Highlights

NexWafe GmbH has completed €8 million (around US$9.4 million) in financing for the next stage of its kerfless wafer manufacturing plans. The company sees big market potential for the product, which projects cost reductions of 50%.

Following a consultation process with employees, Meyer Burger has announced 100 jobs will definitely go as part of the closure of its Swiss manufacturing site. Another 60 positions are dependent on strategic alternatives being found.

Gender issues: Energy access can be transformed from an obstacle to an opportunity for women’s empowerment through the integration of women into the energy supply chain, as well as supportive policies. Organizations in India are working to expand energy access and empower women by boosting incomes, expanding skills and strengthening self-confidence. Over time, these efforts will enable a woman to have greater influence over herself, her family, and her community.

As the government of Belgium’s French-speaking region has announced the possible closing of the incentive scheme Qualiwatt, claiming that self-consumption is now becoming more profitable, the region’s regulator CWaPE warns that the abrupt cancellation of the incentives may have a negative psychological effect.

After announcing a record 22.71% conversion efficiency with its monocrystalline passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) solar cells in October, the Chinese solar manufacturer now claims it has achieved an 82.15% record bifaciality for the bifacial version of the same cell.

GE Power has announced 12,000 jobs will go as part of its effort to cut structural costs by US$3.5 billion. Part of the reason for the move is the strong growth of renewables, and a softening of traditional power markets. Storage is said to be a “mega trend”.

This week’s Intersolar India 2017 in Mumbai, which ran from Tuesday to Thursday at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC), highlighted both the potential and the challenges of India’s vast residential PV market. Everything from policy to unique environmental challenges and installation processes was discussed.

Milan Koev, REC Group’s Vice President Sales & Marketing APAC, speaks to pv magazine about the potential of India’s rooftop solar market.

A major milestone was surpassed in the Australian PV market last month, indicating that the rooftop solar sector is in robust health. However, not tracked in the figures underlying the record are large commercial rooftops and distributed battery storage, and reports are that here too strong growth is being achieved.