Chinese PV Industry Brief: Rising polysilicon prices, new 5 GW HJT cell factory
Wind power specialist Mingyang Smart Energy has revealed plans to build a 5 GW heterojunction module factory in China’s Jiangsu province, while TBEA has said it intends to raise its majority stake in Xinte Energy from 62% to 67%.
Monitoring near-infrared transmission for a healthy backsheet
Scientists in Germany developed a method to determine the structure and degradation of module backsheets and encapsulants in the field, by analyzing the material’s near infrared light transmission. Applying the theory to a multi-MW PV plant, the group was able to identify four different backsheet types. With further development, the method could be a valuable tool to monitor module degradation in the field and spot faults early on.
Mondragon Assembly secures licensing deal for continuous string process
Mondragon Assembly’s continuous string process technique is purportedly 10% more productive than a standard stringing machine.
Heckert Solar inaugurates 400 MW solar panel factory in Germany
The German manufacturer invested €21 million in the manufacturing facility. It will be devoted to producing the company’s new product series.
Red BIPV solar module from Italy
The module is available with wattages of 230-245 W and can reach an efficiency of up to 13.45%. The panel is part of a new series of colored products that includes silver and orange modules.
How much glass is needed for terawatt-scale PV?
German scientists have assessed demand for resources such as glass and silver until 2100 and have found that current tech learning rates could be sufficient to avoid supply concerns.
Meyer Burger to open 400 MW solar module factory in US
Meyer Burger plans to open a U.S. factory with an initial production capacity of 400 MW per year, with the potential to scale it up to multiple gigawatts of capacity.
All-weather imaging tech to detect PV module faults
The system combines software that applies a modulated electric current to the PV panels and an indium-gallium-arsenide (InGaAs) photodiode detector that takes a sequence of images of the panels. According to its creators, the proposed technique works with any lighting conditions and in all weather.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Giant solar-plus-storage project in the Kubuqi Desert
The 2 GW plant is expected to be connected to a storage facility with a capacity of 300 MW/600 MWh. Elsewhere, manufacturers Longi, Jinko, Trina Solar and Chint were the winners of a 5.5 GW solar panel procurement tender held by the China Energy Investment Corporation.
Sharp launches 540 W half-cut PV module with 20.9% efficiency
The IEC/EN61215 and IEC/EN61730-certified panel features 144 half-cells based on M10 wafers and a 10-busbar design. Its operating temperature coefficient is -0.341% per degree Celsius and its power tolerance reaches up to 5%.
