The Chinese module manufacturer led an international research team seeking silicon material savings and efficiency gains in the development of heterojunction PV devices. The cell achieved a certified power conversion efficiency of 26.06% with a thickness of 57 μm, with Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research confirming the result.

Canadian Solar says its new 14 GW vertically integrated cell and module factory will require an investment of CNY 9.63 billion ($1.33 billion), while Aiko Solar says it will invest CNY 9.97 billion in a 10 GW facility.

The German research institute is investigating the use of commercially available vacuum-based evaporation equipment to manufacture perovskite thin films and contacts layers in the fabrication of perovskite-silicon tandem cells.

The two UK companies are joining forces to consolidate and develop opportunities in the residential and commercial energy solutions market.

Brite Solar, a Greek specialty module manufacturer targeting the agrivoltaics greenhouse and PV canopy segments, is building a 150 MW production line. Marketing its modules to farming cooperatives, integrators and installers since the end of 2022, Brite solar has pilot installations in North America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. In January it announced raising $9.26 million in venture capital.

Swedish virtual power plant software platform developer Fever Energy is expanding into Europe enabled by a $10.81 million round of venture capital.

An energy makeover of a heritage-listed church built in 1965 included new solar PV roof, new insulation, new windows, and heat pumps, enabling it to produce 149% of its energy requirements. The achievement garnered the project team the Norman Foster Solar Award 2023.

Verde Technologies, a U.S.-based spinoff of the University of Vermont specializing in single junction and all thin-film tandem perovskite solar technologies, has demonstrated that its coating processes are transferable to existing commercial roll-to-roll manufacturing lines in a project with compatriot manufacturer Verico Technology.

A recent industry event about organic, perovskite, and other emerging cell technologies hosted by TechBlick revealed advances in power conversion efficiencies, stability, availability of materials, and specialized manufacturing equipment. The event also showed that the number of startup companies, new products and new pilot lines is increasing at a fast pace.

A team of researchers from China and the United States has summarized the commercialization status of several manufacturers, including Saule Technologies, Solaronix, Panasonic, Toshiba, Utmolight, Wonder Solar, Kunshan GCL, and Microquanta.