According to the ongoing analysis of global PV manufacturing capacity expansions by PV Tech, high-efficiency solar cell migrations, whether monocrystalline or multicrystalline with PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact) and N-type mono heterojunction (HJ) have been gaining strong momentum since 2015.
China-based integrated monocrystalline PV producer, Solargiga Energy Holdings has reported unaudited shipments and revenue for 2016, which highlights only a small year-on-year revenue gain, despite product shipments increasing 34% as ASP declines worsened in the fourth quarter of the year.
The lack of information in a joint press release from Tesla and Panasonic, confirming a solar cell manufacturing partnership at the SolarCity/Silevo 1GW Buffalo fab in New York State was not a surprise, especially considering it merely rubber stamped an MOU previously announced that was only subject to the successful acquisition by Tesla of SolarCity.
Aurora Solar Technologies has introduced an enhanced version of its ‘Decima’ inline measurement system for quality control of bi-facial solar cells during production. ‘Decima Gemini’ consists of a specialized pair of Decima CD measurement heads that enables the sheet resistance of the wafers' back-surface field and emitter to be measured accurately and simultaneously.
PV manufacturing equipment specialist INDEOtec SA has been awarded a grant from the SWISS Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) to further develop its OCTOPUS deposition platform for heterojunction solar cells in partnership with Swiss research partner, CSEM.
Monocrystalline wafer producer Comtec Solar Systems Group has said in financial filings that it would report a substantial net loss for the year, due to expected write-down of the assets related to its manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and China.
Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger Technology is to supply its DW 288 Series 3 diamond wire cutting saws to an existing European customer.
China-based PV module manufacturer Wuxi Suntech, a subsidiary of diversified renewables firm, Shunfeng International Clean Energy (SFCE) has said it has achieved multicrystalline Passivated Emitter Rear Contact (PERC) cell efficiencies of 20% in production.
Key Taiwan-based PV manufacturers have reported December, 2016 sales and indicated fourth quarter and full-year sales figures, which were primarily impacted by a slump in demand in the second half of the year.
As part of PV Tech’s ongoing analysis of global PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements, an important aspect remains the ever evolving geographical footprint of the upstream market of dedicated solar cell, module assembly, thin film and c-Si integrated facilities.
