Natcore and MX Holding form JV to boost Italian PV panel producers
U.S.-based Natcore Technology Inc. and the Italian MX Holding S.p.A. are looking to form a joint venture (JV) aimed at developing new technologies for a consortium of Italian photovoltaic panel producers. They will also open a new manufacturing facility.
IPC awarded USD$2.5 million for solar inverter development
Ideal Power Converters (IPC) has been awarded USD$2.5 million by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy (ARPA-E) to develop lighter and cheaper solar inverters.
Production begins at Wackers new polysilicon facilities
Wacker Chemie AG has begun production at its new polysilicon production facilities in Nünchritz, Germany three months earlier than scheduled.
Copper nanowire to help drive solar cell production costs down
A new high-performance, flexible copper nanowire, first developed at Duke University in the U.S. last year and now being commercialized at a spin-off company called NanoForge Corporation, may drive down the cost of solar cell production.
Its all about the PV quality
A packed room, interactive sessions and presentations that gave food for thought. The Solarpraxis workshop ‘Quality for Photovoltaics: the key driver for sustainable growth’ came to a successful conclusion yesterday. Bankability, testing measures and installation errors were the key topics discussed.
Estonia: ABB opens 400 MW solar inverter line
ABB has established a 400 megawatt (MW) solar inverter production line in Jüri, Estonia. The company has also opened an engineering center there, and invested in a solar plant.
Innotech opens solar factory in Germany
Innotech Solar ASA has opened a new solar cell testing and optimization factory in Halle/Saale, Germany. An initial investment of 20 million has been made.
PV revenues and profits to keep on declining
Despite an increase in photovoltaic module shipments, revenues and gross profits are forecast to keep on shrinking into next year, according to new research, due to the “huge” oversupply, “fierce” competition and falling prices.
REC considering permanent PV plant closures
Due to the continuing weak solar market conditions and “significant” negative cash flow, REC is considering the permanent closure of three wafer facilities and one cell plant in Norway. Around 700 employees are expected to be affected.
Bosch to enter PV inverter business
It has been reported that Bosch, looking to enter the photovoltaic inverter business, has created a new subsidiary.
