PV ModuleTech

Oct 16, 2018

The solar industry, in terms of deployment, will sadly not be growing by 30% in 2018. However, the good news is that the PV ModuleTech 2018 event – taking place in Penang, Malaysia on 23-24…

Oct 10, 2018

Following-on from our recent analysis of Tesla’s solar panel supply base changing rapidly, the same is true of leading public listed US residential installer, Sunrun.

Oct 10, 2018

During the past few years, we have had numerous requests at PV-Tech from a wide range of PV industry stakeholders (due mainly to the success of the PV CellTech and PV ModuleTech series of conferences)…

Sep 27, 2018

PV ModuleTech 2018 will explain exactly what module companies and technologies will dominate large-scale commercial and utility solar sites in 2019, including the key drivers, risks and opportunities from bifacial module deployment.

Sep 19, 2018

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Hanwha Q CELLS has revealed its ‘Made in America’ product strategy ahead of the 2018 Solar Power International (SPI) Exhibition being held at the Anaheim Convention Center in California…

Aug 31, 2018

PV module assembly firm New-Tek in Kyrgyzstan has received TÜV Rheinland certifications related to IEC 61215:2016 and IEC 61730:2016 standards on module reliability.

Aug 28, 2018

PV module equipment measurement specialist Endeas Oy has developed a new method to measure the steady-state I-V curves in PV modules using high-efficiency solar cells such as PERC, and especially HJT or IBC as solar…

Aug 24, 2018

In the hotly contested Californian residential solar market, new data compiled by ROTH Capital Partners highlights, amongst many data points, that Tesla’s solar panel supply base and suppliers is undergoing a major transition and that…

Aug 23, 2018

The top-5 module suppliers to the PV industry shipped more than 20GW of modules during the first half of 2018, representing Y/Y growth of 10%.

Aug 13, 2018

Leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar has reported higher than guided second quarter PV module shipments and reiterated total shipments guidance to be in the range of 11.5GW to 12GW in 2018.

Aug 09, 2018

Ahead of PV ModuleTech conference, Finlay Colville takes an in-depth look at the type of module companies that will be internationally known over the next 12-18 months.

Aug 02, 2018

Heading into the PV ModuleTech 2018 event in Penang, Malaysia on 23-24 October 2018, PV-Tech is set to conduct a series of interviews with leading project developers and EPCs, to understand what downstream channels of…

Jul 27, 2018

In reporting second quarter 2018 financial results, First Solar revealed that it was having Series 6 production issues at its lead Ohio factory.

Jul 26, 2018

As the solar industry has grown from a 50GW market to 100GW in just a few years, the desire to have differentiated production has increased, especially for companies entering the market or repositioning strategies.

Jul 25, 2018

Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger has secured an order for its ‘SmartWire Connection Technology’ (SWCT) from an international solar module manufacturer in Southeast Asia for use with heterojunction (HJ) solar cells.

Jul 23, 2018

As module suppliers adapt to the slowdown of Chinese module demand in 2018 and 2019, global EPCs and developers are likely to see new Asian-produced panels being offered for both rooftop and ground-mount installations.

Jul 16, 2018

Since Chinese investments into major cell and module facilities started - more than 10 years ago - success ultimately has been driven by overseas market-share gains, above other technical or financial benchmarks that otherwise would…

Jul 09, 2018

Module selection for utility-scale solar sites in 2019 is likely to see the widespread availability of higher performance products with average selling prices significantly lower than witnessed over the past 12-18 months. So what does…

Jun 28, 2018

PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in the first quarter of 2018 continued to follow the strong trend set in the fourth quarter of 2017. The quarter also represented a revival in thin-film expansion plans as…

Jun 13, 2018

The past few weeks has seen some of the most dramatic knee-jerk, naïve and misinformed PV market reporting seen in recent times, with the headlines often resembling nothing more than tabloid sensationalism.

May 28, 2018

Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger has said that the pioneer of heterojunction solar cell technology, Panasonic has decided to fast-track the evaluation of its ‘SmartWire Connection Technology’ (SWCT) in an effort to boost…

May 28, 2018

Major PV materials provider DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions has launched the first transparent PV module backsheet material, specifically for bifacial solar modules at SNEC International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Exhibition, being held in Shanghai,…

May 03, 2018

The International Solar Energy Research Center Konstanz e.V. (ISC Konstanz) has signed a technology transfer agreement with PV module assembly equipment supplier based in Finland for R&D centre’s advanced ‘BiSoN’ (Bifacial Solar cell On N-type)…

Feb 26, 2018

China-based integrated PV module manufacturer Wuxi Suntech Power Co said it had started supplying high-performance multicrystalline half-cut cell modules to European customers, offering power classes of 295/290W.

