switzerland

Researchers at Solliance and ECN have fabricated a 6 inch industrially processed c-Si cell with a perovskite top layer that is mechanically stacked using ECN’s MWT-SHJ (metal-wrap-through silicon heterojunction) design that has achieved conversion efficiencies of 26.3%. The work was published during the Silicon PV/nPV conference, in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Swiss-based PV manufacturing equipment specialist INDEOtec SA has successfully gained tool acceptance for its PECVD process tools from both Fraunhofer ISE and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia for next-generation heterojunction solar cells.

Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger is undertaking another round of cost cutting, product rationalisation and manufacturing restructuring to improve profitability.

Global furniture retail group IKEA is extending the sale of solar modules into its Belgian stores from January 2018.

The theme of this week's Movers & Shakers is international expansion. PAYG off-grid solar provider Azuri Technologies is strengthening its leadership team to target West Africa, while Vancouver, Canada-based Solar Alliance Energy targets US assets and expands its sales team to accommodate for this. ABB appoints new regional heads to ensure direct market contact with Europe and the AMEA region.

In this week's Movers & Shakers, PV Tech reports on various executive board shuffles; Meyer Burger lets go of its COO, SPI Energy revamps its senior management team and SEPA expands its board of directors. In addition, Mainstream Renewable Power establishes an investment arm and Chile appoints a new energy minister amidst a time of energy policy upheaval.

In this week’s Movers & Shakers segment, PV Tech reports on JinkoSolar bringing solar PV front and centre at Europe’s B20 Energy, Climate & Resource Efficiency Taskforce, former SEIA chief Rhone Resch’s new industry venture, and utility-scale wind and solar projects in south Australia. Also this week, PV Tech partners with the Global Energy Talent Index - complete the survey for a chance to win!

Neuchâtel’s Christophe Ballif is the 2016 winner of the Becquerel Prize.

The Swiss non-profit research and technology organisation, the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), today unveiled new PV facilities to include a 500m² cleanroom and 600m² module testing and production laboratories.