Hanwha Q Cells

At the smarter E-Intersolar Europe trade show this week, awards have been given to the technologies driving the energy transition to a low carbon future. Prizes include the Intersolar Award, recognizing PV technology; the EES prize for storage innovation; and the smarter E awards – one of which was given to an off-grid agricultural project in Australia.

The South Korean group will start construction of the factory, in Whitfield County, Georgia, this year, with completion slated for 2019

The solar module manufacturer reports that Europe will likely replace the United States as its number one market, due to the recent introduction of the duties introduced by the Trump administration. Although quarterly revenue grew by around 2.5% year-on year, and net profit almost doubled from $17.6 million to $31 million, the outlook for 2018 shipments has been lowered by 400 MW to 5.6 GW to 5.8 GW.

The company’s wafer factory in China was closed in the fourth quarter of 2017. Hanwha Q Cells, however, intends to further produce wafers at its new factory in Turkey.

Korean module manufacturing giant, Hanwha Q Cells reported a net loss of US$9.2 million for the full year 2017, falling from a net income of $127.5 million in the previous year. The company cited a one-time loss associated with the discontinuation of wafer manufacturing as the main reason for the decline.

PERC power: As PERC settles into its position as a mainstream technology, leading module manufacturers are searching for ways to push ever more watts out of their module, and eliminate lingering degradation issues. So far this has included ramping up production capacities for half-cell modules and developing innovative new connection strategies. pv magazine looks into the latest technologies leading to gains in power output and quality at module level.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has awarded 140 MW of solar capacity to eight companies across nine locations, with the lowest bid coming in at JPY 17.2 ($0.15)/kWh, according to a local media report.

pv magazine has learned that Hanwha QCells has started the construction of its Turkish panel factory, which the company decided to locate in the country’s capital city Ankara due to earthquake risks. The decision opens the debate about nuclear safety in Turkey even more powerfully.

The Korean manufacturing giant posted a slight drop in revenue and profits for the third quarter ending September 30th, but expects to achieve total module shipments in the range of 5.5 GW to 5.7 GW for the full year 2017.

The Dublin headquarters of Butlers Chocolate is now home to the largest Solar PV rooftop installation in Ireland. Hanwha Q Cells supplied and installed the modules.