Leading thin-film manufacturer First Solar said at its 2017 Analyst Day event that it was already building its second CdTe module plant in Vietnam to support the transition to its Series 6 large format panel.
Taiwan-based multicrystalline wafer producer Green Energy Technology (GET) reported November 2017 sales that continued the moderate upward trend seen since mid-year as demand remained strong.
Solar microinverter supplier Enphase Energy has opened its first R&D centre in Bangalore, India, in order to support its expansion into India’s rapidly growing PV market.
India has announced plans for an unprecedented solar procurement regime that aims to tender 20GW in 2017/18, followed by another 30GW in each of the two following years, but analysts have described the policy as "completely unrealistic".
An investigation by China’s Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China (MOFCOM) on polysilicon dumping by South Korean producers has resulted in only small tariff increases for the largest importers.
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.
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.
Dedicated mono and multicrystalline wafer producer Rietech Solar, a subsidiary of diversified renewable energy firm Shunfeng International Clean Energy (SFCE) has selected Heraeus Photovoltaics new multicrystalline crucible barrier coating technology.
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.
Outsourcing in the various stages running up to module assembly versus having one’s entire supply chain in house was a major theme at PV ModuleTech 2017. PV Tech caught up with Nick Strevel, director, global technical sales, at vertically-integrated thin-film PV manufacturer First Solar, to discuss the benefits of having all in house production and the drivers for high expenditure in R&D.
