SunPower still swinging in Q3 results
The high efficiency PV maker is still chasing elusive profitability, but had some major successes this quarter and is optimistic about new technologies and opportunities.
First Solar’s big format brings big bookings
The PV maker’s quarterly results show not only the ramping of its Series 6 production at a third location, but also bookings that continuing to climb, with 11.3 GW of modules now under contract.
53 investments in the sun
The Department of Energy announced funding for 53 new through “advance early-stage” solar technologies. The projects in solar PV, CSP, finance and workforce training will receive up to $53 million in funding.
REC Silicon struggles with even lower demand, Chinese tariffs
Revenue for the polysilicon maker’s solar materials segment fell almost 70% on the previous quarter, and the company reports its Moses Lake, Washington facility is running at only 25% capacity.
You had me at “hand-washed wafers”
In August, REC started manufacturing its newest flagship solar module: the REC330NP in the N-Peak Series, offering 19.8% efficiency at 330 watts. Its 60-cell format is practically two modules in one, building on the company’s two decades of accumulated manufacturing competency.
BNEF: U.S. module prices seeing “aggressive” reductions
The analytics firm expects the price of mono-PERC modules to fall to $0.37 per watt by the end of the year, despite the 30% Section 201 tariffs.
Solar panel theoretical efficiency limit increases by 33%
Researchers at the University of Amsterdam have found what they describe as conclusive evidence that perovskites feature “efficient carrier multiplication,” effectively increasing the single layer efficiency limit from 33% to 44%.
SunCast with Canadian Solar CEO Dr. Shawn Qu
The latest episode of SunCast brings an interview with one of the leading solar manufacturers in the world, Canadian Solar CEO Dr. Shawn Qu.
Module prices have fallen by up to 25% so far this year
According to a Q3 report by EnergyTrend, monocrystalline module prices have fallen almost 20% this year, while those for polycrystalline modules have dropped by more than 25%. Increased consolidation among manufacturers and developers is expected to occur in China, and the global solar market, with more merger deals, plans for capacity reductions, and even factory closures.
Solar modules on the floor at Solar Power International 2018
pv magazine walked the floor at SPI 2018 seeing many well known faces, and known products, plus new names bringing new ideas.
