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.
iDES3 Launches Residential, C&I Storage Units
San Diego-based iDemand Energy Storage (iDES3) already has sold $15 million worth of its lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4)-based energy storage systems since the company was launched in August.
Tesla breaks into the black in Q3 results
The EV and battery maker maintains that its battery gigafactory will be ready to support Model 3 rollout in H2 2017, three weeks before a shareholder vote on the acquisition of SolarCity.
NEXTracker wind testing stands up to Hurricane Matthew
NEXTracker recently sent us a photo of its trackers standing unharmed in a small lake of water delivered by Hurricane Matthew, emphasizing the point that rigorous wind testing is good for the solar industry.
Tesla gigafactory to combine Silevo, Panasonic HIT solar technologies
Panasonic will operate the Buffalo “gigafactory”, and sell modules to Tesla/SolarCity.
SMA lowers financial forecast for 2016
The world’s largest inverter maker, SMA Solar Technology, has been forced to reduce its financial outlook for 2016. This follows SolarWorld making a similar announcement.
SolarWorld to miss 2016 forecasts
The German PV manufacturer announced that although it is set to achieve its shipment forecast for 2016, it is unlikely to meet its revenue and operating income forecasts for the year, and has already begun to point the finger at Chinese companies.
No duty evasion investigation on steel pipe from China
Federal authorities have declined to investigate allegations made by U.S. manufacturers that Chinese makers of steel pipe used in solar racking are evading import tariffs
Stunning price falls could spark another gold rush for U.S. solar market
A Deutsche Bank report has predicted “sharp declines” in U.S. solar module and inverter prices that it says could drive payback periods down to less than five years and spark a “final ‘gold rush’” in the American residential, commercial and industrial markets, starting in 2017.
Trina Solar breaks multicrystalline silicon solar module efficiency record
The Chinese PV manufacturing heavyweight achieved an aperture efficiency record of 19.86%, which is up a significant 0.7% from the previous record of 19.14%, as the trend in the industry is for continuing efficiency improvements across all solar cells and modules.
