PV Tech’s preliminary analysis of global PV manufacturing capacity expansion plans in the third quarter of 2016, highlight an absence of China based solar cell and module manufacturers making new announcements for either domestic or overseas production.
Dow Chemical’s polyolefin elastomer (POE) technology used for critical PV module encapsulation applications under its ‘ENGAGE’ POE brand are designed to provide improved electrical performance and moisture resistance.
Integrated PV module manufacturer REC Group has said it has trimmed its global workforce by 3%, or around 65 jobs out of approximately 2,200 employees.
US-based high-efficiency integrated PV manufacturer Mission Solar Energy is reportedly to close its N-type mono solar cell line with the loss of 87 jobs and focus on module assembly to remain competitive.
Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger Technology announced a major restructuring plan to become more flexible to market dynamics by lowering its operating cost base by CHF 50 million per annum and reducing its workforce by around 16% by the end of 2016.
US-based solar module technology firm Solaria Corporation has filed suit against GCL Solar Energy, Inc., a subsidiary of GCL-Poly Energy Holdings due to claims of IP theft and breaches of Non-Disclosure Agreements that resulted in the GCL producing PV modules using its proprietary technology that is protected by over 100 patents.
Wuxi Suntech, the PV module manufacturing arm of renewable energy group, Shunfeng International Clean Energy (SFCE) has secured insurance from Munich Re to support its 25-year module warranty scheme.
SCHMID Group is offering its ‘Inline System’ for alkaline texturing that provides a lower cost option for PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact) cell architectures that reduces the consumption of chemicals.
Cogenra Solar, a subsidiary of US-based high-efficiency module manufacturer SunPower, has filed a lawsuit against SolarCity over claims of IP (Intellectual Property) theft and infringement over its direct solar cell to cell contact technology that is often described as an overlapping shingle-like pattern.
