Solar PV capital expenditure (capex) covering the midstream segments of the industry (c-Si ingot-to-module and thin-film) is now well into its second major upturn in spending, going into 2018, at a time when the industry is just about to move to a new phase in annual deployment levels of greater than 100GW.
The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is proposing the standardization of aging measurements of perovskite solar cells after developing a range of new methods that are claimed to best represent some of the unique characteristics of perovskite materials.
‘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.
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.
The conflict of agricultural land use for solar power plants could be a thing of the past after a science driven agrophotovoltaics (APV) pilot project near Lake Constance in Germany, led by Fraunhofer ISE has proved the viability of dual land use.
Inline solar cell measurement equipment specialist Aurora Solar Technologies (AST) has reported its first period of profitability as demand for process control tools for PERC and bifacial cells grows.
Hanwha Q CELLS introduced a benchmark high-efficiency Q.PEAK DUO module series that combines half-cut cell technology, six-bus-bars and the company’s proprietary Q.ANTUM (PERC) monocrystalline cell technology with efficiencies of close to 20% and power outputs of up to 330Wp from 120 half-cut cells and up to 395Wp from 144 half-cut cells.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Amtech Systems continues to benefit from major solar order conversion to revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter of 2017.
Major PV manufacturer Yingli Green Energy is building a 100MW ‘Top Runner’ project in Wuhai City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China using its ‘PANDA’ monocrystalline bifacial modules, the largest project to date deploying bifacial modules in the world.
US-based solar module technology firm Solaria Corporation, which filed suit against GCL Solar Energy, Inc., a subsidiary of GCL-Poly Energy Holdings as well as Seraphim Solar System Co. Ltd due to claims of IP theft and breaches of Non-Disclosure Agreements has settled the litigation with GCL-Poly.
