The latest efficiency milestone for Natcore’s Foil Cell is verified by the NanoPower Research Lab at Rochester Institute for Technology. The result was achieved on the Natcore Foil Cell, which utilizes a lasering process and novel metallization strategy, eliminating the need for costly silver.

Figures released by GTM Research show that U.S.-based NEXTracker remained the global market leader for the second year running, although Indian and Chinese suppliers gained major headway as the market continues to globalize.

Schmid and MacDermid have been selected as pv magazine’s 2017 Technology Highlights award winners. In late March, the prize jury of industry experts met to select the winners, from a shortlist of eight innovative new PV production equipment and materials. Dozens of entries to the award were received from suppliers worldwide. Alongside the two winners, the jury selected Sinton Instruments as worthy of special commendation as having provided the ‘Technology to Watch’ in 2017.

Figures published today by both IHS Markit and GTM research forecast annual growth in the global solar market in 2017, albeit at a slower rate than was seen in 2016. The analysts predict continued demand from the four largest markets, particularly China and India, as the key drivers behind this growth.

Utility Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has chosen construction contractors Blattner and Black & Veatch to build its eight new utility-scale solar projects. This announcement comes as Florida’s solar market is experiencing rapid growth.

German technology group Heraeus and U.S. company Materion Advanced Materials have announced the completion of the latter’s acquisition of the target materials business belonging to Heraeus.

Scientists at Oregon State University (OSU) have developed the world’s first battery using Hydronium ions to carry its charge. OSU says that the development provides new options for the development of stationary batteries to store power generated from solar PV.

Since 2015, our Technology Highlights feature has sought out the latest and greatest technological developments in PV. Now we’re ready to receive entries from across the industry for the 2017 feature, which will be a major highlight of our April edition, and enjoy a large media presence at the SNEC show in Shanghai.

A new mixed-use building complex being developed by Somerset Development will feature the installation of more than 3,200 solar skylights, which will generate electricity whilst naturally illuminating the complex.

The equipment maker’s results for Q1 fiscal 2017 show a dip in revenue but growth in orders for solar equipment compared to the previous quarter.