c-si manufacturing

Efficiency gains and productivity improvements are set to dominate the PV manufacturing landscape again in 2018, with strong investments continuing to flow into existing and new cell architectures, with gigawatt-level status now becoming the norm for the manufacturing segment, writes Finlay Colville.

Yingli Green Energy has been issued with a US$897.5 million charge by an unnamed polysilicon supplier, according to its latest quarterly results.

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued an expression of interest (EOI) for the setting up of 20GW of vertically-integrated solar PV manufacturing capacity in India over the next three years, in an unclear and poorly worded release.

When JinkoSolar released its third quarter results last week – and guided full year 2017 module shipment figures – the company remained on track to overachieve on final quarter shipments, thereby becoming the first ever PV supplier to ship more than 10 GW of modules in a calendar year. Finlay Colville explores how Jinko has managed to double its market share in the space of four years and where the company might be headed to next.

Canadian Solar has become the latest module manufacturer to pursue a de-listing from the New York Stock Exchange.

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Solar, a subsidiary of LONGI Green Energy Technology, the largest monocrystalline wafer producer in the world has reported a record bifaciality reading of 82.15% for its ‘Hi-MO2’ mono PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) bifacial module.

Leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar has increased its module shipment guidance, ensuring its global market leadership in 2017.

LG Electronics' flagship solar PV panel has a 365 Watt rating with improved temperature coefficient and extended product warranty designed with high aesthetics for residential applications. The LG ‘NeON R’ panel uses N-type monocrystalline cells (60-cell) with back contact electrodes.

Taiwan-based multicrystalline wafer producer Green Energy Technology (GET) reported November 2017 sales that continued the moderate upward trend seen since mid-year as demand remained strong.

Laser micromachining specialist 3D-Micromac said it was supplying Hanwha Q CELLS solar cell plant in Qidong, Jiangsu-province, China with its microCELL OTF laser system for its recently announced transition from Al-BSF (Aluminium Back Surface Field) to PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) technology.