Bankrupt renewables firm SunEdison has finally got the green light to proceed with the US$150 million sale of its FBR (Fluidised Bed Reactor) technology polysilicon assets to GCL-Poly Energy Holding after a deal was struck with company spinoff SunEdison Semiconductor.
The recent announcements from Silicon Module Super League (SMSL) manufacturer LONGi Silicon Materials, to acquire the Malaysia wafering operations of Comtec Solar Systems Group and to align with Trina Solar and Tongwei for a new 5GW factory in China, represent yet more substance to LONGi’s active push to shift the industry to mono c-Si cell and module supply.
European sustainable energy innovation company InnoEnergy has invested €2 million in solar wafer epitaxial growth technology by NexWafe that increases the efficiency of solar cell manufacturing.
Monocrystalline wafer producer Comtec Solar Systems Group said it planned to sell its Malaysian facility and some of the installed production equipment to leading integrated monocrystalline ingot to module producer, Longi Silicon Materials.
Three major Chinese PV manufacturers, Longi Silicon Materials, Trina Solar and Tongwei, via its polysilicon subsidiary, Sichuan Yongxiang, are to form a Joint Venture (JV) to own and operate a previously planned 5GW monocrystalline silicon ingot pulling production plant in Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, China, by Longi.
Mexico's SENER forecasts massive solar growth, with a 20-fold increase totalling 5.4GW by the end of 2019. In Spain, the long-anticipated renewable energy auction is given a confirmation for the first quarter of this year. Over in Chile, solar energy is being used to power the Santiago metro, through SunPower's El Pelícano project.
The wholly-owned subsidiary of ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Canadian Solar, CSI New Energy, has completed the sale of two Chinese solar plants to state-owned Shenzhen Energy for US$32.2 million.
China-based PV manufacturer GCL System Integration Technology (GCLS) has teamed with Vietnam-based OEM producer, Vina Solar Technology to establish a 600MW solar cell plant at Vina’s Bac Giang facilities.
Hawaiian Electric Companies (HECO) are planning to hit the Islands' goal for 100% renewables by 2045 five years ahead of schedule under a new Power Supply Improvement Plan (PSIP).
