SMA reports record shipments, lower revenue
The German inverter maker sold 8.5 GW of solar PV inverters last year. Revenue, however, dropped by €50 million, while net profit remained flat at €30 million.
SolarWorld files for insolvency – again
Roughly seven months after its new beginning, the German solar PV manufacturer has again filed for insolvency at the District Court of Bonn – the second time in one year. SolarWorld blames the planned phasing out of anti-dumping measures by the EU Commission against Chinese competition and the further drop in prices.
Sharp hits 25.09% efficiency on full size HJT cell
Japanese electronics giant, Sharp has announced the achievement of a 25.09% conversion efficiency, from a cell utilizing both heterojunction (HJT) and back contact technology. The measurement has been validated by Japan Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratories (JET).
The 9th ITRPV: module price pressure to continue as production capacity tops 130 GWp and price learning curve rises to 22.8%
Annual International Roadmap for Photovoltaics, compiled by the German production equipment industrial association (VDMA), reveals slowdown in module price reduction for 2017 in contrast to significant market increase that saw module production capacity rise above 130 GW.
More than 20 PV makers request exemptions from US solar import duties
The list includes many of the big names in the industry as well as a request to exempt the entire EU panel industry.
Enphase shows turnaround in Q4 results
The struggling microinverter maker narrowed its losses considerably in Q4, as it unveils new products and expands in new markets.
Longi claims 23.6% efficiency for its PERC monocrystalline cells
Only one month after announcing a PERC module efficiency of 20.41%, the Chinese solar manufacturer announced it has now achieved a 23.6% efficiency for its PERC monocrystalline cells, thus beating its own previous records.
CEC steps up solar suspensions, delistings
As a part of its expanding quality and certification program, the Clean Energy Council has taken action to suspend or delist eight solar suppliers in the first two months of 2018. The action has applied to 156 PV module or inverter models, including Shenzhen Sofarsolar inverter 3000TL, which the CEC announced on Wednesday had failed testing.
The Sunday read: Tracker market is adapting to bifacial module technology
While bifacial panels may capture up to 10% more light than monofacial panels, single-axis trackers typically add 25% to that bifacial gain, resulting in a roughly estimated 12.5% gain from the two technologies combined, compared with fixed installs using monofacial panels.
MLPE steps out from the shade
Gavin Merchant from SolarEdge Australia and New Zealand speaks to pv magazine Australia about the growing acceptance of module-level power electronics across all solar market segments. The rise of storage is also bringing new opportunities.
