PV capital expenditure (capex) in 2018, covering investments into ingot, wafer, cell and module capacity, will grow by almost 25% compared to 2017, passing through the US$10 billion mark, returning to levels last seen back in 2010 and 2011 when investments in turn-key thin-film fabs were a key contributor.
Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger is to supply its SmartWire Connection Technology (SWCT) to integrated PV module manufacturer REC Group.
Major electronics firm Panasonic Corporation of North America is to offer an AC version of its heterojunction modules using the newly launched IQ 7X microinverter from Enphase Energy in the US.
Taiwan-based merchant PV manufacturer and downstream project developer Neo Solar Power Corporation (NSP) said its ‘Glory BiFi’ mono PERC bifacial modules had been selected for the Taipower’s ChangHua 100MW solar system project, potentially the largest plant to use bifacial modules to date.
With cell producers increasingly focusing on improved efficiencies and yields, line optimization upgrades are coming to the fore. PV Tech caught up with Steve Mcdonald, vice president, application engineering at inline solar cell measurement equipment specialist Aurora Solar Technologies, to discuss some of the industry trends.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JA Solar was the sole supplier of PV modules to a 35MW PV plant completed in December 2017, in the Negev Desert using its P-type mono PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) modules.
A research project to identify solar cell conversion losses and provide commercial solutions, which was initiated in December 2017 by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), has attracted ‘Silicon Module Super League (SMSL) leader JinkoSolar.
SunPower modules power three solar carports in Grenoble, Pars Lian completes 4MW solar project in Iran, Voltalia starts constructing 5MW project in France.
Singapore has joined the pile of countries going to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to demand a consultation with the US over its 30% solar import tariffs, according to a WTO filing from Friday 9 February.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Amtech Systems has continued to benefit from a major solar orders placed with the company in 2017 that are continuing conversion to revenue in its fiscal first quarter of 2018.
