Modules

The Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed the world’s first full-sized Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) bifacial solar module using International Solar Energy Research Center (ISC) Konstanz, ‘ZEBRA’ solar cells.

News in Brief: Portland, Oregon pledges 100% renewable energy by 2050, India's BHEL implements a 2MW rooftop array with the Indian Railway and Unisource Energy completes a 5MW solar array in Arizona, dedicated to a long-term employee.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and various public entities have teamed up to move the city’s buildings’ electricity use to 100% renewable energy by 2025.

US-headquartered high-efficiency PV module producer SunPower has started construction on what is claimed to be the largest behind-the-meter solar power system in Texas upon completion.

Chinese automotive to renewable energy technology company BYD has officially opened its first solar module assembly plant in Brazil with a nameplate capacity of 200MW that will include glass/glass modules.

Alfartec has introduced its BlueSky-MT240 solar simulator to the market that is based on LED and Halogen technologies, making it ideal for production, research and certification centers, globally. Its long flash duration up to 500 millisecondes and short cycle time are suitable for all module technologies.

Bankrupt US solar module start-up Beamreach Solar’s pilot production line in Milpitas, California is being offered for sale by Silicon Valley Disposition (SVD).

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.