Leading thin-film producer First Solar is planning a major revamp of its next-generation CdTe modules by introducing a new suite of production lines capable of producing large-area (1.2m x 1.8m) ‘Series 6’ modules with 400W output and significantly lower production costs currently achievable with its smaller form factor modules.
SolarCity’s request that its Silevo modules be excluded from the scope of the US trade case against Chinese products has been rejected in a preliminary ruling made on Monday.
This article reveals the most important PV manufacturers and suppliers to the solar industry in 2016. The new analysis and methodology explains exactly which companies are currently controlling, shaping and influencing all metrics related to upstream manufacturing trends and final end-market module shipments.
Atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment specialist SoLayTec, a subsidiary of Amtech Systems has received a number of new tool orders from a range of customers planning p-type PERC, n-type IBC and bi-facial solar cell production in 2016.
By any ‘normal’ metrics, PV thin-film equipment and module producer Hanergy Thin Film Power Group (Hanergy TF) remains in a dire financial position after reporting a non-cash loss of around US$1.58 billion in 2015 and its biggest customer and parent company, Hanergy Holdings and its affiliates failed to make due payments of around US$680 million.
Monocrystalline wafer producer Comtec Solar Systems Group said it expected to report a loss of over RMB400 million (US$62 million) for 2015, due to a series of write-downs, advance polysilicon payments and declining wafer ASPs.
Integrated PV module manufacturer REC Solar has said that it would migrate all production at its manufacturing facility in Tuas, Singapore to its half-cut PERC cell technology, used for its ‘TwinPeak’ series modules.
PV and electronics equipment manufacturing and automation specialist Manz AG has decided to keep its turnkey CIGS thin-film technology after almost a year of undertaking a strategic review, due to lack of orders.
Equipment manufacturer Foxconn has acquired a 66% stake in Sharp at a reduced price, with the two parties set to hold a press conference this Saturday, 2 April.
Shanghai HIUV New Materials Co has introduced a newly developed ‘pre-crosslinking’ EVA. The G401W EVA, part of a new G Series range is designed specifically for double glass PV modules with the aim of eliminating a series of issues encountered with conventional EVA materials in the lamination process.
