The project arm of Chinese manufacturer, JinkoSolar, has secured a credit line worth CNY10 billion (US$1.5 billion) with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s Jiangxi Provincial branch.
OEM giant Flextronic’s acquisition of tracking manufacturer NEXTracker could help it take advantage of an expected boom in utility-scale solar installations in the US ahead of the drop in the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) at the end of 2016, according to a leading industry analyst.
The worldwide market for module-level power electronics (MLPEs), including PV microinverters and power optimisers, is expected to reach US$1 billion by 2019, according to IHS.
Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), the government body aiming to mobilise capital investment in the country’s renewable energy sector, has introduced an AU$250 million (US$175 million) financing programme for the development of large-scale solar.
The growing size and geographic dispersal of PV power plants worldwide presents numerous supply chain challenges. Ulrike Therhaag runs through some of the essential steps in effectively managing the procurement process.
As other entrants in the solar industry scramble to build greater efficiencies into their supply chain, the leading companies focus on manufacturing strengths such as zero-defect quality along the entire supply chain. When it comes to supply chain excellence, the solar industry as a whole is playing catch-up. However, there are players who have already made substantial progress here, having already adopted ‘lean’ practices to eliminate inefficiencies at source. REC, the largest European brand of solar panels and a world leader in the industry, is maintaining its strong position. The company’s practices and principles are explained in detail in this paper.
During a scheduled visit to a SolarCity factory under construction in South Buffalo, New York, US Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) announced his campaign to push for new legislation focused around extending the current federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) in order to support jobs and development in the PV market.
How silicon feedstock is packed into casting crucibles can have a big impact on the size and cost-efficiency of the resultant solar ingots. Til Bartel looks at some of the latest thinking around this essential stage in the PV manufacturing supply chain.
A 3GW module shipment “milestone” announced today by Japan-headquartered thin-film firm Solar Frontier is confirmation that CIGS technology “can work” despite facing challenges during its history, according to solar market analyst Finlay Colville.
