Silicon manufacturer Dow Corning and start-up Crystal Solar have announced a business relationship to develop high-performance silicon-based materials for PV cells and modules.
The Carinthian Tech Research centre (CTR) has begun research designed to enable a non-destructive technique for crosslinking of the typical potting material agents used in PV module assembly.
The dire business conditions within the solar wafering sector have forced slurry recycling specialist, SiC Processing to warn of over a €100 million in equity losses, or more than half the equity in the company as it deals with insolvency proceedings.
Solar PV equipment spending was down US$3.6 billion in 2012 from US$12.9 billion in 2011, according to new research in the latest NPD Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly report.
A team led by Ames Laboratory in the US is to undertake research into solutions to the shortage of materials that are essential in the manufacturing of renewable energy equipment.
Slurry recycling specialist, SiC Processing which is currently in receivership, has warned unsecured creditors to expect low debt recovery due to a preliminary, unaudited assessment of its assets.
Major polysilicon producer Hemlock Semiconductor has cited unresolved trade disputes, notably with China, as a key factor behind the decision to lay off approximately 400 employees, while reducing polysilicon production and delaying the ramp of its new plant in Tennessee.
Silver inks and pastes used in the PV sector will decline from a value of US$4.9 billion in 2013 to around US$3.4 billion in 2020, according to report from market research firm NanoMarkets.
ASP declines in 2012, driven by industry overcapacity throughout the PV supply chain, forced over 350 companies in China, from equipment suppliers, polysilicon producers to module manufacturers, to stop operations entirely, according to market research firm ENF.
