A growing regulatory burden on PV mounting manufacturers in the US has prompted some of the leading players to set up a new trade body to represent their interests. Ben Willis reports on how the new body’s members hope to turn back the rising tide of red tape.
Solar PV manufacturing in 2016 has seen the highest capex (capital expenditure) levels for years, and a return to capacity expansion plans. Furthermore, many of the companies announcing the capacity expansions are doing so for the first time, especially at the cell and module stage.
Polysilicon producer REC Silicon’s strategy to win customers outside China via discounted pricing on its FBR granular polysilicon is set to continue after Chinese anti-dumping duties are dropped and when its joint venture FBR (B) facility in China starts production in the second-half of 2017.
India has sanctioned plans to implement 10 ‘Solar Zones’ each consisting of at least 10,000 hectares of land to encourage solar PV project developers, manufacturers and investors to help achieve the country’s massive 100GW by 2022 solar targets.
Canadian Solar has introduced a new suite of 1500V system voltage monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar modules in 60-cell and 72-cell configurations as well as a T4 field-installable PV connector portfolio for commercial and utility-scale PV power plants. The products were launched at Intersolar North America 2016.
Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger has received a follow-on order from an existing customer based in China for its MAiA 2.1 PERC technology upgrade platform.
After the 630 installation rush, enterprises, industry experts and investors began to think about the next trend for Chinese PV industry. It is predicted by senior staff from an investment company, that 2017’s plant development would be tripartite by the top runners (leading group) projects, distributed systems and poverty alleviating PV programmes.
Indian solar PV manufacturing is beginning to make headway after a significant module capacity increase in the last year. PV Tech caught up with Ivan Saha, president and chief technical officer of India-based manufacturer Vikram Solar for an industry update.
Struggling Hanergy Thin Film Power Group has appointed Lin Qi, currently the executive vice-president and chief operation officer of parent company, Hanergy Holding Group as an executive director.
