Solar modules under pressure: The growing risk of spontaneous glass breakage
Once considered isolated incidents, spontaneous glass breakages in solar modules are becoming more frequent, highlighting the limits of some manufacturing choices and the need for closer quality control.
German solar glass maker GMB files for insolvency
German solar glass manufacturer Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg GmbH has filed for insolvency, affecting 247 employees at its Tschernitz facility, according to multiple media reports.
Almaden plans solar glass factory in UAE
China’s Almaden says it will build a solar glass plant in the United Arab Emirates with an annual capacity of 500,000 tons, in line with its plans to globally expand as domestic profits fall.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Solar glass prices on the rise
Solar glass prices continued to climb this week, with 2.0 mm sheets rising 8% to CNY 13.5 ($1.85) per square meter and 3.2 mm sheets up 9.8% to CNY 22.5, according to the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNMIA).
Gold Plus Glass enters solar glass manufacturing
Indian float glass manufacturer Gold Plus Glass has commissioned a new PV glass factory with an installed production capacity of 109,500 metric tons per year.
US, Canada ramp up solar glass plans
With PV module capacity ramping up, glass suppliers have been investing in new solar glass production capacity. As in India and China, new facilities are popping up in North America, with unique twists to ensure competitiveness, such as using recycled material.
New soda ash factory in China to reduce solar glass prices
Inner Mongolia Berun Group recently inaugurated a new soda ash factory in China. pv magazine spoke about the impact of the new facility on solar glass prices with Marguerite Morrin, research director for OPIS’ Chemical Market Analytics. She said the facility will produce natural soda ash, which is cheaper than synthetic soda ash.
US solar glass provider to expand production by 6 GW
Canadian Premium Sand says it will expand production to provide its solar panel glass to Qcells, Meyer Burger, and Heliene, each of which has signed large supply agreements.
Borosil Renewables unit ramps up German solar glass capacity
Borosil Renewables says the solar glass capacity of its German unit, GMB Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg GmbH, has increased to 350 tons per day (tpd) from 300 tpd, following the modification of its furnace.
Cadmium telluride PV windows for domestic hot water production
Romania-based startup Photovoltaic Windows has developed an off-grid domestic hot water system powered by cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic semi-transparent glasses. It claims a 0.7 kW pilot installation on an apartment balcony in Bucharest resulted in annual savings of €1,100 ($1,202).
