The role of chlorine in thin film solar
Scientists in the UK have explained the mechanism behind chlorine used to boost the efficiency of cadmium telluride thin-film solar cells. With new understanding of the chemical processes at work in the manufacturing process, the group hopes to be able to push for cell efficiencies beyond 25%.
India’s Reliance Industries may acquire REC Solar
Mumbai-based Reliance Industries and REC Solar have declined to comment on rumors that the Indian company might acquire the Norwegian PV module maker, in a potential transaction that Indian media outlets have already valued at $1 billion to $1.2 billion.
Goldi Solar unveils M10 modules
Indian manufacturer Goldi Solar has introduced the HELOC̣ Pro series, featuring mono-facial and bifacial modules based on M10 wafers.
Silfab doubles US solar panel production capacity
Module manufacturer Silfab has opened a new plant north of Seattle and is now shipping its 370 W Prime series modules.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Financials for Longi, Xinte, Solargiga, Irico, Golden Solar
Longi posted a net profit of $773 million in the first half of the year after shipping 17 GW of modules. Xinte reported a net result of $190 million and Solargiga saw its revenue increase significantly.
GCL enters ‘final phase’ of its great project sell-off
The solar farm development unit owned by the poly maker sold off 2 GW of photovoltaic generation capacity in China in the first six months of the year but has confirmed more sales lie ahead.
Novel approach for thermophotovoltaics promises higher efficiencies
U.S. researchers have proposed a new approach to fabricate solar thermophotovoltaics (STPV) with higher power densities. The novel technique consists of reducing the distance between the emitter and the solar cell to a nanoscale.
Single crystal perovskite solar cell with 17.8% efficiency
The solar cell was manufactured with crystals that were grown directly onto indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates covered with hole transport layer (HTL). These substrates have a controlled thickness of tens of micrometers and area of tens of mm2. The device showed an efficiency of 17.8%, a short-circuit current of 21.0 mA cm−2, an open-circuit voltage to 1.08 V, and a fill factor to 78.6%.
Debate over US solar safeguards starting to heat up
The governments of Mexico, Malaysia, and Turkey – along with the Solar Energy Industries Association, NextEra Energy Resources, REC Americas, and other companies – are chiming in to have a say in a recently reignited debate in the U.S. solar market.
Loom Solar unveils 440W/530W bifacial modules
India’s Loom Solar has launched its Shark line of bifacial PV modules for rooftop projects. The nine-busbar panels have power outputs ranging from 440 W to 530 W, with front-side efficiencies ranging from 20% to 21% and rear-side gains of up to 20%.
