Stiff competition on the track
Stiffness – a lot more of it – could be the answer to single-axis tracker windy problems. The first batch of pioneering manufacturers have put forward revised designs that rely on stiffness more than on damping. Doing so has allowed them to create stable 2P designs, a configuration in which there is considerable interest as bifacial arrays proliferate.
Quality management and our new robot overlords
When talking about processes to ensure quality in renewable energy – whether in the production of materials or the operation of a power plant – it can be a struggle to avoid excessive jargon and keep things simple enough to translate into effective improvements on the ground. Experienced project manager Nabeel Ismeer decrypts some of the geekspeak from the world of quality.
pv magazine Annual Awards
The votes are in, jury deliberations have concluded, and the winners are… pv magazine’s revamped schedule of awards from 2019 has delivered a diverse pool of innovators spanning the entire PV supply chain. Eight products have been selected as being worthy of recognition as award winners, with nine entries being highly commended by our international […]
Gentle deposition for high-efficiency cells
With heterojunction and TOPCon currently competing as next-generation PV cell technologies, the production equipment landscape is maturing to meet the needs of manufacturers. Sebastian Gatz, the head of the crystalline silicon team at Germany’s Von Ardenne, says that the gentle deposition and high productivity achieved through platforms like its XEA|nova system are key.
The rise of M6
The shift to the larger M6 wafer format could occur faster than many have expected. Promoted heavily by mono giant Longi, the format is said to be a good fit for both cell and module production, while still allowing for relatively trouble-free integration into PV arrays. And it all began in China.
PERC potential
Though equipment suppliers in China have upped their game recently in terms of capabilities and cost structure, significant orders are still flowing through to European and U.S.-based suppliers in certain areas of manufacturing. Among these companies is RENA Technologies GmbH, which recently booked orders for 10 GW of wet chemical processing tools for PERC from three manufacturers in China. On the back of this deal, pv magazine spoke with RENA CEO Peter Schneidewind about the landscape for equipment suppliers and the future direction of technology.
pv magazine test
November 2019 results
Is fair lithium from Chile possible?
Batteries, and the raw materials that make them, are a frequent target of public criticism. The high water consumption required for lithium extraction is speeding up the desertification process around the salt lakes of Latin America’s so-called “lithium triangle”, for example. The mining debate highlights general problems with the extraction of raw materials, including copper, crude oil, and lithium, but international companies can still influence extraction methods – and there are plenty of different approaches.
Ethical strategies for cobalt supply
Since 2016, Amnesty International has denounced cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo for human rights violations and the use of child labor. This has led LG Chem and other companies to insist on standards for battery cell suppliers, as a step toward improving the situation.
Broken promises: legal recourse for retroactive FIT cuts
Generous feed-in tariffs, a short-lived boom and retroactive cuts – the early stages of large-scale solar deployment in Europe followed a regrettable pattern. Project developers have increasingly turned to the legal system for restitution, and many have been successful, writes Daniel R. Meagher, a partner in Winston & Strawn’s international arbitration practice.