Feb 06, 2018

Leading integrated high-efficiency monocrystalline module manufacturer and ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Green Energy Technology has officially reignited previously suspended manufacturing plans in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Jan 31, 2018

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar has said it shipped over 9GW of PV modules globally in 2017, confirming its second place position in PV Tech’s Top-10 Module Suppliers annual rankings.

Jan 26, 2018

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Solar, a subsidiary of LONGI Green Energy Technology, the largest monocrystalline wafer producer in the world has reported that TUV-SUD has verified its P-type monocrystalline PERC module to…

Jan 24, 2018

Leading fully-integrated high-efficiency monocrystalline module manufacturer and ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Green Energy Technology has set a strategic plan to triple monocrystalline ingot and wafer capacity to 45GW in 2020.

Jan 11, 2018

After the significant upwards revisions made to global solar PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in the first half of 2017, which we reviewed in a previous blog, the third quarter was characterised by much more…

Jan 05, 2018

Leading fully-integrated high-efficiency monocrystalline module manufacturer LONGi Green Energy Technology has signed a project investment agreement with local authorities in Chuzhou City, Anhui Province, China to build a new 5GW module assembly plant.

Jan 03, 2018

Solar PV capital expenditure (capex) covering the midstream segments of the industry (c-Si ingot-to-module and thin-film) is now well into its second major upturn in spending, going into 2018, at a time when the industry…

Dec 15, 2017

When JinkoSolar released its third quarter results last week – and guided full year 2017 module shipment figures – the company remained on track to overachieve on final quarter shipments, thereby becoming the first ever…

Dec 05, 2017

Leading thin-film manufacturer First Solar highlighted at its 2017 Analyst Day event that it had recently fabricated the first functional CdTe Series 6 thin-film panel at its Perrysburg, Ohio plant, which is spearheading the transition…

Nov 09, 2017

At the inaugural PV ModuleTech 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, it became clear that PERC module technology is fast becoming the industry standard and bifacial modules are no longer seen as a niche product, however, both…

Nov 08, 2017

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member and the largest integrated monocrystalline manufacturer LONGi Green Energy Technology revealed its key strategic goals for 2019 at the inaugural PV ModuleTech conference being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Nov 07, 2017

PV module manufacturers hoping to get new technologies taken up by the market quickly and at scale need to generate as much information as possible from testing houses and certification bodies for the finance community…

Nov 06, 2017

Having waited many years for such a far reaching event to come together, the solar industry has just a few hours more to wait before the inaugural PV ModuleTech 2017 kicks off in Kuala Lumpur,…

Nov 06, 2017

The PV ModuleTech 2017 meeting starts tomorrow (7 November 2017) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, showcasing the key module issues that will guide site design and construction for large-scale solar sites in the next 12-18 months.

Oct 30, 2017

The inaugural PV ModuleTech 2017 event takes place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 7-8 November 2017, and for many of the attendees taking part in the event, the anticipation is growing by the day!

Oct 27, 2017

Thin-film manufacturer First Solar reported record Q3 bookings of 4.5GW taking the company’s order book to 7.4GW for shipments out to 2020.

Oct 25, 2017

Leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar has reported a record conversion efficiency for a P-type monocrystalline PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) solar cell of 22.78% and verified by the Chinese Academy of Science…

Oct 23, 2017

The first PV ModuleTech event is due to take place in Kuala Lumpur on 7-8 November, and the event is poised to explain and define the key module suppliers, technologies and audited metrics that are…

Oct 23, 2017

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member and the largest integrated monocrystalline manufacturer LONGi Green Energy Technology said its subsidiary, LONGi Solar would ramp volume production of its PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) technology by the…

Oct 23, 2017

When manufacturing capacities moved from megawatt to gigawatt ten years ago, the concept of having a fully-integrated and automated production site was widely accepted to be the most economical, Finlay Colville examines whether this is…

Oct 19, 2017

PV Tech talked with PV Lighthouse’s Malcolm Abbot ahead of PV ModuleTech 2017, being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 7-8 November 2017. Malcolm will be a guest speaker at the event.

