Thin-Film

First Solar has announced that it will produce a limited production run of bifacial thin film PV modules, which it says are the first of their kind. The company ultimately plans to roll the product out commercially, following field and laboratory testing.

Enel Green Power’s Sicilian subsidiary 3Sun has developed a 9cm squared silicon-perovskite tandem PV cell in partnership with the French national institute of solar energy (INES) and the CEA, a French government-funded research institution.

Fraunhofer ISE has set up a testing apparatus for perovskite solar PV cells and modules, aiming to establish a reliable efficiency standard for the technology.

Italian PV manufacturer FuturaSun has acquired a research and development startup, Solertix, which focuses on perovskite cell technology research.

Perovskite solar cell researchers Oxford PV have claimed a new world record for commercial solar cell efficiency, recording a 28.6% efficiency on a 258.15 cm2 perovskite tandem cell independently certified by Fraunhofer ISE.

First Solar has filed a legal complaint against fellow US PV manufacturer Toledo Solar for modifying, marketing and reselling old First Solar panels as its own product, claiming to be made in the US.

Korean-owned PV manufacturer Qcells has plans to invest US$100 million into a perovskite-tandem cell production line at its factory in Jincheon, South Korea.

Thin-film module manufacturer First Solar has acquired thin-film company Evolar to grow its PV capabilities.

Thin-film module manufacturer First Solar has reached a module backlog of 71.6GW and sold all its allocated US capacity through 2026.

Ascent Solar can use the new European presence to provide in-region support for EU driven net zero initiatives after the acquisition.