Solar Frontier changes ownership
The CIS thin film solar module maker was taken over, together with its parent company Japan’s oil and gas group, Showa Shell Sekiyu, by Japanese oil refiner Idemitsu.
Chinese market turbulence affects another slew of PV employees in Taiwan
TSEC is planning to cut a fifth of its workforce as it changes focus to produce higher-efficiency PERC cells, against a backdrop of more generic products swamping the market because of a slowdown in the world’s biggest market.
High-yield recycling of PV modules demonstrated by EU team
A project has demonstrated the numerous advantages of PV recycling and highlighted three techniques to turn panel waste into high-value materials.
URE gets $90m financial backing from Taiwanese government
Taipei will invest in the company through its National Development Fund and government-run glass manufacturer Yao Hwa Glass Co. Ltd.
Meyer Burger to lay off 100 workers and relocate most of PV business to Asia
There may be a much-vaunted ‘solar renaissance’ in the offing for Europe, but it hasn’t come quickly enough for the Swiss PV equipment supplier, which wants to handle most of its sales and services from China.
Daqo aims to slash polysilicon price as it forges ahead with production expansion
Deal negotiated with local electric utility for cheaper energy and a comprehensive modernization program will enable the poly maker to drive down production costs even more aggressively as it bids for market share in a swollen marketplace.
Trina bags 123 MW order from Ukraine
The Chinese module manufacturer will supply its panels for a huge solar project under development in the Dnipropetrovsk region, in southeastern Ukraine.
China’s Tongwei ramping up solar research and development
Heterojunction and TOPcon cell technologies being explored by Hefei-based cell and module maker. The Chinese giant is also preparing to fly in the face of predictions the big players will curtail plans to expand production after this year’s policy developments in their homeland.
India’s ‘world’s biggest’ solar auction delayed by a month
The bid submission deadline for the national 10 GW PV project plus manufacturing tender is now November 12. According to officials, there are amendments to be made to the tender requirements.
American scientists give PV a paint job
Berkeley researchers have discovered a shade of blue – dating back to ancient Egypt – which has impressive qualities they say could reduce building energy consumption and boost solar energy output. Meanwhile, the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory has developed a perovskite cell material that could be applied to a substrate using a paintbrush.
