Thin-Film

With the aim of achieving 20% conversion efficiencies but with lower material costs, Solliance and imec have demonstrated a CZTSe (Cu2ZnSnSe4)-based thin-film solar cell (1x1cm2, AM1.5G) with 9.7% efficiency.

Having received an unspecified capital injection, CIGS thin-film start-up Solarion has successfully exited insolvency proceedings.

First Solar is to offer 8.5 million shares at US$46.00 per share potentially bringing in US$391 million of new capital to build PV power plants.

Multi-junction solar cells with conversion efficiencies of almost 50% could become cost effective as a result of a collaboration between equipment supplier EV Group and Fraunhofer ISE.

Employing its liquid-based dye solar cell (DSC) substrate, Dyesol claimed it had surpassed the standard IEC 61646 design qualification for PV modules, without disclosing the approved testing house.

Chinese thin-film manufacturer Hanergy has acquired Engensa, a UK-based home energy systems provider, for an undisclosed purchase price.

German chemical company Merck will lead a consortium to develop high-efficiency cobalt-based dye-sensitised solar cells.

First quarter 2013 new order intake at manufacturing equipment specialist Singulus Technologies may have been at a low level but sales in the quarter increased to €22.8 million.

Leading PV energy provider (PVEP), First Solar reported first quarter revenue of US$755 million in the quarter, a decrease of US$320 million from the fourth quarter of 2012 but exceeded slightly the top range of guidance.

Yingli Solar has been crowned as the top module producer for the first time as well as the top cell manufacturer in 2012, according to rankings compiled by GTM Research.