The conflict of agricultural land use for solar power plants could be a thing of the past after a science driven agrophotovoltaics (APV) pilot project near Lake Constance in Germany, led by Fraunhofer ISE has proved the viability of dual land use.
Major PV inverter manufacturer SMA Solar Technology has secured supply deals for more than 20 different utility-scale PV projects in Australia in 2017, totalling around 1.2GW and included for several large-scale PV projects funded by the Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
Trade associations the Australian Solar Council and counterpart the Energy Storage Council have merged together to form the national Smart Energy Council.
Inline solar cell measurement equipment specialist Aurora Solar Technologies (AST) has reported its first period of profitability as demand for process control tools for PERC and bifacial cells grows.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Amtech Systems continues to benefit from major solar order conversion to revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter of 2017.
GCL New Energy Holdings (GNE), the downstream independent PV power producer arm of leading polysilicon and solar wafer producer GCL-Poly Energy Holdings, has secured a HK$8,000 million (US$1.02 billion) in new finance.
Major Korean-based polysilicon producer OCI Chemical is expanding its production of high-purity polysilicon to meet greater demand for P-type monocrystalline wafers used with PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) technology.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Canadian Solar has secured US$66.0 million in project financing in its second green project bond placement with Goldman Sachs Japan.
France-based floating PV specialist Ciel & Terre is expecting to launch a floating solar equipment manufacturing facility in Thailand next March and is in the final stages of approving a Vietnam facility.
