech 2019 takes place in Penang, Malaysia on 12-13 March 2019, and once again will feature keynote presentations from CTOs and heads-of-R&D from the leading multi-GW cell producers of the industry in 2019.
Back in 2014, p-type mono PERC cell production was less than 1GW. During 2019, production is forecast to exceed 60GW as the dominant technology type deployed by the solar industry for module assembly.
Solar cell production in 2018 represented change on many fronts, but may be remembered as a year during which Chinese-owned companies made further strategic moves as part of the current Beijing mandate to position the country as a high-tech manufacturing global powerhouse.
Jolywood (Suzhou) Sunwatt Co has launched two differentiated high-efficiency N-type mono PV modules. The new products, the JW-HT&HD Series ‘Paving’ module boasts a front power of 430W, efficiency of 20.5%, integrated power of 530W with efficiency of 25.4%, as well as a rear power gain of 30%. The JW-HF Series ultra-light flexible module weighs 3.75kg per sqm, due to the advanced composite encapsulation materials.
US-headquartered high-efficiency solar panel manufacturer SunPower Corp has started changing its long-held strategy of supplying only its in-house produced E Series and X Series panels to residential and C&I (Commerical and Industrial) PV projects in the US.
Just when it looked like the underlining trend for Tesla’s shift away from using third party mainstream solar panel suppliers was set in stone, as manufacturing partner Panasonic started ramping Gigafactory 2 production, the latest data for the third quarter of 2018, goes completely in a different direction.
Inverter and smart energy manufacturer SolarEdge has a back catalogue of solar-themed parody videos but this year’s effort, Solar Joy, has raised the bar.
Uruguay has decided to power its Antarctic base with solar power. Marcelo Mula, executive director at the installer Tecnogroup, explains the challenges as the company prepares to upscale the test array to 100kW in 2019.
SPONSORED: As inverters become smarter and more diverse in their function, so too must inverter manufacturers. Lior Handelsman, SolarEdge founder and the firm's vice president of marketing and product strategy, explains why.