The entire solar PV upstream value-chain, including equipment and materials suppliers, is set for drastic changes during 2017, ushered in by a perfect storm of events that has impacted on the industry within a space of 2-3 months, according to the latest release of the PV Manufacturing & Technology Quarterly report from the research team of PV-Tech’s parent owner Solar Media, Ltd.
PV manufacturer Astronergy Solarmodule GmbH, a subsidiary of China-based producer, Astronergy and part of Chint Group said it would start production of modules using the latest generation of PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact) cells with monocrystalline wafers to produce high-efficiency ‘all black’ modules in the 295 to 310 Watt peak (Wp) power classes.
Atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment specialist SoLayTec, a subsidiary of Amtech Systems has received a follow-on order for three solar cell ALD systems.
Integrated PV module manufacturer REC Group said total module shipments in the second quarter of 2016 reached 326MW, bringing first half year shipments to 640MW and a 4% quarter-on-quarter increase.
Meco Equipment Engineers, a subsidiary of BE Semiconductor Industries provides its Cell Plating Line (CPL) for a wide variety of next-generation solar cell architectures migrating from silver to copper contacts, which drastically reduces the high metallization costs associated with Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) and heterojunction cells.
PV and polysilicon manufacturing equipment specialist centrotherm photovoltaics has withdrawn its earnings forecast for fiscal year 2016, due to PV manufacturers postponing capital expenditure (capex) plans on overcapacity and rapid price declines.
PV Tech’s preliminary analysis of global PV manufacturing capacity expansion plans in the third quarter of 2016, highlight an absence of China based solar cell and module manufacturers making new announcements for either domestic or overseas production.
Integrated PV module manufacturer REC Group has said it has trimmed its global workforce by 3%, or around 65 jobs out of approximately 2,200 employees.
US-based high-efficiency integrated PV manufacturer Mission Solar Energy is reportedly to close its N-type mono solar cell line with the loss of 87 jobs and focus on module assembly to remain competitive.
