No sooner than all of the huge exhibition stands at SNEC 2018 were dismantled last Thursday, China’s regulatory organisations overseeing the solar industry, instigated new policies Friday that could have a similar effect on the utility-scale and distributed generation (DG) markets in the country.
Major horizontal single-axis solar tracker firm Soltec is opening the first of its kind ‘Bifacial Tracking Evaluation Center’ (BiTEC) in Livermore, California to further scientifically evaluate the performance of bifacial PV modules and the tracking performance with single-axis trackers.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar has completed the purchase of Spanish PV tracker and mounting firm, Nclave as the SMSL moves to become a global smart PV solution provider.
BIG SUN Energy has created a new version of its dual axis iPV tracker for use with bifacial modules or aquatic applications such as fishery ponds, reservoirs and floating solar (FPV) systems. On display at SNEC PV Power Expo will be the iPV Tracker in conjunction with high-efficiency bifacial modules from two prominent suppliers, demonstrating it as a highly adaptive and highly efficient power generation system.
Major semiconductor manufacturer Intel Corp has highlighted that its electricity consumption across its manufacturing operations in the US and Europe have reached the milestone of obtaining all electricity needs from renewable resources such as solar PV, hydro-electric and wind.
NextEra Energy Resources and utility Salt River Project (SRP) have completed the Pinal Central Solar Energy Center in Arizona, an integrated PV plant equipped with a battery system that will store energy and allow SRP to provide power to its customers.
United Renewable Energy Co., Ltd. (URE), the planned name for three of Taiwan’s merchant solar cell and module producers, Gintech Energy Corp, Neo Solar Power (NSP) and Solartech Energy are still evaluating the commercial rationale of establishing a US-based PV manufacturing plant, post the merger, which is being targeted for October 1, 2018.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Canadian Solar reported first quarter 2018 financial results that were better than expected as revenue and shipments were higher than guided with further PV power plant sales completed in the quarter.
Bischof + Klein has introduced a new generation of PV module backsheets, designed to provide greater stability when exposed to UV radiation and increased protection against moisture ingress. The new B+K ‘BackFlex’ PP backsheet is based on polypropylene and is therefore naturally resistant to hydrolysis. It can withstand more than 5,000 hours of damp heat testing (85°C / 85% r.h.).
PV inverter manufacturer SolarEdge Technologies has reported a clean sweep in key financial parameters for the first quarter of 2018, which includes, revenue, shipments, gross margin, profitability and quarterly cash flow generation.
