Tindo teams with Capral in Australian solar panel supply chain
Australian solar panel manufacturer Tindo Solar has revealed the first link in a domestic downstream supply chain that is to support a planned six-fold increase in its annual output, striking a supply arrangement with aluminium extrusion company Capral Aluminium.
East-west vertical PV as antidote for soiling in desert regions
New research shows that east-west-oriented vertical PV installations can significantly help reduce soiling in desert environments. The scientists found that PV power generation can be up to 9% higher in vertical systems compared to conventional arrays.
PV module fault detection tech based on deep learning of electroluminescence
The novel technique is based on the VarifocalNet deep-learning object detection framework, which was reportedly tweaked to achieve quicker and more accurate results. Compared to other such methods, the new approach was found to be the most accurate and third quickest.
BT Imaging to supply quality control tool for 1.5 GW solar cell line in India
Australian PV equipment specialist BT Imaging will supply its advanced photoluminescence imaging tool for solar module maker Emmvee’s 1.5 GW TOPCon cell manufacturing facility in India.
Tongwei to acquire Runergy
Chinese solar module maker Tongwei has presented a CNY 5 billion ($1.06 billion) offer to acquire rival manufacturer Runergy. If successful, the transaction will be the largest merger and acquisition deal in the PV sector this year.
PV industry faces consolidation says JinkoSolar
JinkoSolar has begun converting its production to n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) products to stay competitive, says Frank Niendorf, the company’s general manager for Europe. He predicts that several market players in the value chain will exit the market soon.
SunPower files for bankruptcy
United States-headquartered solar company SunPower Corp has filed for bankruptcy, among the largest in a series of major bankruptcies in the industry.
Queensland researchers recover silver from PV waste via green graphene
Researchers at Queensland’s James Cook University have developed a process to synthesise graphene from tangerine peel oil, which they then used to recover silver from waste PV material.
PV module cooling tech tipped to boost net electrical energy
Scientists in Europe have created an after-market cooling solution that can be fitted to existing standard PV modules. The system is based on a water chamber placed at the backside of the module and can reportedly provide a net electrical energy gain of more than 9%.
GoodWe Galaxy panels provide no-penetration solution for rooftop install
A 30 kW solar array featuring GoodWe’s lightweight Galaxy series solar panels has been ‘glued’ atop a six-storey residential building on Queensland’s Gold Coast to provide a no-penetration solution that preserves the integrity of the rooftop.
