Hevel partners with Kyrgyz monocrystalline wafer manufacturer Astra
The agreement includes the possibility of establishing an industrial cluster for solar module manufacturing, as well as industrial and financial cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union.
Astronergy closes German module factory
The Chinese manufacturer first announced plans to close its manufacturing facility in Frankfurt (Oder) at the beginning of this year. About 40 people who worked at the factory will now shift over to a transfer company.
GCL-Poly posts $68m net loss for 2018
Chinese polysilicon giant GCL-Poly Energy today posted its financial results for the full year 2018. The company saw a loss of RMB 458.4 million ($68.3 million), which it attributes primarily to China’s 31/5 policy.
China’s CSUN faces India ban over module contract disputes
The Indian government is considering the ban in response to complaints about China Sunergy allegedly defaulting on PV module shipments to project developers Acme Solar, RattanIndia and Refex Energy. Last year, German EPC specialist Goldbeck Solar reported a similar experience with the Chinese supplier.
Phono Solar: Module factories in the US and South America on the horizon
pv magazine recently caught up with Aaron Wu, executive vice president of Phono Solar Technology, the Nanjing-based PV manufacturer. Phono Solar is a bankable supplier, having achieved top tier status in 2014 and being part of SUMEC Group Corp., a diversified industrial group with over RMB 80 billion ($11.87 billion) in turnover in 2018.
Big batteries are coming to California
Macquarie has closed on funding for a third portion of a 340 MWh project in Southern California, and LADWP is planning 1.8 GW of batteries.
European researchers seek standard to assess short-circuit current temperature of PV devices
A European research team working on the EU-funded EURAMET ENG55 “PhotoClass” project has taken a step toward standardizing the measurement of the relative temperature dependence of the short-circuit current in different PV devices, although it applied completely different approaches.
Shunfeng to sell production assets for $447m
A unit of Shunfeng International Clean Energy (SFCE) has agreed to sell PV manufacturing assets to Asia Pacific Resources Development Investment for RMB 3 billion ($447 million).
Hanwha Q Cells expands Australian patent infringement lawsuit to include REC, BayWa r.e., Sol Distribution
The South Korean solar module maker has filed another claim with the Federal Court of Australia against Norwegian solar manufacturer REC Group, as well as PV distributors BayWa r.e. Solar Systems and Sol Distribution, for distributing products that allegedly infringe on its patents.
High-efficiency solar module upgrades from REC and Trina
REC Group has begun production of its residential N-Peak Black series, reaching up to 325 watts. Concurrently, Trina Solar has released four new modules within its Tallmax, Duomax, Duomax Twin and Honey series — some of which reach up to 415 watts.