Oct 14, 2017

Things can change very quickly in the solar industry, and no more so than when new trade-related cases are introduced or existing ones are amended in scope. Often companies – and in particular module suppliers…

Oct 13, 2017

The PV ModuleTech 2017 conference is just over three weeks away, taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7-8 November 2017. In our research leading up to the event, three words have consistently been voiced…

Oct 12, 2017

Thin-film module manufacturer First Solar has backed the petitioners in the Section 201 trade case, the first intervention the company has made so far.

Oct 09, 2017

Technology changes being implemented by major solar PV module suppliers today are poised to provide large-scale solar investors, developers, EPCs and asset owners with significant opportunities in 2018-2020.

Oct 05, 2017

The Indian solar industry expressed shock recently when it emerged that multiple Chinese PV manufacturers had been reneging on supply contracts to India, but it seems this strategy may have been a comeuppance for historic…

Oct 03, 2017

With many of the top-20 module suppliers to the solar industry now having multi-GW shipment volumes, attention has turned firmly to assessing metrics that companies can use to benchmark the quality and reliability of shipped…

Sep 28, 2017

India’s largest utility NTPC has tendered 225MW of solar using local content rules at Billhaur in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Sep 27, 2017

Some of the industry is at loggerheads and many feel local manufacturing must be intrinsic to the 100GW by 2022 solar target, but the value of trade duties is under dispute.

Sep 26, 2017

India’s Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties (DGAD) has published a letter revealing which Chinese, Taiwanese and Malaysian solar cell producers and exporters will be sampled in its ongoing anti-dumping investigation.

Sep 22, 2017

Some solar projects in India have seen module performance drop 10% in first year or 8% in the third year alone, according to Mahindra Susten field tests.

Sep 21, 2017

The comments at the REI Expo in Delhi came as the industry awaits the outcome of an anti-dumping investigation.

Sep 19, 2017

The International Solar Energy Research Center Konstanz e.V. (ISC Konstanz) has qualified Aurora Solar’s inline measurement and control technology for its BiSoN bifacial solar cell technology, which is licensed to PV manufacturers.

Sep 19, 2017

PV Tech reached its own little milestone of having reported and analysed the R&D spending habits of the same 12 key PV module manufacturers for 10 years. The results have just been published in sister…

Sep 19, 2017

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member GCL System Integrated Technology (GCL-SI) recently reported its strongest rebound in sales in the second quarter of 2017, leading to a return to profitability in the first half of…

Sep 18, 2017

The significance of PV-Tech’s forthcoming conference in Kuala Lumpur – PV ModuleTech 2017 – has just moved to a new level, with the key company executives from all members of the Silicon Module Super League…

Sep 14, 2017

China-based PV module manufacturer Sunport Power has officially started production at 1GW assembly plant using Eurotron’s MWT equipment for back-contact PV modules that reduce cell-to-module losses and boost module performance and reliability.

Sep 10, 2017

Updated: With the solar industry transitioning to high-performance products backed with innovation, Solar Power International 2017 in Las Vegas is showcasing an ever increasing portfolio of solar modules exceeding 300 watts in the standard 60-cell…

Sep 07, 2017

The use of third-party cell and module sourcing has seen a massive uptick in the solar industry, during the past 2-3 years. The appetite of leading global module suppliers to rely on outsourced cells and…

Sep 06, 2017

Leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar set another new industry record for PV module shipments in the second quarter of 2017, with first half year shipments just shy of 5GW.

Sep 05, 2017

India’s Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties (DGAD) has extended deadline for filing responses for its anti-dumping investigation into imports for solar cells and modules from China, Taiwan and Malaysia, due to requests from…

Sep 05, 2017

Major metallization paste producer Heraeus Photovoltaics said it had signed a major strategic partnership agreement with ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) leader JinkoSolar that will focus on what the company said would be the development…

Sep 04, 2017

Dedicated N-type monocrystalline module manufacturer Jolywood (Taizhou) Solar Technology Co. Ltd (Jolywood) is the first company to supply its bifacial modules to a decent sized 6.7MW project in India.

