Module technologies tipped to enter the mainstream and the suitability of current testing methods were scrutinised at PV ModuleTech 2017. PV Tech caught up with Mark Ma, global marketing manager, DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions, to discuss these new innovations and methods of sequential testing.
Solaria Corporation’s ‘PowerVision’ series of customized architectural solar (BIPV), power generating glass solutions for building facades that can enable net zero energy or meet ‘WELL’ building standards and are eligible for ‘LEED’ points in energy efficiency saving buildings and structures. PowerVision glass can be widely used in nearly every aspect of a building envelope beyond the rooftop to generate electricity.
India has announced plans for an unprecedented solar procurement regime that aims to tender 20GW in 2017/18, followed by another 30GW in each of the two following years, but analysts have described the policy as "completely unrealistic".
The conflict of agricultural land use for solar power plants could be a thing of the past after a science driven agrophotovoltaics (APV) pilot project near Lake Constance in Germany, led by Fraunhofer ISE has proved the viability of dual land use.
UPDATED: An oral hearing on India’s anti-dumping investigation into imports of solar cells and modules from China, Taiwan and Malaysia has been postponed to 12 December.
Hanwha Q CELLS introduced a benchmark high-efficiency Q.PEAK DUO module series that combines half-cut cell technology, six-bus-bars and the company’s proprietary Q.ANTUM (PERC) monocrystalline cell technology with efficiencies of close to 20% and power outputs of up to 330Wp from 120 half-cut cells and up to 395Wp from 144 half-cut cells.
Major PV manufacturer Yingli Green Energy is building a 100MW ‘Top Runner’ project in Wuhai City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China using its ‘PANDA’ monocrystalline bifacial modules, the largest project to date deploying bifacial modules in the world.
If India’s anti-dumping duty petition results in the introduction of trade barriers without other policy level reforms, it will fail to achieve its original goal of supporting domestic manufacturers, having already created huge uncertainty in the whole sector, according to a report by consultancy firm Bridge to India.
US-based solar module technology firm Solaria Corporation, which filed suit against GCL Solar Energy, Inc., a subsidiary of GCL-Poly Energy Holdings as well as Seraphim Solar System Co. Ltd due to claims of IP theft and breaches of Non-Disclosure Agreements has settled the litigation with GCL-Poly.
The movement to 6-busbar module architectures and the emergence of multi-wire technology were key topics at PV ModuleTech 2017. PV Tech caught up with Franck Genonceau, business manager PV portfolio, at leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger, to look at what to expect in the next wave of mainstream module technologies.
