Editors' Blog Projects

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.

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.

Last week saw the publication of both AEMO’s Integrated System Plan and National Grid ESO’s Future Energy Scenarios, two documents which project the evolution of Australia and the UK’s national grids. Liam Stoker compares the two and identifies the mutual lessons to be learned.

Visibility on the performance of almost all leading PV module suppliers to the end of the first quarter of 2020 (31 March 2020) is now known, providing a first glimpse of what impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the sector, as most countries started to impose varying degrees of lockdown impacting businesses and ongoing operations.

A total of seven China-based PV manufacturers have officially started efforts to establish a new ‘M10’ (182mm x 182mm p-type monocrystalline) large-area wafer size standard to reduce manufacturing costs throughout the entire solar industry supply chain as the number of large-area wafer sizes have emerged in the last few years.

Recently name checked as among the cheapest places in the world to develop solar, Chile has emerged as a particularly popular destination for solar finance. But as the country proceeds towards a 100% renewables target, political instability and legacy network issues stand in its way. Molly Lempriere explores how Chile can leap those hurdles on its way to a green grid.

The PV industry continues to have frequent casualties in terms of PV module suppliers being able to carve out a long-term sustainable business model. This issue remains critical when suppliers are short-listed for large-scale solar sites, globally.

The ‘2020 PV Module Reliability Scorecard’ report, undertaken each year by PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) in partnership with DNV GL, has continued to raise questions over key aspects of module reliability.

Our live curation of latest news and developments charts how the pandemic is disrupting supply chains and the day-to-day business reality of solar operators worldwide.

We take a sneak peek at some of the new and exciting findings expected to be revealed in the ‘2020 PV Module Reliability Scorecard’ that is undertaken each year by PV Evolution Labs (PVEL). As with last year’s edition, this Scorecard is published in partnership with DNV GL.

With industry heavyweights eyeing up developments of solar-wind-storage projects, Liam Stoker uncovers what’s really driving hybrid power plants, and the hurdles that must be surpassed to deliver them

There were a number of key factors at play in the first quarter of 2020 that either positively or negatively impacted financial results for five public listed PV inverter manufacturers in the quarter.

Our live curation of latest news and developments charts how the pandemic is disrupting supply chains and the day-to-day business reality of solar operators worldwide.