Morgan Solar secures $16.5 million funding; will open CPV manufacturing facility
Morgan Solar Inc. has secured USD$16.5 million in the first tranche of its Series B funding round. It aims to use the funds to make its Sun Simba concentrated photovoltaic modules commercially viable.
Trina and ANU sign R&D agreement
Trina Solar Limited has signed a three year research and development agreement with the Australian National University (ANU). The aim is to develop high efficiency silicon solar cells for mass production.
Solar Junction hits 43.5 percent CPV cell efficiency
Solar Junction has reached 43.5 percent efficiency on a commercial-ready concentrated photovoltaic production cell. The news comes just two months after it achieved an efficiency of 41.4 percent.
Survey highlights risk of changing UK solar policy
A new survey has shown the number of renewable electricity projects in the south west of England has rapidly increased: photovoltaic installations comprise the lions share. However, it says proposed policy changes are risking further growth.
SunShot Initiative receives $112.5 million boost
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has said up to $112.5 million in funding will be made available to select projects across five years, to support the development of U.S. photovoltaic-related manufacturing processes.
Weak inverter demand expected
Photovoltaic inverter demand is expected to be “very weak” in the first two quarters of this year, according to IMS Researchs latest market investigation. Germanys dominance in the sector is also diminishing.
Mars discovery heralds new era for PV industry
A new material has been discovered in space which, if it can be replicated, could hold the key to previously unimagined PV cell efficiencies.
New Energy and NREL enter into R&D agreement
New Energy Technologies, Inc. and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).
Q-Cells achieves "world record" thin film efficiency
In another “efficiency record” for today, Q-Cells SE says it has reached an efficiency of 14.7 percent for a mass-produced CIGS thin film solar module, which has been manufactured via monolithic integration. This figure has been verified by Fraunhofer ISE.
Renewable energy investment high, but industry issues remain
Ernst & Young has published its updated renewable energy country attractiveness indices. While it says the “toxic legacy” of the financial crisis is ongoing, new investment in clean energy reached “unprecedented levels” last year, having hit USD$243 billion.
