Manufacturing

Inline solar cell measurement equipment specialist Aurora Solar Technologies (AST) said it was developing its technology to support heterojunction (HJ) solar cell development and Industry 4.0 initiatives in China for next-generation advanced solar manufacturing plants.

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Hanwha Q CELLS has launched its most advanced module series to the European market.

Leading fully-integrated high-efficiency monocrystalline module manufacturer and ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Green Energy Technology has set a strategic plan to triple monocrystalline ingot and wafer capacity to 45GW in 2020.

Plans for a colossal 480MW solar project in Japan have received a boost with the original three developers announcing another five participants.

President Trump has signed the proclamation for the solar Section 201 tariffs, which also includes some further details on the measures.

The Trump administration's 30% tariff on imports of solar cells and modules will result in modules cost increases of 9-10¢/W in year one, reducing to 3-4¢/W in year four, according to separate analyses by GTM Research and Deutsche Bank.

Module costs for US firms in 2018 will still be lower than 2017 prices, despite the impending 30% import tariffs, according to the CEO of Chinese manufacturer turned project developer ReneSola.

The solar industry, trade bodies, companies and countries react to president Trump's 30% tariff on solar imports to the US.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has claimed that the 30% tariffs on solar cells and modules will cost the US 23,000 jobs.

According to China’s National Energy Administration (NEA), solar PV installations reached 52.83GW in 2017, up from 34.54GW in 2016, and accounting for around 50% of expected global solar demand last year.