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.
Sinovoltaics shuffles PV module manufacturer financial stability rankings
The third edition of the Sinovoltaics financial stability report ranking lists India-based Abhishek Corp, Insolartion Energy, Waaree Renewable Technologies, and Solex Energy, all based in India, followed by United States-headquartered First Solar as the top five. Six additional manufacturers entered the global ranking.
How long do residential solar panels last?
Multiple factors affect the productive lifespan of a residential solar panel. In the first part of this series, we look at the solar panels themselves.
WTO accuses China of low transparency on state subsidies, including solar
The World Trade Organisation Secretariat has criticised China for an alleged lack of transparency in its state support framework and has urged the nation to improve its subsidy notification process.
Quinbrook polysilicon plant focus shifts to silica feedstock
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners’ plan to build a ‘state-of-the-art’ polysilicon manufacturing plant in north Queensland has taken a step forward with Australian Silica Quartz starting a drilling program at a planned mine site that could provide feedstock for the proposed multibillion-dollar facility.
Sunswap rolling out PV-powered transport refrigeration
United Kingdom–based technology company Sunswap has launched Endurance, an electric transport refrigeration system with integrated battery and solar PV. It is built to compete with diesel-powered systems.
Bigger is better as module makers power ahead
Larger wafer and module sizes have had a profound influence on module power output in recent years but standardisation appears to have taken hold, with no further increases evident in module data, according to Molly Morgan, a senior research analyst at Exawatt, which is now part of the CRU Group.
