India recently proposed a new strategy of supporting its domestic solar manufacturers by allocating 7.5GW of local content tenders to Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs), but analysts have identified a number of limitations.
Key manufacturing and R&D assets of bankrupt German integrated PV module manufacturer SolarWorld AG have been acquired by its former founder and chairman, Dr. Ing. Eh Frank Asbeck.
Nanoelectronics research centre imec has taken a perovskite/silicon tandem mini-module-on-cell stack to a record 23.9% conversion efficiency, significantly exceeding its 20.2% efficiency figures reported in 2016.
Having just completed its first ‘Solar Roof’ tile system installations in the US, Tesla said in reporting second quarter 2017 financial results that production of the roofing tiles would not enter mass production at its Gigafactory 2 in Buffalo, New York until the end of 2017.
Despite running at full-capacity, US-headquartered high-efficiency PV module producer SunPower Corp has lowered its full-year revenue guidance as losses mount and margins compress across its utility, commercial and residential markets.
Specialist semiconductor and PV equipment supplier Intevac expects to start shipping its largest ever single tool order to a customer in China planning to ramp N-type mono IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact) solar cells and modules, including bifacial modules in the second half of 2017.
Leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar has raised its Potential Induced Degradation (PID) resistance test metrics for its standard 1,000V and its 1,500V solar modules, using an extended IEC62804 standard.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member GCL System Integrated Technology (GCL-SI) has officially started production at its joint venture (JV) solar cell plant with Vina Solar in Vietnam as well as an unmanned module assembly pilot project in China.
India is now considering imposing safeguard duties on the import of solar cells and modules from China and certain other countries, while it continues contemplating imposing anti-dumping measures.
Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger said that LONGi Solar Technology, the PV module manufacturing arm of leading monocrystalline wafer producer LONGi Green Energy Technology has become the first customer of its double-side PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) coating platform, ‘MAiA EVO’.
