The International Solar Energy Research Center Konstanz e.V. (ISC Konstanz) has signed a technology transfer agreement with PV module assembly equipment supplier based in Finland for R&D centre’s advanced ‘BiSoN’ (Bifacial Solar cell On N-type) and ZEBRA (diffused n-type IBC) solar cell technology.
US-headquartered high-efficiency solar module manufacturer SunPower Corp has announced that its long-term Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Charles D. Boynton would leave the company on July 1 for other career opportunities.
Independent Power Producer sPower has entered into a strategic solar tracker supply deal with Array Technologies for multi-gigawatts of planned PV power plants, cementing a business relationship established over the last four years, according to Array Technologies.
Specialist semiconductor and PV equipment supplier Intevac reiterated that its 12 unit ‘ENERGi’ solar ion implant tool order valued at around US$23 million that was booked in March, 2017 remained in its order backlog at the end of the first quarter of 2018.
Canada-based specialty metals firm, 5N Plus said it had secured a series of multi-year contracts for the supply of semiconductor materials (CdTe) and ancillary services deal with leading CdTe thin-film PV module manufacturer, First Solar.
Kyocera Corporation a multinational electronics and related components manufacturer has made a significant US$459 million impairment charge on long-term polysilicon supply contracts, as well as downsizing its solar operations in the US, which were the primary reason for its Life & Environment Group (solar PV included) reporting a large operating loss in fiscal 2018.
Leading CdTe thin-film PV manufacturer First Solar may be benefiting from increased demand for its modules from utility-scale customers in the US, which has resulted in the announcement of a new 1.2GW Series 6 module production plant, yet bookings in Europe are fast approaching 1GW.
Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger is to outsource the manufacturing of its ‘SmartWire’ connection equipment to PV module assembly and automation specialist, Mondragon Assembly.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Singulus Technologies has booked over €40 million (US$48.5 million) in new CIGS (Copper-Indium-Gallium-Diselenide) thin-film manufacturing equipment orders in 2018.
Polysilicon producer Wacker Chemie plans to restart production at its Charleston US facility in the second quarter of 2018, after an explosion on September 7, 2017.
