Oxford PV receives $43m investment from Meyer Burger and others
The British-German perovskite startup has closed series D funding with another £34 million to bring the money raised in the round to £65 million.
Battery maker CATL ramps up investment in German gigafab to €1.8 billion
Previously, a mere €240 million was set to flow into the giga-factory. The corporation’s management reasoned new demand for its battery cells made more investment necessary.
Amtech nears final solar exit with SoLayTec sale
The Arizona-based equipment maker is sticking to its guns by withdrawing from the PV market after sales wobbled in China last year. With most of the big players having rediscovered their thirst for expansion, however, it appears a curious strategy.
Italy’s FuturaSun opens 500 MW module fab in China
The company has opened a 500 MW factory in Jiangsu province. The fab will produce monocrystalline multi-busbar modules and, according to FuturaSun, plans are already under way to double its capacity as it continues to take the fight to the big boys.
The weekend read: Atomic layer deposition storms market for PERC
Technology made in China competes with conventional plasma-based equipment to deposit the aluminum oxide layers at the heart of passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) cells.
India wins WTO solar dispute against US
A World Trade Organization panel has found a U.S. move to incentivize the use of domestic solar products put imported goods from India and other countries at a disadvantage.
Jinko makes a convincing case as it upgrades mono capability
The Shanghai-based wafer, cell and module maker appears to be steering a steady course through a tumultuous period for the solar industry and its plans are another sign high-efficiency modules may soon have to do more to earn that label.
Talesun pivots Thailand fab towards sanctioned US market with high efficiency retrofit
The Chinese manufacturer has embarked upon an upgrade of 1.5 GW of its module production lines which is set to be completed this year. Previously used to get around trade restrictions applied by the EU, the Thai facility will now produce output for the U.S. market.
Akasol plans to build new battery factory near Detroit
The German battery manufacturer will make products for electric trucks and buses at the facility, which is expected to employ 200 workers and produce 400 megawatt-hours of batteries annually.
Researchers develop method to synthesize graphene from abundant eucalyptus bark
Australian and Indian scientists have developed a method of manufacturing soluble graphene in a cost-effective and eco-friendly way from one of Australia’s most common resources, gum trees.
