Manufacturing innovations on show at European Solar Technology Forum
This week, pv magazine attended the European Solar Technology Forum, where researchers unveiled new innovations from across the manufacturing spectrum, prompting plenty of discussion over how the future will look for solar in terms of the technology available and its applications. Bold claims of the potential for a further 20% cost reduction in manufacturing were made.
First Solar knocks it out of the park in Q3
The thin-film maker topped $1 billion in quarterly revenue with impressive profitability and a strong war chest as it continues its retooling for Series 6.
Panasonic to close US ingot factory and eliminate 92 jobs
In its announcement, the company cited “business conditions in [its] part of the solar industry” as the reason for the closure, making it the second Oregon solar company to announce a closure in the past month.
Jinko reports further growth
In the second quarter of 2017, the Chinese PV manufacturer shipped around 3 GW of solar modules. However, sales and earnings were not as high as shipments, due to lower selling prices. For the second half of the year, Jinko Solar is forecasting stable module prices and increased profitability.
Kazatomprom launches tender for sale of solar manufacturing units
The Kazakh state-owned national atomic energy company will start receiving bids for the acquisition of its three solar manufacturing subsidiaries on September 8. Purchase price was set at around $14 million.
SunPower announces pilot line for new back-contact technology
The new 5 MW line in Silicon Valley will produce cells and modules under a new IBC technology from the company that makes the most powerful commercially available silicon solar products.
Hanwha Q-Cells to inaugurate Turkey panel factory in November
The winning consortium of Turkey’s tender for a 1 GW solar PV plant in Konya has announced its plan to also inaugurate a panel factory in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, in November. pv magazine provides an update on the 1 GW PV plant and the solar panel factory.
Energyra to build solar module factory in the Netherlands
The manufacturing facility will have an initial capacity of 100 MW and will produce both mono and polycrystalline modules.
SolarWorld resumes activities with 700 MW and 515 employees
The German manufacturer will focus on the production of PERC solar cells and bifacial glass-glass modules in the future.
Centrotherm achieves slightly better results
The German PV equipment supplier reports a stronger order intake for the first half of this year. Turnover, however, was lower than last year.
