Does Tesla make solar glass roof tile in its Buffalo, New York factory? Or in China?
Elon Musk has spoken of the “exponential” ramp-up of its solar glass tile at the Buffalo factory. But pv magazine has found indications that the solar tile product is coming from a Chinese source.
Shifting to a larger solar wafer format: the rise of M6
The shift to the larger M6 wafer format could occur faster than many have expected. Promoted heavily by mono giant Longi, the format is said to be a good fit for both cell and module production, while still allowing for relatively trouble-free integration into PV arrays.
China will extend duties on US and South Korean polysilicon for another five years
The Chinese government will extend duties on U.S. and South Korean polysilicon for another five years despite committing to buy $200 billion more U.S. goods and services over the next two years in return for America halving 15% tariffs applied to $120 billion worth of Chinese products.
China added 12 GW of solar last month for 30 GW total in 2019
Vincent Shaw reports: An insider at the China Photovoltaic Industry Association has told pv magazine there was an end-of-year rally after less than 18 GW of new capacity was installed to the end of November.
World record efficiency for Longi’s PERC mono, Jinko’s p-type PERC and bifacial solar panels
Solar module efficiency records continue to fall. Longi claims a 22.38% efficiency world record for a PERC mono panel, while Jinko has achieved conversion efficiencies of 21.82% and 22.49% for its p-type PERC and n-type HOT bifacial panels, respectively.
More thin-film solar carnage: Hanergy subsidiary Solibro Hi-Tech declares insolvency
Insolvency proceedings have been underway for Solibro GmbH since late summer, and business operations have long been suspended. This week another Hanergy subsidiary, Solibro Hi-Tech, has also declared insolvency.
Why Europe and the US failed to capitalize on the benefits of thin-film solar
Is First Solar stalled in innovation and growth? Markus Beck, a thin-film solar expert and former chief scientist at First Solar, provides an industry perspective on the fate of thin-film PV in the U.S.
Shutdown continues at Hanergy-owned Alta Devices, high-efficiency PV pioneer
Alta Devices has not located a white-knight investor to save the company and resume its PV cell production. That means no health care or COBRA for its furloughed employees.
Hanergy: from thin-film solar savior to mass layoffs at MiaSolé, Alta, Solibro and Global Solar
Unannounced layoffs with no pay or benefits have left more than 600 American workers in the U.S., 180 employees in Germany, and thousands in China unemployed and in the dark. A number of employees reached out to tell their story.
Alta Devices hopes outside investors will revive the Hanergy-owned thin-film GaAs solar firm
Alta’s COO: “An agreement has been reached between Alta Devices and Hanergy to allow Alta to bring in outside investors to breathe new life into the company, and to get the thin film GaAs technology leader back on track.”
