China-based PV module manufacturer Jiangsu Seraphim Solar System Co has been accredited with a TUV SUD, IEC CTF (Customer Testing Facilities Certificate), which reduces time to market of new materials and modules under development.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Amtech Systems is restructuring its solar cell manufacturing equipment business with job losses after China-based customers have pushed-out capacity expansion plans after government cuts were made to downstream solar installation targets as deployments far exceeded goals.
Ahead of PV ModuleTech conference, Finlay Colville takes an in-depth look at the type of module companies that will be internationally known over the next 12-18 months.
At Intersolar Europe 2018, PV Tech talked at length with Aiko Solar’s vice general manager Michael Ho, to gain an update on capacity expansions and strategy with its expanding range of PERC-based cells vis-a-vis the European market.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Hanwha Q CELLS said it would seek to de-list from NASDAQ, following two major SMSL members, Trina Solar and JA Solar to go private after years of experiencing lower valuations on the NYSE and NASDAQ stock markets, compared to smaller listed US rivals.
Heading into the PV ModuleTech 2018 event in Penang, Malaysia on 23-24 October 2018, PV-Tech is set to conduct a series of interviews with leading project developers and EPCs, to understand what downstream channels of the utility-scale PV segment are looking for, when choosing PV module suppliers and their respective module technology offerings.
China-based PV project developer GCL New Energy (GCL-NE), a subsidiary of leading clean energy conglomerate GCL Group announced that it had purchased PV modules from both Wuxi Suntech and Hanwha Q CELLS in order to meet Chinese FIT construction deadlines, instead of typically using sister company GCL System Integration’s (GCL-SI) PV modules.
LG Electronics has introduced a higher performance version of its ‘NeON 2’ 72-cell solar modules using its N-type monocrystalline double-sided ‘CELLO’ cell architecture with 390W-plus performance. The company recently provided US project developer Cypress Creek Renewables with 8.5MW of 395W ‘NeON 2’ modules for one of largest solar-plus-storage installations in the country.
Nanoelectronics R&D organisation imec has reported a record 4-terminal Perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaic cell with a conversion efficiency of 27.1%, while claiming further microcrystal engineering leads a path of efficiencies of over 30%.
As module suppliers adapt to the slowdown of Chinese module demand in 2018 and 2019, global EPCs and developers are likely to see new Asian-produced panels being offered for both rooftop and ground-mount installations.
