Chinese PV Industry Brief: CHN Energy buys 10 GW of solar modules at $0.15/W
CHN Energy has acquired 10 GW of solar modules at $0.15/W in its most recent solar module procurement round. The state-owned company says it bought 3.21 GW of panels from Longi, 740 MW from Tongwei, 2.49 GW from Astronergy, and 3.56 GW from JinkoSolar.
Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells provide extra protection against reverse-bias degradation
An international research team demonstrated that monolithic perovskite-silicon tandem cells do not suffer the same degree of reverse bias degradation that is typically seen in perovskite single junction solar cells under partial shading. They explained that the tandem devices are “protected” by the silicon subcell.
Toyo Solar inaugurates 4 GW TOPCon solar cell factory in Vietnam
Toyo Solar, a subsidiary of Vsun Solar, commissioned a 4 GW TOPCon cell factory, completing the first phase of an 8 GW manufacturing facility in Vietnam.
Serbia’s Domi Eko commissions 150 MW TOPCon solar module factory
The factory is located in Velika Plana, central Serbia. The production equipment was provided by Italian manufacturer Ecoprogetti.
Dutch startup unveils 600 W two-module residential rooftop PV system
Netherlands-based developer of lightweight PV systems, Rable Group, claims its new rooftop PV solution can be installed in 20 minutes without the need for special permitting or modifications to the fuse box.
Dutch startup offers film that enhances efficiency of specialty PV modules
Mito Solar, a Dutch developer of lightweight PV modules, has developed a laminate film to boost the power generation capacity of specialty solar panels, such as those installed on solar racing cars and boats. The company claims the film may improve a module’s power conversion efficiency by up to 1%.
Inion Software unveils PV plant short-term performance forecasting, diagnostic platform
Inion Software, a Lithuanian PV power plant equipment specialist, has unveiled a platform that combines model-based performance forecasting with plant monitoring functionality. It offers insights based not only on production data, but also weather data, along with site parameters and PV capacity information.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: January-October PV installations hit 142.5 GW
China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) says the nation installed 142.5 GW of solar in the first 10 months of this year, bringing it to nearly 540 GW of cumulative installed PV capacity by the end of October.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: PERC module prices down by 2.68%
EnergyTrend recorded a 1.85% to 2.68% decline in passivation emitter rear contact cell (PERC) solar module prices in China last week.
Weekend Read: The fruitful search for other thin films
First Solar and its cadmium telluride (CdTe) technology dominate thin-film solar in the mainstream market. Valerie Thompson looks at the US-based business and the future of thin-film PV technology.