Sep 04, 2017

PV modules inspection agency STS-Certified had secured a mammoth contract from major India-based EPC firm, Sterling & Wilson to inspect a total of 1.17GW of JinkoSolar PV modules headed to a planned PV power plant…

Aug 31, 2017

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Green Energy Technology and the leading fully-integrated high-efficiency monocrystalline module manufacturer, reported first half 2017 revenue slightly down from the prior year period as a result of average…

Aug 31, 2017

India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has called on domestic solar manufacturers to update information on their installed capacities, operational capacities and annual production.

Aug 30, 2017

The PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) cell and module technology have been widely adopted by the industry. JA Solar has been exploring innovative approaches of bifacial PERC cell and the methods of making it and…

Aug 29, 2017

PV Tech’s new two-day event PV ModuleTech 2017 – in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 7-8 November 2017 – is set to outline the key issues in new high-efficiency PV modules that will dominate utility-scale solar…

Aug 29, 2017

German-based PV module manufacturer Heckert Solar GmbH said that it had been one of the pioneers using Fraunhofer ISE’s new software that helps reduce cell-to-module losses that have led to module performance gains.

Aug 25, 2017

Indian manufacturer Borosil Glass Works has completed acceptance tests for a major line of 2mm fully-tempered glass, which a company executive claims to be the first such glass produced at this thickness in the world.

Aug 25, 2017

China-based integrated monocrystalline PV manufacturer Solargiga Energy Holdings' sales have rebounded in the first half of 2017, fuelled by demand in China for high-efficiency wafers including N-type wafers for ‘Top Runner’ PV power plant projects.

Aug 22, 2017

Having turned and continue to remain cautious about its business outlook for the second-half of 2017, JA Solar reported second quarter results that simply defied previous guidance, driven by greater than expected demand in China…

Aug 22, 2017

The second installment of our latest two-part blog on PV Tech, presenting the latest findings of the PV Tech in-house market research team, with all data and graphics shown in this blog coming from the…

Aug 21, 2017

A key factor in the strong growth of the PV industry in 2017 is the Silicon Module Super League (or SMSL), comprised of the seven companies that will each ship in excess of 4GW of…

Aug 21, 2017

Leading PV module encapsulation and backsheet material supplier Hangzhou First Applied Materials Co, formerly First Photovoltaics (PV) reported a continued increase in demand with sales up by 16.56% but profits crashed by 43.49% on significant…

Aug 18, 2017

German PV research institute ISC Konstanz is leading the development of a new solar development laboratory in Chile.

Aug 17, 2017

Newly formed German PV module manufacture SolarWorld Industries GmbH has officially started production, according to the insolvency administrator for SolarWorld AG.

Aug 17, 2017

Leading up to the PV ModuleTech 2017 conference, less than 3 months away (Kuala Lumpur, 7-8 November 2017), this blog series explains why this dedicated two-day industry event has the potential to provide some key…

Aug 16, 2017

Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger has reported a 15% increase in new orders in the first half of 2017, driven by a strong technology buy-cycle in wafer and solar cell sectors.

Aug 16, 2017

The solar industry is set to reach annual demand at the 100GW level much earlier than has been forecast by both third-party observers and the leading component suppliers. During 2018, the solar industry is shaping…

Aug 14, 2017

Leading CdTe thin-film module manufacturer First Solar has secured a 241MW module supply contract with Australian EPC firm, RCR Tomlinson. The latest contract is for two major PV power plant projects, bringing its contracted business…

Aug 11, 2017

PV and electronics equipment manufacturing and automation specialist Manz AG said it expected to generate revenue of at least €350 million in 2017, including significantly improved and positive EBIT as it starts execution of its…

Aug 10, 2017

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Hanwha Q CELLS reported inline second quarter revenue but margins continued to be impacted by declining average selling prices (ASP).

Aug 09, 2017

India recently proposed a new strategy of supporting its domestic solar manufacturers by allocating 7.5GW of local content tenders to Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs), but analysts have identified a number of limitations.

Aug 08, 2017

Nanoelectronics research centre imec has taken a perovskite/silicon tandem mini-module-on-cell stack to a record 23.9% conversion efficiency, significantly exceeding its 20.2% efficiency figures reported in 2016.

