Retooling, construction troubles bite First Solar’s Q1 financials
The thin film PV maker has completed one of its most challenging quarters in many years; however it is still sold out into 2021.
Enphase can’t keep up with demand
The microinverter maker reported its second consecutive quarter of profit and is sold out into the second half of the year, as it continues to battle tariffs and component shortages.
Q-Cells unveils new half-cell monocrystalline panel
According to the Korean manufacturer, its Q.Peak Duo-G6 module is produced with larger wafers than those used in the G5. This is said to increase module yield by around 6% for a power output ranging from 355-420 W.
Tesla’s solar business shrinks as Musk focuses on Model 3
The EV, energy storage and solar company deployed only 47 MW of solar during Q1, as Tesla moves away from traditional sales methods towards web-based sales for its products.
LCOE for li-ion batteries has fallen to $187/MWh — BNEF
Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly posing a competitive threat to coal- and gas-fired generating plants when paired with solar and wind projects in a number of markets throughout the world, without the need for subsidies, according to new research by BloombergNEF (BNEF).
Energy storage, EV jobs boom in the United States
A new report by Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) shows energy storage jobs growing 14% and EV jobs growing 16%, despite China’s dominance in lithium-ion battery technology.
Tesla borrows $520m from China for Shanghai Gigafactory
The electric carmaker has signed 12-month credit agreements with three of China’s “Big Four” lenders as well as the development bank for Shanghai as it aims to get its lower-priced Model 3s rolling off the production line by the end of the year.
LONGi, JinkoSolar, REC Group respond to Hanwha Q-Cells IP suit
All three companies say the patent infringement claim is without merit, and LONGi has provided technical details as to why its PERC isn’t based on Hanwha Q-Cells’ patent.
pvMB 3/7/19: PanelClaw Partners with Yotta, China plans a space-based solar station…and more!
Hey evrybody, the weekend is nearly here, but what’s already here is your Thursday edition of the pvMB. Today we’re taking a look at San Diego Gas and Electric’s time-of-use billing, Microsoft purchasing 74 MW of solar energy in North Carolina, HellermannTyton releasing First Solar module-specific wire hardware and everything else that matters today in solar.
Hanwha Q-Cells sues to keep Jinko, Longi and REC Group out of the U.S. market
The Korean/German solar manufacturer has filed patent infringement lawsuits against the three companies in the United States, and is seeking to bar them from importing solar products for the U.S. market. Hanwha Q Cells claims its three rivals have used its patented solar cell passivation technology to increase the performance of their products.
