Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

Companies can apply for incentives to set up gigawatt-scale solar factories in India. Applications can be submitted until June 30 and the list of successful recipients will be announced on July 26, with letters of award to be issued four days later.

The Swiss manufacturer opened its module factory in Freiberg a few days after having begun manufacturing activities at its 400 MW cell factory in Thalheim.

In the proposed system, the optical element is placed symmetrically at the center of the solar panel in order to increase the length of the effective light collection region. Each hologram is claimed to be able to separate the colors of sunlight and direct them to the solar cells within the panel.

Researchers led by the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi have projected the waste expected from end-of-life solar panels and related components. They assumed 347.5 GW of total installed solar generation capacity would be reached this decade. The academics said the waste would include critical metals worth around $645 trillion, 70% of which could be recovered.

Solar manufacturers Longi and Zhonghuan Semiconductor have reported output at their factories in the two provinces has been reduced by earthquakes that happened on Friday night and before dawn on Saturday. Elsewhere, module maker Jolywood has announced the signing of an agreement with the city government of Taiyuan, in Shanxi province, to build a TOPCon solar cell fab with a 16 GW production capacity.

The Q.Peak Duo XL-G10.3 panel is currently the largest and most powerful product manufactured by the South Korean module maker. It is based on 156 monocrystalline ‘Q.antum’ half cells and is the company’s first panel relying on M6 wafers.

The cell was fabricated with a flexible substrate made of indium tin oxide (ITO) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The device was tested through a damp heat test and showed it can retain around 90% of its initial efficiency after 800 hours.

Trina Solar broke ground on its Thai Nguyen plant in December, and completed construction in five months.

The discussion about the extent to which forced labor exists in the solar value chain continues. A video, a university report, a ministerial response and a parliamentary machinations formed notable developments of the debate last week.

An investment of around €5 million will allow an old solar panel factory in the Beja district to reopen and create more than 40 new jobs. Galp Energia’s former director of innovation is part of the new team.