Aug 02, 2017

Having just completed its first ‘Solar Roof’ tile system installations in the US, Tesla said in reporting second quarter 2017 financial results that production of the roofing tiles would not enter mass production at its…

Aug 02, 2017

Leading mono-crystalline solar cell and module manufacturer LONGi Solar has reported that its 60-cell ‘Hi-MO1’ module has achieved a power output of 325.6W under standard testing conditions (STC) with a conversion efficiency of 19.91%, verified…

Aug 02, 2017

Despite running at full-capacity, US-headquartered high-efficiency PV module producer SunPower Corp has lowered its full-year revenue guidance as losses mount and margins compress across its utility, commercial and residential markets.

Aug 01, 2017

Specialist semiconductor and PV equipment supplier Intevac expects to start shipping its largest ever single tool order to a customer in China planning to ramp N-type mono IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact) solar cells and modules,…

Jul 31, 2017

Leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar has raised its Potential Induced Degradation (PID) resistance test metrics for its standard 1,000V and its 1,500V solar modules, using an extended IEC62804 standard.

Jul 21, 2017

India is now considering imposing safeguard duties on the import of solar cells and modules from China and certain other countries, while it continues contemplating imposing anti-dumping measures.

Jul 17, 2017

Mondragon Assembly Solar, a division of Spain-based Mondragon Assembly Group has secured multiple new turnkey assembly and automated assembly equipment orders from Algeria, Egypt, and China in June.

Jul 14, 2017

Norway headquartered integrated PV module manufacturer REC Group has launched its first product using monocrystalline solar cells, a compact 50-cell module, specifically designed for the Japanese residential market.

Jul 14, 2017

Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Singulus Technologies has secured a new follow-on order with an unidentified customer in Germany for several CIGS thin-film sputtering tools.

Jul 13, 2017

PV specialist equipment supplier centrotherm has secured a number of sputtering systems tool orders for two turnkey CIGS thin-film facilities being supplied by equipment and automation specialist Manz for JV customers Shanghai Electric Group and…

Jul 11, 2017

Leading Silicon Module Super League (SMSL) member JinkoSolar said it had been collaborating with TUV Rheinland to develop standardized testing methods for bifacial PV module technology.

Jul 05, 2017

French multinational electric utility company Engie has deployed Heliatek’s organic OPV thin-film technology as part of new façade at Engie's research center in Linkebeek, Belgium.

Jun 12, 2017

India-based solar equipment manufacturer Renewsys India, part of international conglomerate Enpee Group, has launched production of 5-busbar (BB) solar PV cells at a Hyderabad facility in the Indian state of Telangana.

Jun 02, 2017

India-based PV manufacturer and EPC firm Vikram Solar has expanded its module manufacturing capacity from 900MW to 1GW at its fab in Kolkata.

Jun 01, 2017

Bifacial modules will be the standard utility-scale PV product for LONGi Solar, according the company’s president.

May 15, 2017

Taiwan-based cell and module producer Neo Solar Power (NSP) is not expecting a recovery in sales until fourth quarter of 2017, due to a series of market forces impacting its business.

May 12, 2017

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) leader JinkoSolar said it had been first manufacturer in China to receive the latest IEC61345 module certification that employs stricter testing requirements for solar panels. The certification was carried out…

Apr 12, 2017

The Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed the world’s first full-sized Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) bifacial solar module using International Solar Energy Research Center (ISC)…

Apr 05, 2017

Dedicated PV quality assurance services firm STS-Certified said it had performed quality inspection services on solar modules totalling over 1.5GW in 2016, with the expectation of almost 3.0GW of inspections in 2017.

Apr 05, 2017

PV encapsulant films are crucial in the protection and long-term functionality of solar collection cells in PV modules. Dow's Andrew Yen discusses how choosing an alternative to EVA can lead to greater performance, improved yield…

Mar 29, 2017

Dedicated monocrystalline integrated PV module manufacturer SolarWorld believes 2017 is a transitional year for the company after announcing a switch to monocrystalline production at the expense of multicrystalline and a full-migration to PERC (Passivated Emitter…

Mar 22, 2017

The price of Chinese module imports to India has dropped 8% over the last quarter and 29% year-on-year, according to new price indices calculated by consultancy firm Bridge to India.

Mar 22, 2017

French waste giant Veolia has opened the first PV recycling facility in France through a partnership with PV Cycle, a not-for-profit take-back and waste management programme for solar in Europe.

Mar 20, 2017

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