A research team from South Korea’s Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology has demonstrated a new process for the creation of organic solar cells. Using this method, the team has created cells with a conversion efficiency up to 12.01%.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, have set a new record 22.4% conversion efficiency for a tandem cell combining a lead-based perovskite layer with CIGS technology. The record has been confirmed by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Research conducted over several years by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) demonstrates that air pollution in cities can put a dampener on the performance of PV panels which, if not taken into account, can threaten a project’s viability.

German company, Geltz Umwelt-Technologie has developed an advanced recycling plant, which it says could recover up to 95% of the materials in a module for reuse. With funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 project, the company is planning a pilot facility that could recycle up to 50,000 silicon based PV modules per year.

The solar manufacturing equipment maker has posted an EBIT of US$15 million for the six-month period. It marks a return to profitability for the Swiss company, after major restructuring and cost optimization programs over the past 18 months.

Module manufacturing giant Canadian Solar shipped 1.7 GW of modules in the second quarter of 2018, a 23.7% increase on the previous quarter, according to the company’s latest update. Net revenue, however, fell more than 50% quarter-on-quarter with the company blaming fewer project sales and lower module prices.

According to PV Info Link, the price for monocrystalline cells in China fell below that of the usually cheaper multicrystalline products. However analysts expect it to be a blip, with multi prices expected to fall and mono to be supported by the Top Runner Program, now China’s main source of demand for the rest of 2018.

Researchers at Australia’s University of New South Wales have surpassed 10% efficiency for a cell based on copper zinc tin sulfide – sulfide kesterite. It is the fourth time in two years the group has set a new record for the efficiency of cells based on such materials.

Chinese polysilicon producer Daqo New Energy says it maintained full production capacity in June, and reiterated its full year production guidance of 22,000-23,000 MT. The company’s Q2 financials show, however, sales volume and profits fell over the previous quarter, thanks to loss of demand in China.

Taiwanese cell producer, Neo Solar Power has posted a net loss of NT$390 million (US$12.75 million) for the second quarter of 2018. Though indicative of the difficult times currently facing Taiwan’s cell manufacturers, the figures represent a 39.3% reduction compared with the previous quarter’s loss.