‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Solar, a subsidiary of LONGI Green Energy Technology, the largest monocrystalline wafer producer in the world has reported that TUV-SUD has verified its P-type monocrystalline PERC module to have a conversion efficiency of 20.41%, a new industry record.
In President Trump's statement imposing a 30% import duty on all foreign made crystalline silicon solar cells and modules reference was made to renewed efforts that would be made to resolve the trade war with China over polysilicon duties on US producers, effectively locking them out of the market.
Module costs for US firms in 2018 will still be lower than 2017 prices, despite the impending 30% import tariffs, according to the CEO of Chinese manufacturer turned project developer ReneSola.
Fortum, Futurice and Boond start the first Solar2Go pilot project in India, China donates thousands of solar systems to Nepal, BBOXX launches cloud-based task management platform
According to China’s National Energy Administration (NEA), solar PV installations reached 52.83GW in 2017, up from 34.54GW in 2016, and accounting for around 50% of expected global solar demand last year.
Major China-based PV module manufacturer Risen Energy, which entered PV Tech’s Top 10 module manufacturer’s rankings for the first time in 2017, has reported that its operating income exceeded RMB 10 billion (US$1.56 billion) in 2017, a new record for the company.
Leading PV module encapsulation and backsheet material supplier Hangzhou First Applied Materials Co, formerly First Photovoltaics (PV) was heading for a major collapse in its business profitability in 2017 but relocation compensation from a state land acquisition is expected to provide support to its profitability.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) is forecasting global PV demand in 2018 to be at 107GW, up from its estimate of 98GW in 2017. However, BNEF has given the largest single market China a wide installation range after its massive underestimation last year.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) has reported that Global solar investments topped US$160.8 billion in 2017, an 18% increase over the previous year and importantly, despite capital costs declining around 25%.