Hanwha Q Cells places laser tool order with InnoLas
The Korean solar module developer has received InnoLas’ ILS-TT laser machine for its R&D facilities located in Germany.
Sono Motors ready for prototype stage of solar car
The German company has managed to generate EUR 230,000 (USD 257,000) through crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, which has enabled it to initiate the prototype stage for its innovative Sion car that is fitted with integrated solar cells.
Clean Energy Live: UK energy minister gives no clues where UK energy is heading
The U.K.’s energy minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe disappointed yesterday when addressing the Clean Energy Live show that is taking place in Birmingham, England. Apart from the usual political jargon, her speech offered no clues of ways that the British government plans to help solar industry growth in the time of zero subsidies.
REC achieves +20% efficiency for mass production of multicrystalline solar cells
The Norwegian solar developer has developed a formula to mass-produce its multicrystalline cells at average efficiencies of 20.21%, becoming the first known manufacturer to achieve such numbers.
Canadian PM Trudeau proposes significant prices to be put on carbon emissions
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set out a plan to put a CAD 10 (USD 7.6) per tonne price on all carbon pollution by 2018, which would then rise to CAD 50 per tonne by 2022, as he shows a stern resolve to tackle climate change head on, while stimulating the Canadian economy at the same time.
HPQ's Purevap process for transforming quartz into solar grade metal exceeds expectation during first test
The innovative process that transforms quartz into solar grade metal in one-step is being developed by PyroGenesis Canada, and has achieved encouraging purity levels as high as 99.97% during the first series of testing.
The pv magazine weekly news digest:
A tough week of tariff cuts and bankruptcies for the solar industry, although a few success stories from California, India and the Middle East serve to lighten the mood. The strange story of a potential lifeline for SunEdison, as well Solars mention in the first U.S. Presidential debate, also make for interesting developments.
Google solar project wins UN climate solutions award
Project Sunroof, an initiative led by Google, has been announced as one of 13 winners of the United Nations ‘Momentum for Change’ climate change award, by enabling tens of millions of Americans to evaluate the solar potential of their home with just the click of a button, showing them both monetary savings and environmental impact.
European researchers achieve 17.8 percent perovskite/CIGS mini module
Scientists from three research groups in Germany and Belgium have produced a perovskite/CIGS PV mini module with a conversion efficiency of 17.8%. The result marks the first time that the efficiency of a perovskite/CIGS stack PV module has surpassed that of perovskite and CIGS semiconductors. The researchers note that the technology could achieve efficiencies exceeding 25%, “in the next years.”
Avancis partners with Sunpartner for BIPV market
German PV module manufacturer Avancis has signed a strategic partnership with French solar tech company Sunpartner Technologies to incorporate its CIGS thin-film PV cells into Sunpartners energy generating glass.
