PV Tech has been covering analysis of R&D expenditures of PV manufacturers for over a decade. This blog anticipates some of the key trends set to be fully revealed in the forthcoming edition of technical journal Photovoltaics International.
The PV industry roadmap - and related metrics of technology and bankability - are now being driven by leading module supplier, JinkoSolar, with others seeking to replicate Jinko’s product line options, trying to differentiate in markets that are receptive to low-cost alternatives, or focusing only on rooftop markets where volumes are lower and sales/distribution efforts are more intensive.
Speaking at PV CellTech 2019, Dr Liyou Yang, general manager at Jinergy, says heterojunction solar remains under assessment in 2019 with certain criteria required before people make the jump to GW-scale production.
Leading monocrystalline wafer producer and ‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Green Energy Technology is planning to invest around US$875.7 million in expanding its Czochralski-based monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si) ingot and wafer capacity by 15GW, while expanding mono-Si solar cell capacity by an initial 3GW in 2020.
Fully integrated PV module manufacturer REC Group is launching a next-generation high-performance module at Intersolar Europe next month, which will have a power rating of 380Wp in a 60-cell format.
PV equipment and technology specialist, Amtech Systems is to sell its solar manufacturing equipment subsidiaries that included Tempress and SoLayTec to focus its semiconductor sector business.
An ongoing R&D collaboration between Imec and Jolywood (Taizhou) Solar Technology Co, the PV module manufacturing arm of major PV backsheet manufacturer Jolywood (Suzhou) Sunwatt Co, have reported an n-PERT (Passivated Emitter and Rear Totally diffused) bifacial solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 23.2%, a new record.
Speaking at the PV CellTech 2019 event, DuPont's Ted Zhi and Guangyao Jin discuss potential for future metalization gains and ensuring their R&D efforts cover future as well as current mainstream cell architectures.
Hongbin Fang, technical director of LONGi Solar says mono-PERC technology, including bifacial, will form the backbone of the solar sector in the immediate future.
Leading PV equipment supplier Meyer Burger has received a CHF 15 million repeat order for its ‘MAiA’ 6.1 PECVD tool for PERC passivation processes from a leading Asian customer, according to the company.
In a presentation at the PV CellTech conference being held in Penang, Malaysia, this week, Dr. Liyou Yang, general manager of Jinneng Clean Energy Technology Ltd (Jinergy), highlighted its heterojunction (HJT) cell-based JNHM72 (72-cell) champion module had reached 452.5W power output.
Leading PV equipment supplier Meyer Burger has outlined a technology roadmap for heterojunction (HJT) solar cells with efficiencies towards 25% at the PV CellTech conference being held in Penenag, Malaysia this week.
Ahead of the PV CellTech 2019 meeting in Penang, Malaysia on 12-13 March 2019, conference chair and head of research at PV-Tech, Finlay Colville, caught up with one of the keynote invited speakers at the event this year: Dr. Weiming Zhang, from leading PV materials supplier Heraeus Photovoltaics.
During the past few months, Tongwei has officially moved into the top-position as the leading solar cell manufacturer – by production volume – serving the PV industry.
As the PV-Tech team evaluated the topics best suited for this year’s PV CellTech event (12-13 March 2019, Penang, Malaysia), it was clear that wafering should be a key theme for inclusion at the conference.
