Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

Speaking to pv magazine, Manz Automation AG CFO, Martin Hipp underlined four strategic aims the company intends to achieve in the next few years under its new partnership with Würth Solar GmbH & Co. KG and the Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW – Center for solar energy and hydrogen research).

Propelled by aggressive research and development (R&D) activities, third generation photovoltaics (PVs) are poised to take a huge leap forward, says Frost & Sullivan in a new analysis. The exploratory mass production of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC)-powered consumer durables is likely to alter the future course of research in this segment, says the company.

Solarmer Energy, Inc. has recently achieved a new world record of 8.13 percent for its organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell efficiency, which has been certified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Microsemi Corporation and Germany-based Spelsberg, in conjunction with its partner, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, have announced the development of a disruptive new technology for photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. The technology was demonstrated at this year’s Intersolar North America, held in San Francisco, the U.S.

Sunfilm AG has announced it has set a world record of 9.6 percent total area efficiency for a thin film tandem junction silicon solar module of 2.6 meters x 2.2 meters. The record module, Model F, achieved a maximum stabilized output power of 546 Wp, says the company.

AEG Power Solutions (AEG PS) has said it expects sales of its solar inverters to increase ten fold this year, following the news its Protect PV.250 solar inverter has yielded an efficiency grade of 98.7 percent from the the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) and Bureau Veritas.

?China-based JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. has entered into an agreement to supply 24 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Enfinity Asia Pacific Limited this year. Module shipments have already begun, says the company, and will continue throughout the year.?

Photovoltaic (PV) module shipments are set to decline by nearly 10 percent quarter on quarter in the first quarter of next year, according to IMS Research’s latest report.

Yingli Green Energy Italia Srl has signed a photovoltaics (PV) module sales agreement with Tecno Spot, whereby Tecno Spot will purchase approximately six megawatts (MW) of PV modules from Yingli through the end of this year. Tecno Spot is also committed to purchasing an additional 10-20 MW of PV modules by the end of next year.

Applied Materials, Inc. has announced its plans to restructure its Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) segment, to put a primary emphasis on opportunities in crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar and advanced energy, including light emitting diode (LED) technology. As part of the restructuring, Applied says it will discontinue sales to new customers of its SunFab fully integrated lines for manufacturing thin film solar panels.