CSEM inaugurates expanded solar research and testing facilities
The Swiss research institutes PV-center is now fully operational with a cleanroom and module production and testing labs.
Australia's UNSW sets sunlight-to-electricity efficiency record of 34.5%
Result by engineers at that University of New South Wales edges the solar industry closer to the theoretical limits of PV efficiency, smashing previous record of 24% set by Alta Devices of the U.S.
Meyer Burger, Eternal Sun named as 2016 Technology Highlights award winners
Meyer Burger’s DW288 Series 3 diamond wire saw, and Eternal Sun’s Climate Chamber and Solar Simulator have been named as the winners of the 2016 Technology Highlights award. The award recognizes excellence in innovation and execution from PV production equipment and materials suppliers with the winners selected by an eight-person international jury of solar industry experts.
GT Advanced Technologies to release new multicrystalline furnace at SNEC
Its more positive news for GT Advanced Technologies after emerging from bankruptcy earlier in the year, with the new furnace capable of producing more than 20 MW worth of ingots annually.
Enphase Energy launches its Enphase AC Battery in Australia and New Zealand
The two countries will be the first region in the world where the California-based company will be selling its Enphase Home Energy Solution, as it continues to expand into international markets.
Siva Power to build CIGS pilot line
Siva Power has raised US$5 million, in a series D round, to construct a pilot line for its CIGS PV technology. The line will be installed at the company’s Santa Clara base.
CLP India aiming to enter the solar market with purchase of Suzlon projects
Reports coming out of India suggest that wind energy giant Suzlon is negotiating a deal with CLP India to sell 100 MW of PV projects, marking CLPs first steps in Indias growing solar market.
Developments on over 1 GW of new PV in India
Progress on three solar schemes and projects in India, which have a potential combined capacity of 1050 MW, including 500 MW of rooftop PV being tendered by SECI, a piece of land being assigned for a 200 MW project in Rajasthan, and SkyPower agreeing EPC and O&M contracts with Sterling and Wilson for 350 MW of PV projects.
UNSW takes out CZTS efficiency world record
Researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have achieved a world record conversion efficiency of 7.6% for a 1cm2 copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) solar cell. Japan’s Solar Frontier, with IBM and Tokyo Ohka Kogyo, have previously achieved 12.6%, however on a smaller 0.42cm2 substrate.
Schmid supplies APVCD tooling for high efficiency cell research
Schmid has announced that three PV research institutes have deployed its APCVD solution for the development of PERL (passivated emitter and rear locally diffused) and IBC cells. The high efficiency cell concepts can employ the APCVD tool for boron and phosphorus diffusion.
