As we conduct our extensive market research phase to define exactly what the industry needs to be discussing and presenting at PV CellTech 2017 in Penang, Malaysia on 14-15 March 2017, one of the top technologies that is certain to be included again is passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) cells.
Capital expenditure (capex) from solar PV manufacturers is set to decline during the first half of 2017, as the industry adjusts to the excess of new capacity having come online during 2015 and 2016, according to the latest findings in the PV Manufacturing & Technology Quarterly report, released July 2016.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JA Solar said it reached a new milestone in monocrystalline PV product shipments in the middle of July, 2016.
SENTECH Instruments has designed the SENperc PV for the measurement of Al2O3/SiNx layer stacks and single films for the passivation of PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) solar cells. The stability of the deposition process is monitored over the long-term thereby the maintenance intervals of the deposition tools can be optimized.
Asia-based EVA encapsulant material producer HIUV New Materials said it successfully developed an encapsulant for N-type cell based PV modules that limits PID (Potential Induced Degradation).
Solar PV manufacturing in 2016 has seen the highest capex (capital expenditure) levels for years, and a return to capacity expansion plans. Furthermore, many of the companies announcing the capacity expansions are doing so for the first time, especially at the cell and module stage.
India has sanctioned plans to implement 10 ‘Solar Zones’ each consisting of at least 10,000 hectares of land to encourage solar PV project developers, manufacturers and investors to help achieve the country’s massive 100GW by 2022 solar targets.
Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger has received a follow-on order from an existing customer based in China for its MAiA 2.1 PERC technology upgrade platform.
After the 630 installation rush, enterprises, industry experts and investors began to think about the next trend for Chinese PV industry. It is predicted by senior staff from an investment company, that 2017’s plant development would be tripartite by the top runners (leading group) projects, distributed systems and poverty alleviating PV programmes.
Indian solar PV manufacturing is beginning to make headway after a significant module capacity increase in the last year. PV Tech caught up with Ivan Saha, president and chief technical officer of India-based manufacturer Vikram Solar for an industry update.
