US startup wins $7.6 million in funding for ribbon silicon furnaces
Leading Edge Equipment Technologies falls in the kerfless solar wafer or direct solar wafer category. Its “drop-in” manufacturing tech cuts wafer costs by 50%, drives up commercial PV power by 7%, and reduces manufacturing emissions by 50%. It’s the emissions piece that may be winning over investors.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Stable wafer and cell prices and another 2.2 GW solar-plus-storage project
Solar manufacturers Longi and Tongwei have frozen next month’s prices.
Can CIGS thin-film PV manufacturing return in the US?
A scientist familiar with First Solar’s earlier efforts in CIGS makes the case for the CdTe pioneer to return to the technology.
The best PV module cooling technique
An international research team has analyzed all existing cooling technologies for PV panels and has indicated the current best options and future trends of research. According to its findings, active water cooling, although expensive and not particularly practical, is the most effective cooling technique while passive cooling systems, despite being easy to apply, have still limited possibilities.
Update of the ITRPV roadmap shows three wafer formats will prevail
In an update to its International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics, the German engineering association the VDMA said that solar module sizes of up to 4.0m² may be brought to mass production in the future.
Australian scientists shed light on perovskite problem
Australian researchers have made a significant discovery in the fight against light-induced phase segregation in next-generation PV cells.
PV-powered drone for emergency services
Netherlands-based technology companies Avy and Wattlab have conducted the first test flight of a drone prototype that is planned to be used in medical projects in Africa.
Armor announces 26% efficiency for organic solar cell
The French organic PV specialist has achieved the record efficiency for cells exposed to low light (1000 lux). Armor sees potential in energy-intensive applications.
Swift Solar to push perovskite market forward
Born from an Oxford research group, the startup is looking to make its name by developing all-perovskite tandems – something no other company has done.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Inner Mongolia set for 5 GW solar-storage-hydrogen complex
The China Energy Investment Corp is planning to invest RMB22 billion in a facility in the autonomous region. The state-owned mining and energy company has signed a framework agreement with the government of the city of Yijin Holo Banner for the project.
