During the past few years, the migration from multi to mono, replacing Al-BSF p-type cells with rear passivation layers (PERC), and having the capability of bifacial light absorption, have been the very obvious technology shifts seen within the PV industry.
Capital expenditure (capex) for c-Si manufacturing (covering ingot/wafer and cell/module stages) is forecast at approx. US$9 billion in 2019, consistent with levels seen during 2017 and 2018.
North American PV module manufacturer, Silfab Solar has installed a full-size industrial production tool for the manufacturing of back-contact PV modules from Eurotron.
Major PV materials supplier, Heraeus Photovoltaics has officially opened its multi-million Euro new Photovoltaics Innovation Center in Shanghai, China.
JinkoSolar has showcased its forthcoming ‘Tiger’ solar module at All-Energy Australia event, held in Melbourne, Australia in late October 2019. The module has a conversion efficiency of 20.78% and can generate up to 460Wp of power output, which is suitable for both utility-scale and rooftop markets, globally.
Diversified renewables firm Shunfeng International Clean Energy (SFCE) has halted trading in its Hong Kong traded stocks as it prepares to submit an update to its protracted potential sale of its PV manufacturing operations, including Wuxi Suntech.
Aiko Solar has been celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2019 and has become the largest merchant solar cell producer in the last few years, focusing on high-efficiency cells, notably mono-PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell] production, and is the first-tier producer of this cell type in 2018.
‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member, Q CELLS is to immediately appeal the forthcoming US ITC judgement on its patent infringement case against JinkoSolar, REC Group, and LONGi Solar.
Leading ‘Solar Module Super League (SMSL) member, JinkoSolar said it expected the U.S. International Trade Commission Investigation into Q CELLS solar cell patent IP case (patent 215) to be dismissed in the next few weeks.
Report calls for decisive scale-up of investment to help solar supply a quarter of global energy by mid-century, slashing worldwide CO2 emissions by 4.9 gigatonnes in the process.