The FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) over the solar industry entering it second major overcapacity cycle is being replaced by a focus on how much overcapacity verses end market demand exists, especially in 2017 and therefore how low will PV module ASP’s go?
According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) US residential solar installations are expected to increase by 21% in 2016, yet growth in 2017 is expected to be a tepid 0.3%.
The University of Delaware’s Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC) has been awarded US$2.1 million from the SunShot Initiative for two research projects aiming to improve the performance of interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cells while reducing their production costs and new techniques for CIGS deposition.
The 33rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) has turned away from co-locating with Intersolar Europe in June, 2016 and has returned to a September 2017 slot and be held in Amsterdam.
The US Energy Department is planning to provide solar technology funding to the tune of US$107 million via the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE) SunShot Initiative.
The annual US-based Solar Power International (SPI) exhibition and conference historically generates a significant number of new product launches and can set new trends and directions for the downstream solar PV sector, globally. High-efficiency modules and high-voltage were the themes of new products announced at SPI on the second day.
TCAD and EDA software provider Silvaco Japan Co is providing the Segawa Laboratory at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo with its device simulator, Atlas for analyzing hysteresis phenomena in perovskite solar cells.
A major €110 million (US$123 million) tool order for Singulus Technologies CIGS thin-film production equipment with China National Building Materials (CNBM), owner of module manufacturer AVANCIS, could finally proceed, as the equipment supplier expects an unspecified ‘pre-payment’ was due in the next few day(s).
Hybrid amorphous Si thin-film module producer Sunpreme said had completed deployment of 12.8MW utility-scale project in the Eastern region of the US, using its bifacial double glass GxB370W panels, with 21.5% cell efficiency.
PV project developer and EPC Inovateus Solar has added MiaSolé's ultra-lightweight flexible CIGS solar panel products to its range of technologies to its sales channel partnership.
