Schott second company to produce silver-free solar cell; closes cell facility
Just over a week after Imec and Kaneka announced they had developed a silver-free heterojunction silicon solar cell, Germany-based Scott Solar says it has produced a cell using copper contacts, instead of the precious metal. The company has also closed a cell production facility.
Sanyo HIT modules become Panasonic
As part of a brand consolidation move, Sanyos HIT photovoltaic modules will become known as Panasonic HIT modules, as of April 1, 2012.
India: Tapan Solar Energy begins PV module production
Tapan Solar Energy Pvt. Ltd. has begun manufacturing crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules in Indias Neemrana, Rajasthan, under the brand name Elecssol.
ArrayPower's CEO talks integrated AC modules and solar survival strategies
In an interview with pv magazine, ArrayPowers CEO, Wendy Arienzo discusses the companys three-phase sequenced inverter, and explains why she believes the technology has reached a deeper level of integration than its peers. She also talks survival strategies and how this years turbulent market has served to underpin ArrayPowers value proposition.
Soltecture reaches 13.4 percent CIGSe efficiency
Berlin-based CIGSe thin film manufacturing and system solutions provider, Soltecture, has produced what it says are the first 100 Watt photovoltaic panels with an efficiency of 13.4 percent.
Roth & Rau reaches 21 percent wafer efficiency
Roth & Rau AG says it has reached a new milestone, having achieved 21 percent efficiency on a 156 mm wafer. The company expects the heterojunction technology to be ready for mass production “in the near future”.
PV inverter market suffers falling revenues, but still set to grow
The third quarter (Q3) of 2011 was not kind to the photovoltaic inverter market. According to new research, revenues fell by 20 percent year on year. Germany has been identified as the main culprit behind the declining figures. Short-term price stabilization and a growing market provide some relief, however.
LDKs PV modules to be manufactured in Ontario
Under a new agreement announced today, OSM Solarform Corp. will manufacture around 20 megawatts worth of LDK Solars photovoltaic modules at its Welland-based production line in Ontario.
Copper for silver cell swap expected to be commercialized "sooner" than expected
Imec and Kaneka have developed a silver-free heterojunction silicon solar cell, with a conversion efficiency of over 21 percent. Imec speaks to pv magazine about the achievement and states that the use of copper in commercial cell production could come sooner than many think.
Panasonic plans 300 MW Malaysian solar factory
Global electronics giant, Panasonic Corporation has unveiled plans to open a 300 megawatt (MW) vertically-integrated solar manufacturing facility in Malaysia.
