Cell Processing

Potential changes to the scope of the US trade investigation into Chinese modules could create a serious drop in Taiwan-produced cell sales, according to analysts at EnergyTrend.

Despite the lack of current capital expenditure (capex) across the PV industry value chain, market research firm NPD Solarbuzz expects a major shift to higher efficiency cells and modules to finally dominate the sector by the end of 2018.

The largest merchant solar cell producer, Neo Solar Power Corporation (NSP), reported a slight increase in sales for September, after three months of decline.

Taiwan-based solar cell producer, Gintech Energy Corp reported September sales of NT$1,050 million (US$$34.6 million), a rebound of 21.3% from the previous year.

Sharp Corporation's next-generation solar cell technology that enters volume production is expected to be based on its long-term development of both c-Si and a-Si thin-film cells with efficiencies touted to be over 25%.

Chinese manufacturer JA Solar claims to have achieved a record 20% conversion efficiency in one of its multicrystalline PV cells.

Norway-headquartered REC Solar has unveiled a new 275W module aimed at residential and commercial rooftop installations, the ‘TwinPeak Series’.

Japanese module manufacturer Kyocera has joined the industrial partner programme of Belgian nanoelectronics research institute imec.

Mission Solar Energy has announced the opening of its N-Type solar manufacturing facility in Texas.

A couple of companies have highlighted wet chemical texturing processes for PERC cells that avoids using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) that is intended to offer a low-cost alternative for high-efficiency solar cells at EU PVSEC.