Featured in Solar square off – 09-2016

Why, robot

Automation in PV: With huge leaps made in automation of PV module production facilities over the past decade, module quality and output have seen dramatic increases. However, differences still exist among tier-1 manufacturers in terms of relative levels of automation, with some manufacturers choosing not to automate certain process steps for reasons of cost, flexibility and even quality. George Touloupas of Clean Energy Associates examines the major pros and cons for automation of key process steps, and asks why some have chosen one approach over the other.

By

pv magazine

19 Aug 2016

While preparation of materials on the level of material cutting (for example, the cutting of EVA and backsheets) and other basic preparation processes have long been automated by the majority of large PV manufacturers, the location of cutting and method of transportation to the production line still varies. Fully automated manufacturing lines have tended towards …

This article is part of pv+

Subscribe digitally to unlock exclusive investigative reporting, expert insights, in-depth analysis, and premium background coverage. Your subscription also includes full access to the digital edition of our magazine.