Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

Should heterojunction solar technologies be temporarily shelved? Could copper plating replace screen-printed silver conductive surfaces in cells? Why are tandem cells a likely successor to PERC? Brett Hallam recently sat down with Natalie Filatoff in Sydney to explain the findings of a new study by UNSW that sought to answer these controversial questions.

The Gujarat-based solar module manufacturer, which currently has 400 MW module fab operational, is expanding capacity to 1 GW with the addition of 600 MW mono PERC line. Having started EVA film manufacturing, it also plans to get into the production of aluminium frames and backsheets.

The three-day solar exhibition kicked off today at Helipad Exhibition Center in the Gandhinagar district of Gujarat. On the first day, Indian solar manufacturers Adani Solar, Pixon, Saatvik among others shared with pv magazine their aggressive plans to ramp up production capacities and launch new technologies. We also caught up with inverter player Invergy, which plans to open its manufacturing capacity soon in India.

While the adoption of large-format wafers has driven a wave of capacity expansion for PERC, existing manufacturers and new entrants continue to evaluate TOPCon and HJT. An increasing number of HJT pilot lines and gigawatt-scale capacity expansion projects are appearing, as manufacturers see the advantages of fewer process steps, higher efficiency ratings, and better yield rates. The localization of equipment is also a driving factor. PV InfoLink’s Derek Zhao offers an update on the latest developments and process routes for HJT.

The kit consists of one or two modules, a microinverter, and a five-meter cable. Thanks to its plug-in technology, it can be connected to any electrical outlet and immediately begin generating electricity.

In an update to its annual International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics, German engineering association VDMA discusses the readiness level for various technologies in PV cell and module manufacturing, finding that more process development is needed for 210mm wafers – the largest format currently on the market – to match the throughputs that will soon be achievable with smaller formats including 182mm.

The company’s solar arm is planning a 4 GW integrated solar PV manufacturing unit with an investment of around INR 3,000 crore (US$403 million).

Developed and distributed by Portuguese start-up ChemiTek, the detergent is claimed to reduce water consumption by about 50% and increase energy production by up to 5%. The product was recently certified by the German laboratory TÜV Sud, according to the EN 61215 standard.

The Indian solar manufacturer and EPC contractor has chosen KSL Cleantech as the channel partner for the retail distribution of its solar panels in the eastern and northeastern markets of India.

First, the bad news: PV modules will be caught up in the global wave of inflation. After a very brief respite, prices are picking up again for almost all module technologies. But the changes recorded for early October are paltry compared to the price increases still to come, writes Martin Schachinger of pvXchange. As of the cutoff date for this market survey, some manufacturers had already announced even more significant upward corrections for future deliveries. The price adjustments shown in the October index are thus only a tentative start to rises of no less than 15-20% over the price levels that prevailed just a few weeks ago. However, this will probably be the last price correction we can expect at the manufacturer level until the end of the year.