INDEOtec’s Octopus II PECVD system has proven capabilities in the formation of heterojunction solar cells that enables top and bottom side thin film substrate deposition without the need of substrate flipping and vacuum breakage. The proprietary reactor design and a unique electrode arrangement allow low plasma ignition levels and low ion bombardments, which result in superior film thickness uniformity and excellent passivation levels.
Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier, Meyer Burger has secured a CHF 22 million (US$22.5 million) order from Russia-based integrated solar module manufacturer to convert to heterojunction (HJ) and bifacial cell production and ‘SmartWire’ module assembly.
Monocrystalline cell and module manufacturer LERRI Photovoltaic Technology (LERRI Solar), a subsidiary of major monocrystalline wafer producer Longi Silicon Materials has signed a strategic technology partnership with materials giant, 3M.
DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions developed and launched a new advanced ‘DuPont’ ‘Solamet’ PV19B photovoltaic metallization front side paste that has a highly conductive silver composition and part of the PV19x family of pastes, with innovative material science which enables finer line design and excellent printability.
Post SNEC 2016 exhibition reports are starting to raise concerns over a looming collapse in downstream solar PV demand in China in the second half of the year that could lead to wider implications of both solar cell and module overcapacity and subsequent ASP declines hitting the global solar industry.
PV Tech’s preliminary analysis of global PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in April, 2016, revealed nearly 9GW of planned future expansions of thin-film modules, solar cells and module assembly production, up from over 7.3GW in the previous month and the third consecutive monthly increase.
Kyoshin Electric Co (KOPEL) has introduced a high-speed, highly accurate, and highly reproducible solar cell IV measurement system. The KSX-3000H can be used for a wide variety of high-efficiency solar cell architectures including PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) and heterojunction (HJ).
Formerly the largest solar equipment supplier Applied Materials booked an impressive US$108 million in new orders in its fiscal second quarter from its EES (Energy and Environmental Solutions) division that has housed its solar PV equipment business.
Optical inspection equipment firm ISRA VISION / GP Solar has reported strong fiscal first-half year sales and a strong order backlog that includes solar PV system sales.
Silicon module super league member (SMSL) JA Solar is to provide 420MW of modules for China’s National Energy Administration’s (NEA) “Front Runner” programme which aims to promote the development of advanced solar PV technology by domestic suppliers.
