Materials

Taiwan-based solar cell and wafer producers had been impacted by a major slowdown in PV project development in China in the third quarter of 2016. However, signs of a recovery emerged at the beginning of the fourth quarter and escalated further in November.

Heraeus Photovoltaics president, Andreas Liebheit has been appointed as the vice chairman of the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), which was founded in Singapore in 2011.

Research at the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP), based at The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has reported a 12.1% efficiency rating for a 16 cm2 perovskite solar cell, partially funded by Suntech and Trina Solar and AUD$3.6 million in funding through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA).

UK-based perovskite specialist Oxford PV has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with a global manufacturer of solar cells and modules.

Finland-based energy firm Fortum has invested €5.2 million in Exeger Sweden AB, dye-sensitized solar cell start-up to help support the launch of commercial products in 2017.

PV module encapsulant producer Shanghai HIUV New Materials Co (HIUV) said it had completed the expansion of capacity to 130 million m2 or 10GW.

Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger Technology has made some major made changes to its senior management and plans for new Board directors, led by the stepping down of CEO for 14 years, Peter Pauli.

Specialist polysilicon market research firm, Bernreuter Research has warned of continued overcapacity that will force pricing down below many producers' cash cost levels and threatens the existence of high-cost producers in 2018.

PV Tech can reveal the preliminary Top 5 solar module manufacturers in 2016, based as usual on final shipment guidance from third quarter financial results.

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Hanwha Q CELLS said that previously upwardly revised shipment guidance would be retained for the full-year after reporting a 10.9% increase in revenue for the third quarter of 2016.