As previously reported there was a significant slowdown in global solar PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in the third quarter of 2017, which we highlighted was hardly surprising due to significant level of expansions plans announced in the first half of the year. However, despite increased concerns over the potential imposition of restrictive trade practices in the US and India in the fourth quarter of 2017, there was a significant rebound over the previous quarter, leading to the highest recorded gigawatts of new expansion announcements.
OPES Solutions a supplier of off-grid solar modules for grid independent power supply, has developed an ultra-light solar module together with the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP. The new ultra-light solar module reduces module weight by two thirds when compared to conventional crystalline modules.
Aurora Solar Technologies has introduced the ‘Veritas Insight’, a new product that is designed to provide a fully integrated quality control system for high-efficiency solar cells such as PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell).
Around the world solar developers are turning array designs on their head and choosing to go east-west instead. Following on from a recent feature in PV-Tech Power volume 14, here are the five key considerations to bear in mind when designing an east-west array.
A 10GW consultation exclusively for floating PV has been issued by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and it is conceivable that no such plans would be on the cards had it not been for the completion of a humbly sized but strategically significant project in the southern state of Kerala.
Valentin Software’s new PV system design software PV*SOL premium 2018 has been enhanced to provide the ability to input object data, 3D models in different file formats into the software via a new interface. This makes it possible to import realistic and detailed 3D objects created with photos taken from different perspectives (e.g. using a drone).
Introduced at Solar Power International 2016, GE’s LV5+ Solar Inverter was touted as the first multi-MW, 1500V DC, next generation, utility-scale inverter product line based on Silicon Carbide (SiC). Edgar A. Gunter asks, where is it?
ABB has introduced a range of cloud connected, three-phase string inverter solutions for cost efficient decentralized photovoltaic systems that are claimed to reduce both upfront capital expenditures (capex) and operational expenditure (opex).
The third PV CellTech event takes place in Penang, Malaysia in just two weeks from now, on 13-14 March 2018. The schedule of speakers and companies lined up this year is set to be both fascinating to hear, and essential to dissect, when looking at exactly how the PV industry will evolve beyond the 100GW of solar cells produced in 2017.
The major manufacturing transition by First Solar to its large-area Series 6 CdTe thin-film module format is well underway and, going by recent management commentary in its fourth quarter 2017 conference call with financial analysts, has increased its tempo slightly, not least due to updated spending plans for the second time in a few months.
