US election: solar, renewable and climate advocates cool on Trump win
While those within the U.S. are understandably nervy after Trump’s victory, global observers have taken a more sanguine view on the potential impact of his Presidency on solar markets.
Tesla to pick up German engineering company to boost automation
It is not clear at this time if Tesla plans to apply Grohmann Engineering’s automation expertise to either the SolarCity PV module factory or its battery manufacturing in Nevada.
First Solar revenues fall, but profit and technology progress remain strong
The thin-film solar maker and developer continues to report significant increases in its module efficiency, as it moves towards more module-only sales.
JA Solar settles $1 billion lawsuit with Hemlock
Facing a lawsuit in the region of $1 billion filed by polysilicon producer Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation, the Chinese Tier 1 solar company has today reached a settlement at the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Tesla, SolarCity stress financial, operational benefits in advance of merger vote
Elon Musk and Lyndon Rive are arguing that SolarCity will bring cash in to Tesla’s balance sheet, while shareholders wait for the solar installer’s results call.
Bankruptcy court approves GCL purchase of SunEdison FBR polysilicon tech
The acquisition narrows the number of companies that are developing FBR, and further consolidates the transfer of this technology to Chinese companies.
Shipments up, revenue down in preliminary SolarWorld Q3 results as module price slump bites
Having warned it will miss its 2016 forecast, German solar firm SolarWorld publishes flat preliminary third quarter results that reveal slight fall in revenue. Shipments did grow Y-O-Y by 5%.
Berkley Labs will lead DOE effort to find breakthrough materials for solar panels
Under the direction of Anubhav Jain of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, five DOE labs will work to accelerate the development and development of innovative materials for PV modules.
ITRPV: PERC, n-type mono and copper wire interconnection to gain ground (with charts)
VDMA’s guide to technology trends in the PV industry expects rapid change in the cell and module space.
From the editor: Price collapse
I have focused in recent weeks on political issues at the state and national level for my editorials. However, not all of the solar industry’s concerns have to do with politics. At least not directly.
