Researchers at the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have announced the development of a significantly low-cost technique to texture nanoscale features on multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) wafers after diamond-wire wafer cutting.
Enhancing quality control in PV cell production was a key topic at PV CellTech 2018. After the conference, we caught up with Gordon Deans, founder and chief operating officer of inline solar cell measurement equipment specialist Aurora Solar Technologies to discuss some of the requirements when moving towards smart factories.
As previously reported there was a significant slowdown in global solar PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in the third quarter of 2017, which we highlighted was hardly surprising due to significant level of expansions plans announced in the first half of the year. However, despite increased concerns over the potential imposition of restrictive trade practices in the US and India in the fourth quarter of 2017, there was a significant rebound over the previous quarter, leading to the highest recorded gigawatts of new expansion announcements.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Canadian Solar has lowered nameplate capacity expansion plans in 2018 for both in-house solar cell production and module assembly as total module shipment guidance for 2018, indicates marginal growth.
Enel’s PV module manufacturing subsidiary, 3SUN has outlined its ‘2.0 innovation project,’ which includes the installation of a new assembly line to enable the manufacture of bifacial panels.
Leading polysilicon and solar wafer producer GCL-Poly Energy Holdings has reported a significant increase in nameplate wafer capacity in 2017, going from 18.5GW in 2016 to 30GW at the end of 2017, a 62.2% rise.
Advanced doping technologies for high efficiency n-type cell architectures was a key topic at PV CellTech 2018. After the conference, we caught up with Christian Buchner, Vice President of the Photovoltaics BU at leading PV equipment supplier SCHMID Group, to tap into some key takeaways.
Chinese firm CETC Renewable Energy Technology (India) is today carrying out a groundbreaking ceremony for its first phase 200MW solar cell manufacturing facility in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, in what the company has deemed a 'giant step forward'.
