Modules

After several months of lacklustre sales from many key PV manufacturers in Taiwan, indicating an expected boom in China’s downstream PV market had yet to gain momentum, March sales data indicates improving market demand, yet not at the levels seen in the prior year quarter.

Schneider Electric has completed a joint microgrid project with North Carolina’s Duke Energy and REC Solar at its Boston One Campus in Andover, Massachusetts.

Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power has commissioned a 120MW solar facility in Texas.

Dedicated PV quality assurance services firm STS-Certified said it had performed quality inspection services on solar modules totalling over 1.5GW in 2016, with the expectation of almost 3.0GW of inspections in 2017.

PV encapsulant films are crucial in the protection and long-term functionality of solar collection cells in PV modules. Dow's Andrew Yen discusses how choosing an alternative to EVA can lead to greater performance, improved yield and happier asset owners.

China-based PV manufacturer Yingli Green Energy and industrial technology partners, Dutch research centre ECN and equipment manufacturer Tempress, a subsidiary of Amtech Systems have fabricated their first IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact) n-type solar cells on 6-inch monocrystalline wafers at the manufacturer's pilot line in China.

Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Singulus Technologies expects to double sales in 2017 after its new order backlog in 2016 reached €109.9 million, a 310% increase over the previous year.

Leading fully-integrated high-efficiency monocrystalline module manufacturer LONGi Green Energy Technology recently reported record total shipments and revenue for 2016, making it the fastest growing PV manufacturer in the industry.

This week's Movers & Shakers features new CEOs and the inauguration of new international offices. Sunworks and the Australian CEFC both welcome new CEOs and Enel Green Power North America opens its new office in Massachusetts, with Array Technologies expanding Down Under.

Asia Clean Capital (ACC) has partnered with LONGI Solar Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of mono specialist LONGI Green Energy Technology, to co-develop 300MW of rooftop solar in China.