Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

Module degradation tests are essential not only for effective plant operations, but also to ensure an optimum ROI. However, fixed laboratories, where such tests are usually carried out, involve transportation issues, while it is not always economically feasible to send in mobile laboratories. So how can degradation in these instances be measured? Leonardo Enrique Pérez Abreu, Technical Manager of the Testing & Optimization department at Enertis discusses this issue.

German company, Geltz Umwelt-Technologie has developed an advanced recycling plant, which it says could recover up to 95% of the materials in a module for reuse. With funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 project, the company is planning a pilot facility that could recycle up to 50,000 silicon based PV modules per year.

Turnkey PV equipment supplier, Midsummer has received a repeat order from an unidentified Asian customer for its thin film cell production equipment. On the back of strong demand, it adds that expansion is on the cards.

Taiwanese solar PV cell manufacturer, Motech has shut down production in Suzhou, China, and potentially shelved plans for an 800 MW fab in Kunshan. It will instead focus production on two other sites in the country. In Taiwan, it has reportedly stopped production of solar ingots and wafers, and has suffered massive Q2 2018 losses.

The first 200 MW section of the manufacturing facility, to be located in Vinnytsia, in Central Ukraine, is set to be operational by the end of this year. The second 200 MW phase of the project will be implemented by the end of 2019.

By double stacking a perovskite-silicon solar cell and using the cell in a glass-on-glass bifacial solar module, scientists model that a 30-36% efficient solar module can be attained.

The vertically integrated Swiss company has announced work on its 100 MWp heterojunction PV cell manufacturing plant in Hungary is back on track, following a successful company restructuring. Originally, it was set to be online in 2016.

With capital projects CIGSfab and CIGSlab – according to the PV equipment provider – on schedule, Manz expects big follow-up orders from its Chinese customers as solar provided the highlight of the parent company’s first-half figures.

A combination of national, state and public body commitments could see the amount of PV added nationally treble on the last four-year period. But even with a new 7-8 GW added, rooftop solar will still be bringing up the rear.

For solar to survive in a world without feed-in tariffs, further innovation focused on cost reduction is necessary. In this white paper, scientists from Swiss equipment supplier Meyer Burger argue that high efficiency cell concepts, and in particular heterojunction, will be among the best technologies solar can bet on to achieve this.