US-headquartered high-efficiency PV module producer SunPower reported a first quarter 2017 net GAAP loss of US$134.5 million, while guiding further losses of between $110 million to $135 million for the second quarter of the year as the company transitions its business model.
Heraeus Photovoltaics has introduced specially developed metallization pastes for ‘knotless screen’ printing of solar cells. The new SOL9641AX/BX series is designed to realise the full advantages of knotless printing screens and were developed in close collaboration with screen vendors and customers.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar has reported a verified N-type monocrystalline Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 24.13%. Japan Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratories (JET) verified the results.
Tesla reported first quarter 2017 solar installations of 150MW, down from 201MW in the previous quarter, a 25% decrease, due to selection criteria biased towards customer owned PV systems rather than leased.
DuPont Photovoltaics Solutions has introduced ‘Solamet’ PV20A the newest innovation to its Solamet photovoltaic metallization paste range that is designed for both Lightly Doped Emitter (LDE) and Passivated Emitter Rear Cell (PERC) P-type solar cell construction.
Specialist semiconductor and PV equipment supplier Intevac reported first quarter 2017 financial results that included a 40% increase in new orders, driven by its largest single order in its Thin-film Equipment segment that includes its solar product offerings with a 12 system follow-on order in March for its solar ‘ENERGi’ implant tools.
Trina Solar has launched its high-efficiency P-type mono-PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) bifacial module ‘DUOMAX Twin.’ The modules have a 0~+5W positive power tolerance and have a 285-300W power range with 18% maximum conversion efficiency.
3D-Micromac launched the second generation of its high-performance microCELL OTF laser systems at SNEC 2017. The high-performance production solution for Laser Contact Opening (LCO) of PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) solar cells achieves a throughput of 8,000 wafers per hour (wph).
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Amtech Systems has secured a follow-on order for the second phase of a multi-phase 1GW project for high-efficiency n-type PERC and n-type bifacial cell equipment.
