Struggling former ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Yingli Green Energy is putting greater emphasis on high-efficiency N-PERT monocrystalline ‘PANDA’ bifacial modules as a key part of its potential business turnaround.
Next-generation thin-film technology start-up NanoFlex Power said it was part of a consortium awarded a US$6.5 million contract from the US Army Research Laboratory's Army Research Office to develop high power, flexible, and lightweight solar modules for portable power applications.
Conductive inks specialist PV Nano Cell is joining forces with major materials firm, Merck to develop and deploy its single-crystal, nanometric inks such as copper and silver to expand its applications.
Inline solar cell measurement equipment specialist Aurora Solar Technologies (AST) said it had received a volume order from a confidential customer located in China for its ‘Decima’ Gemini systems and ‘Veritas’ wafer and process mapping software to be integrated into new high-efficiency bifacial cell production lines.
Leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar reported record PV module shipments of 2,068MW in the first quarter of 2017, exceeding guidance.
Norway-headquartered integrated PV module manufacturer REC Group has made a significant shift in its regional sales strategy, which was previously dominated by shipments to the US.
Swiss-based PV manufacturing equipment specialist INDEOtec SA has secured a new order for a combined OCTOPUS II – PECVD/PVD deposition system for high-efficiency and heterojunction solar cells.
Guangdong Aiko Solar Energy Technology Co., Ltd (Aiko Solar), merchant solar cell producer has launched a high-efficiency P-type mono-PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) bifacial solar cell with front-side cell efficiency >21% and rear-side >15%. The company showcased the bifacial cell at SNEC 2017.
The vast number of announcements related to P-type mono PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) production in the last 18 months have primarily related to integrated cell and module producers shifting in-house production to the high-efficiency cells, as conventional multicrystalline Al-BSF (Aluminium-Back Surface Field) solar cells reach efficiency limitations.
