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Chinese module manufacturer increases revenue, module shipments and gross margin in first quarter of 2016 following concerted effort to supply higher cost markets.

Black Sheep campaign: Some PV panels or batches of modules are susceptible to potential induced degradation (PID), while others are scarcely affected. Currently, many PV farm operators are experiencing this reality. The third instalment of our “Bring on the Black Sheep” series describes a case in which a module manufacturer behaved in a close to exemplary manner, but the inverter manufacturer made life difficult.

As part of our pv magazine LIVE series, we bring you a new video report from SolarWorld’s 2016 Installer Summit in Portland Oregon, including commentary from SolarWorld Americas President Mukesh Dulani.

The German-American PV maker has now reached 550 MW of annual module capacity at its facility near Portland, Oregon, and has additionally begun production of 5-busbar cells and monocrystalline silicon ingots.

A new report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance on the future of energy not only points to solar as the technology that will have the most invested in it, but that costs will fall dramatically over the next 25 years, making it the cheapest energy source for most of the world by 2040.

Reports have emerged that electronics giant Apple is looking to sell solar electricity. Apple has formed the Apple Energy subsidiary, with an aim to trade electricity and potentially retail the solar electricity it generates from its PV power plants.

pv magazine’s ongoing Black Sheep campaign has uncovered a case in which a module supplier shipped modules that appear to have relabeled with a false module power rating. On further investigation the dealer was able to satisfy the end customer, but the dispute continues.

Deutsche Bank released some market analysis, addressing the concerns of North American solar investors, who fear a potential PV oversupply is on the horizon, changes to net metering policies, and rising Chinese competition.

The nation added 1.66 GW-DCof solar PV during the quarter, and GTM Research is forecasting a near doubling of the market over the full year to 14.5 GW.

The German Federal Cabinet has approved a draft of the EEG, which will see a tender for PV projects larger than 750 kWp, with 600 MW of large scale solar capacity to be tendered annually. The German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) has reacted positively to the tender, but slammed moves to introduce a tax on solar electricity consumed on-site.