Energy funding: Voltus raises $25 million for demand response and DERs, plus VC for new solar silicon production
And $156 million for energy retrofits from Redaptive.
REC Silicon could restart poly production at Moses Lake
The Norwegian polysilicon maker has been been frozen out of the Chinese solar market by political tensions between Beijing and the U.S. and mothballed its Washington State production line last year. However, two recent business agreements could change all that.
Solar startup wins $7.6 million in VC funding for innovative ribbon silicon furnaces
Leading Edge Equipment Technologies falls in the kerfless solar wafer or direct solar wafer category. According to the company, its “drop-in” manufacturing technology reduces wafer costs by 50%, increases commercial solar panel power by up to 7%, and reduces manufacturing emissions by over 50%. It’s the emissions piece that might be winning over investors.
Can CIGS thin-film solar manufacturing re-emerge in the US? Can First Solar play a role?
A scientist intimate with First Solar’s earlier efforts in CIGS makes the case for the CdTe pioneer to re-enter the technology.
Canadian Solar to launch 600+ W photovoltaic module
Bigger PV module designs are now hitting the market, but the production of larger, more powerful solar panels is challenging. Canadian Solar is launching its new Series 7 modules with pv magazine in a webinar on Oct. 29. Our editorial team recently caught up with Canadian Solar’s chairman and CEO, Shawn Qu, and director of module R&D, Alan Xu, to discuss the company’s latest efforts to shake up the market.
A solar module stress test for all seasons
Scientists led by NREL have developed a new stress testing protocol for PV modules, one designed to simultaneously expose modules to multiple stresses, as they likely would be in the field. Putting modules through this test, the researchers have already been able to reveal new information regarding backsheet degradation, and they promise new insights into other degradation mechanisms.
Morning Brief: Human rights allegations in Xinjiang China could jeopardize solar supply chain
Also in the brief: Time to see how serious industry is about ESG and D&I versus LCOE. Plus Hawaii solar on the rise.
Trump pulls tariff exemption for bifacial panels — again
Proclamation issued Oct. 10 cites impact of imported bifacial panels on U.S. solar manufacturing, while also raising the scheduled fourth-year tariff rate from 15% to 18%.
Swift Solar looks to reinvigorate and push the 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.
Not all solar panels are created equal, according to the Ultra Low-Carbon Solar Alliance
As the world accelerates towards decreasing carbon emissions, so too should the solar industry’s supply chain. This was the idea that has led to the founding of the Ultra Low-Carbon Solar Alliance, which officially launched today.
