Technology

Belgian nano-electronics researchers Imec achieve record active area efficiency on thin film perovskite PV cell, measured over an aperture area of 16cm2.

Germany’s solar PV installers are “struggling” to deal with a changing manufacturer landscape, says EuPD Research. Energy storage, however, may offer them new opportunities. The company also finds that homeowners without solar see it as a costly investment with little return expected. Official figures show a YoY small-scale installation decrease of around a third.

A new GTM Research report estimates that the U.S. microgrid market will reach a cumulative capacity of around 2.8 GW in 2020. Of this, renewables are set to account for 26%, led by solar.

In a new study by Stanford University, a solid financial, technical and economical case for the U.S to convert its all-purpose energy systems to ones powered by wind, water and sunlight (WWS) has been made. Based on their calculations, the authors say solar PV could account for 38% of power generation in 2050, and create up to 2.3 million jobs.

Cormac Gilligan from IHS examines pv magazine’s 50 array-changing technologies selection and finds that while innovation in mounting technologies remains slow-paced, the signs are positive that change is coming. In the area of power electronics, the usual suspects are leading the way for change.

Goetz Fischbeck, CEO of Smart Solar Consulting, casts his eye across the solar PV cell and module technologies featured in pv magazine’s 50 Array Changing Technologies free download, available now. In addition to the importance of cell-level innovations, he discusses production equipment upgrade investments and how PERC is set to become the new benchmark solar technology.

Taiwan’s Solartech Energy will expand its multicrystalline PERC production to 240 MW. The PERC expansion will add one PERC line per month July through September of this year, finishing up with four lines by the end of that month.

France’s Soitec has achieved 38.9% conversion efficiency with a four-junction cell, assembled into a CPV module. The cell set an efficiency world record in December last year, and has now been incorporated into a CPV application.

Leading CIGS producer Solar Frontier has announced the first installation using its flexible modules. The modules have been install at Singapore’s newest port terminal, operated by PSA Singapore Terminals.

Holland’s SoLayTec will ship four of its InPassion PECVD tooling to two Chinese Tier 1 manufacturers. One tool is for a new customer’s R&D line, while three will go to an existing customer for volume production.