The production of crystalline Silicon (c-Si) solar cells and thin-film modules has moved from a small quantity niche product to global volume markets and mass production scale. A review of the evolution in process technology of this young industry reveals laser processing to have played an ambiguous role in the last 15 years.
SolarCity, the largest residential solar PV installer in the US said in its fourth quarter 2015 earnings call that its ambitious 1GW Buffalo Riverbend manufacturing facility had been impacted by longer than expected equipment lead times, pushing some equipment installs into the second-half of 2016.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Singulus Technologies has highlighted the essential support it needs from shareholders and bondholders to avert liquidity issues that would force the company into insolvency.
New research undertaken by Solar Intelligence, part of PV Tech’s parent company Solar Media Ltd., can exclusively reveal the forecasted breakdown of production for the different technologies being used within the solar industry in 2016.
Japanese electronics firm Panasonic is reported to be suspending production at its Nishikinohama ‘HIT’ solar cell and module assembly plant due to weak domestic consumer demand in Japan.
Taiwan-based merchant solar cell producer Motech Industries has reported January, 2016 sales reaching a new record high, the fifth consecutive month of record sales.
PV manufacturing equipment specialist Singulus Technologies has reported preliminary unaudited sales of €84 million in 2015, but restructuring charges are expected to result in a negative EBIT of €33 to €35 million.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Amtech Systems reported strong order intake in the fourth quarter of 2015 with new order flow continuing into January, 2016 as China-based PV manufacturers expand production at facilities in South East Asia.
High-technology equipment manufacturer Intevac said it was tracking around 5GW of high efficiency n-type monocrystalline solar cell capacity expansions that are expected through 2020, providing a market opportunity for its ‘MATRIX’ platform of around US$175 million.
