Brazil imported 5.2 GW of solar modules in Q1
High-power solar panels with outputs above 500 W accounted for more than 60% of all PV module imports to Brazil by volume in the January-March period.
REC Silicon to restart poly production at Moses Lake in 2023
REC Silicon says a cash injection from South Korea’s Hanwha will help it to resume fluidized bed reactor production at the Moses Lake polysilicon plant in the US state of Washington.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: China’s NEA predicts 108 GW of solar in 2022
The Chinese government says the nation is on track to install 108 GW of PV this year. Huaneng says it will build a new 10 GW module factory, while Akcome has revealed plans to increase its heterojunction panel capacity by 6 GW.
Photovoltaics for refrigeration
Scientists in Saudi Arabia looked at the potential of different solar technologies to meet energy demand for cooling systems. They found that PV is the best cost-effective option, especially for compression refrigeration cycles in hot climates.
New solar module for pavement applications
Hungary’s Platio Solar has developed a new PV module line featuring monocrystalline and polycrystalline cells with clear or opal glass.
Higher prices not holding back European demand
With demand across European markets, and market segments, surging, supply of key components is tight. Longi has product and is ready to ship, according to Gulnara Abdullina, vice president Europe for Longi Solar, who reports that while some projects may be postponed, plans are not being shelved.
Fraunhofer ISE achieves 47.6% efficiency with III-V four-junction CPV cell
Fraunhofer ISE have improved the performance of a cell structure originally developed by France’s Soitec in 2014. The German scientists managed to reduce resistance losses and the reflection on the cell front side.
Ciel et Terre presents new solar floater models
Ciel et Terre has unveiled a new rough-water floater and another rigid platform that maximizes the number of solar panels per square meter.
Lack of European solar manufacturing could cripple RePower EU bid
Wood Mackenzie says Europe would need to dramatically raise its PV production capability to ensure the 420 GW-plus of new solar it wants this decade does not arrive in the form of Asian panels.
Trina Solar’s pathway to TOPCon
Trina Solar will eventually start selling TOPCon and heterojunction products, even though it built its first large-scale TOPCon project four years ago. The company says it is now making progress on TOPCon module production, despite supply chain issues.
