The PV industry is on track for strong growth in 2020, despite 10 months of the year being shrouded in uncertainty and perennial pessimism. And while almost all in the sector have been lamenting supposed softness in demand this year, attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, it turns out that the limiting factor to production and shipment volumes this year simply comes down to the supply of raw materials, namely polysilicon.
Recently, PV-Tech featured an extended interview with Cherif Kedir, the President and CEO at the Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC), based in Fremont, California, regarding new trends in module reliability and performance testing.
The founder and chairman of ‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Jin Baofang has been detained by local government officials in Pingdu City, Shandong Province, China.
Major module manufacturers in China have called on the country’s government to intervene and ease solar-grade glass shortages they have said are “out of control”.
‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar reported an 18.66% increase in revenue for the first nine months of 2020 compared to the prior year period, setting the company on a path to exceed 2019 financial results in the fourth quarter after several years of annual revenue declines.
China-based PV backsheet and high-efficiency PV module manufacturer Jolywood (Suzhou) Sunwatt Co (Jolywood) has reported record third quarter 2020 revenue and profits, while exceeding 2019 full-year financial results in the first nine months of 2020 as it continues to execute on high-efficiency n-type TOPCon module shipments to utility-scale PV power plant projects.
FuturaSun has launched its ‘ZEBRA’ Series n-type monocrystalline IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact) solar panel series to the residential PV and C&I markets across Europe. The new Zebra series offers a superior esthetics, enhanced electrical performance and a solid reliability and durability, a hallmark of IBC technology.
‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JA Solar has started the volume production ramp at its 10GW Yiwu Information Optoelectronic High-tech Industrial Park manufacturing hub that was officially announced at the start of 2020.
‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar has received IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 certification for its 600W+ high-power, large-area ‘Vertex’ series PV modules from TÜV Rheinland, making it the first p-type mono-PERC module with power ratings above 600Wp to gain standard IEC certification.
Italian headquartered FuturaSun has officially opened its second PV module assembly plant with a capacity of 500MW in collaboration with manufacturing partner, State Power Investment Corporation Limited (SPIC) in Taizhou, China.