The entire solar PV upstream value-chain, including equipment and materials suppliers, is set for drastic changes during 2017, ushered in by a perfect storm of events that has impacted on the industry within a space of 2-3 months, according to the latest release of the PV Manufacturing & Technology Quarterly report from the research team of PV-Tech’s parent owner Solar Media, Ltd.
PV manufacturer Astronergy Solarmodule GmbH, a subsidiary of China-based producer, Astronergy and part of Chint Group said it would start production of modules using the latest generation of PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact) cells with monocrystalline wafers to produce high-efficiency ‘all black’ modules in the 295 to 310 Watt peak (Wp) power classes.
Atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment specialist SoLayTec, a subsidiary of Amtech Systems has received a follow-on order for three solar cell ALD systems.
Canada-based PV module manufacturer Silfab Solar said it would be supplying US installer, Auric Solar with 15MW of its recently launched 300Wp all-black monocrystalline modules for residential and commercial projects in Utah and Idaho through US distributor, Russell Pacific.
Integrated PV module manufacturer REC Group said total module shipments in the second quarter of 2016 reached 326MW, bringing first half year shipments to 640MW and a 4% quarter-on-quarter increase.
Key Taiwan-based wafer producers Green Energy Technology (GET), Sino-American Silicon (SAS) and Danen Technology delivered mixed sales results for September, 2016, yet the underlining trend remained weak demand and ASP pressures.
Meco Equipment Engineers, a subsidiary of BE Semiconductor Industries provides its Cell Plating Line (CPL) for a wide variety of next-generation solar cell architectures migrating from silver to copper contacts, which drastically reduces the high metallization costs associated with Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) and heterojunction cells.
PV and polysilicon manufacturing equipment specialist centrotherm photovoltaics has withdrawn its earnings forecast for fiscal year 2016, due to PV manufacturers postponing capital expenditure (capex) plans on overcapacity and rapid price declines.
Crystal growth equipment supplier GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) said it had accepted the resignation of CEO, Dave Keck and appointed board member and former employee, Greg Knight as its new CEO.
