Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited has unveiled a new 72 cell photovoltaic module, the YGE-U 72 Cell, at this year’s Solar Power International in Orlando, Florida. Designed specifically to supply the North American utility-scale solar market, it has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories for a maximum system voltage rating of 1,000V.

By Q1 2014, the amended WEEE Directive, which obliges producers to take back, for free, and recycle photovoltaic modules, must be transferred into national law in all EU countries. This was underlined to pv magazine by PV Cycle spokeswoman, Alina Lange. However, who the producer is, still has to be defined.

Germany-based Manz AG has announced its CIGS thin film photovoltaic panels have reached an efficiency of 14.6% in production conditions. The company adds that it will able to supply power costing as little as €0.04/kWh in the future.

Spain-based Isofotón will announce the opening of its new photovoltaic manufacturing facility in Napoleon, Ohio during next week’s Solar Power International event. Production at the facility is scheduled to commence in November.

As with photovoltaic module manufacturers and project developers, inverter manufacturers must look to emerging markets in order to secure future growth, according to new research. Latest industry figures further indicate that while the market will continue to increase, European demand is on the wane. Meanwhile, inverter prices will experience another “double digit” drop this year.

Lux Research has said that emerging technologies will bring the costs of photovoltaic metallization down and improve process yields. Overall, copper has been named as the “logical metallization winner”.

The renewable energy inverter industry is facing a dichotomy, says Pike Research. On the one hand, it is undergoing an “intense period of technological innovation”, but on the other, it is in “turmoil”. Overall, the market, led by photovoltaic applications, is expected to be worth more than US$19 billion in 2017. Meanwhile, differentiation has been highlighted as a key survival tool.

ReneSola Ltd has increased its full year 2012 photovoltaic product shipment guidance on the back of strong 1H sales. In related news, it has signed a 100 MW module distribution agreement with Greece-based Big Solar S.A.

Satcon Technology Corporation, A123 Systems, Renewable Energy Services, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) have been awarded US$2 million by the California Energy Commission to work on the development of storage technologies that will help reduce renewable energy power intermittency.

According to NPD Solarbuzz’s latest quarterly report, producers of polysilicon and wafers for the photovoltaic industry can expect some respite in 2013, after a tough year of falling prices.