Integrated China-based monocrystalline PV producer, Solargiga Energy Holdings has reported certain unaudited operating figures for the third quarter of 2016, indicating a significant revenue and shipment decline, compared to the previous quarter.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar has set a new world record of 19.86% aperture efficiency for a P-type multicrystalline solar cell-based module, independently verified by the Fraunhofer ISE CalLab in Germany.
Former China-based integrated PV manufacturer LDK Solar, which entered liquidation proceedings in the Cayman Islands and bankruptcy in mainland China has resulted in major creditor losses and its wafer and cell production operations being acquired.
After a week in Taiwan, overlapping with the PV Taiwan exhibition and conference in Taipei last week, my main takeaway is the scale of new capacity that is confirmed to be coming online over the next 3-6 months, no matter what is happening today regarding supply levels and end-market demand. This and other conclusions from my week in Taiwan are covered in two blogs this week on PV-Tech.
In an unexpected development of the planned merger of Tesla and SolarCity, the electric car manufacturer has said that it had tentatively agreed with Japanese electronics firm, Panasonic to begin solar cell and module production at SolarCity’s Riverbend production plant in Buffalo, New York state in 2017.
MBJ Solutions has introduced a new integrated ‘backend’ module testing system to provide greater production line operability for PV manufacturers. The MBJ backend solution combines the most important inspection tasks in one compact system: an A+A+A LED sun simulator, a hipot and grounding test and our proven EL inspection technology. All the inspection steps are performed sunny side down, which makes the integration into a production much easier than before.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Singulus Technologies said it had issued new shares valued at around €8 million to provide liquidity for supplying CIGS thin-film production equipment orders and the development of heterojunction (HJ) solar cell processing tools after securing an (MOU) with Golden Concord Holdings, majority share holder in GCL-Poly and GCL System.
On the day I left Taiwan after a busy week meeting with PV suppliers up and down the supply chain in May, 2016 that was organised by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) the country elected its first female president, Tsai Ing-wen.
LG Electronics USA has started shipments of its flagship ‘NeON 2’ 72-cell solar panels in the US commercial and utility-scale markets. LG's N-type double-sided cell structure provides more energy with a 6.41- by 3.28-foot, footprint that comes in 365 to 375 watt ratings.
