According to the ongoing analysis of global PV manufacturing capacity expansions by PV Tech, high-efficiency solar cell migrations, whether monocrystalline or multicrystalline with PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact) and N-type mono heterojunction (HJ) have been gaining strong momentum since 2015.
PV manufacturing equipment specialist INDEOtec SA has been awarded a grant from the SWISS Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) to further develop its OCTOPUS deposition platform for heterojunction solar cells in partnership with Swiss research partner, CSEM.
Engineered Material Systems (EMS) has launched a new 561-400 series low-cost ‘snap cure’ conductive adhesive, which is designed for stringing and shingling crystalline silicon and heterojunction solar modules.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member GCL System Integrated Technology (GCL-SI) has reported a 30.5% decline in third quarter 2016 revenue, primarily due to a major slowdown in downstream PV project construction in China since the end of June and average selling price decline as overcapacity took hold in the quarter.
Headquartered in California, Sunpreme has launched the Maxima GxB380 SM, 380W, touted as the most advanced high efficiency bifacial panels with integrated a TIGO optimizer and uses its proprietary ‘Hybrid Cell Technology’ (HCT) platform.
In an unexpected development of the planned merger of Tesla and SolarCity, the electric car manufacturer has said that it had tentatively agreed with Japanese electronics firm, Panasonic to begin solar cell and module production at SolarCity’s Riverbend production plant in Buffalo, New York state in 2017.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Singulus Technologies said it had issued new shares valued at around €8 million to provide liquidity for supplying CIGS thin-film production equipment orders and the development of heterojunction (HJ) solar cell processing tools after securing an (MOU) with Golden Concord Holdings, majority share holder in GCL-Poly and GCL System.
Leading CdTe thin-film manufacturer First Solar is discontinuing development and production of its hybrid heterojunction silicon cell and module technology, acquired via the acquisition of start-up TetraSun.
Heraeus Photovoltaics will be featuring its new range of metallization pastes for PERC-solar cells as well as for low-temperature heterojunction and organic solar cell applications at Intersolar Europe 2016.