The Heraeus Photovoltaics business unit, part of German technology firm Heraeus, has upgraded its PV laboratory in Shanghai, China, in order to increase its local support to Chinese cell manufacturers.
Having lost its line of credit from its banks, Germany-based PV supplier Sunways, majority-owned by struggling Chinese manufacturer LDK Solar, has been forced into insolvency proceedings.
Leading PV energy provider (PVEP), First Solar reported first quarter revenue of US$755 million in the quarter, a decrease of US$320 million from the fourth quarter of 2012 but exceeded slightly the top range of guidance.
Citing improved margins against very tight capital expenditure control, PV module manufacturers are increasingly outsourcing part of their production needs, benefiting the likes of Flextronics, Jabil Circuits and JA Solar, according to a new report from IHS.
Yingli Solar has been crowned as the top module producer for the first time as well as the top cell manufacturer in 2012, according to rankings compiled by GTM Research.
US-based three-dimensional solar cell start-up Solar3D is in discussions with the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering to facilitate the fabrication of its new cell technology.
Manufacturer Kyocera Solar is planning to lay off staff at its manufacturing plant in San Diego, California, because of weak demand for US-made solar modules.
JA Solar has started production of its metal wrap-through (MWT) solar cells in China as a precursor to plans to be announced about its next-generation solar cell technology.
