President Biden vetoes legislation to repeal moratorium on solar tariffs
Biden vetoed the repeal, saying it would undermine the efforts to ramp up domestic manufacturing to support a burgeoning solar industry and would create uncertainty for businesses and workers in the U.S. solar industry.
Tongwei led global polysilicon capacity in 2022, says Bernreuter Research
The world’s top four largest polysilicon producers in 2022 were Chinese companies, led by Tongwei with 345,000 metric tons (MT), followed by GCL Technology, Daqo, Xinte, and Wacker Chemie.
Sharp unveils 570 W TOPCon solar panel with 22.07% efficiency
Sharp’s new IEC61215- and IEC61730-certified solar panel offers a power conversion efficiency of 22.07% and a bifaciality of more than 80%. The operating temperature coefficient is -0.30% per C and its power tolerance is 5%.
Researchers assess degradation in PV systems older than 15 years
Scientists have used the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) HOMER software to calculate the degradation of solar panels deployed in two rooftop PV systems operating in Germany since 2003. Their calculations focused on the energy productivity of the systems.
Carbon electrode perovskite solar cell with 20.8% efficiency
Researchers in China have built one of the most efficient carbon electrode perovskite solar cells ever reported to date. The device uses an organic/inorganic planar hole transport layer structure that purportedly has superior electrical contact.
US solar glass provider to expand production by 6 GW
Canadian Premium Sand says it will expand production to provide its solar panel glass to Qcells, Meyer Burger, and Heliene, each of which has signed large supply agreements.
Enel Green Power moves one step closer to solar cell and module factory in Oklahoma
If approved, the proposed U.S. factory will be Enel’s second solar manufacturing facility, as it previously announced the expansion of its 3Sun Gigafactory in Catania, Sicily. The U.S. factory will also be one of the few in the country manufacturing cells as well as modules.
Songci Mechatronics launches low oxygen furnace for n-type wafers
Songci Mechatronics says that its new furnace reduces concentric circles in n-type wafers by 50% and achieves about 24% lower oxygen content than mainstream wafers.
French startup plans 5 GW solar module factory
Holosolis aims to construct a new factory in Hambach, northwestern France, close to where REC previously had plans for a 4 GW heterojunction panel manufacturing facility.
Solar for microbreweries
Spanish researchers have studied the potential of rooftop PV in microbreweries and have found that solar could cut the cost of heating and refrigeration by nearly 30%. They say that coupling PV with small breweries could result in payback times ranging from 4.3 to 6.6 years.
