Driven by steep cost declines in PV equipment, solar is now almost on a par with wind energy and will soon become the cheapest form of energy in developing nations, according to the Climatescope 2016 report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).
Laser micromachining equipment supplier 3D-Micromac has secured an order from REC Group to supply three ‘microCELL’ OTF laser systems for PERC (Passivate Emitter Rear Contact) solar cells from integrated PV module manufacturer REC Group.
Taiwan-based solar cell and wafer producers had been impacted by a major slowdown in PV project development in China in the third quarter of 2016. However, signs of a recovery emerged at the beginning of the fourth quarter and escalated further in November.
Integrated PV module manufacturer Zhongli Talesun Solar, part of Zhongli Science and Technology said it was supplying 96MW modules from its production plant in Thailand to ColGreen North Shore for a single PV power plant in California, US.
Taiwan-based merchant cell and module producer Neo Solar Power (NSP) reported an unexpected slump in November sales after several months of recovery, which was said to be due to deferred customer orders.
High-efficiency PV module producer and project developer SunPower has announced further restructuring plans that include the closure of its 700MW, IBC solar cell plant in the Philippines and a 25% reduction in its global workforce.
Two companies are constructing a 1MW solar PV plant in Thailand using various combinations of technologies in order to set up a learning centre and advisory board to help solar developers across the Southeast Asia region.
An open fund for solar energy and energy storage in various emerging markets has been launched by Franck Constant, the co-founder of Sonnedix Group and director of Sithe Pacific, PV Tech can reveal.
Political changes over the last four years and the recent death of King Bhumibol has brought some inertia to the Thailand market, but industry members expect the market will return to strong growth in the second half of 2017.
Indonesia’s multiple isolated grids represent opportunities for intrepid solar developers, according to Andre Susanto, Clean Energy Consultant at Bluejay Energy.
