VDMA expects copper metallization to take off in next 2 years
At SNEC 2024 in Shanghai, pv magazine spoke with Puzant Baliozian, lead consultant of sector group photovoltaic equipment for Germany’s Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association (VDMA). He says tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) technology will dominate the solar market in the next 10 years and expects module manufacturers will compete to develop more creative product designs. He also believes that copper metallization will gain market share in heterojunction (HJT) module production in the next years. “In the upcoming decade, we will have less than mg/W of silver being used for both TOPCon and HJT technologies,” he stated.
Solar industry grapples with oversupply and uncertainty
The solar industry stands at a critical juncture. Oversupply, regulatory hurdles, and technological advancements are all reshaping the landscape. Manufacturers must adapt swiftly, balancing production with demand while navigating the complexities of global trade.
Chemitek offers metal oxides removal agent for PV panels
The Portugal-based company has developed a metal oxides removal agent product for PV installations located near foundries, steelworks and metal ore mines.
South Africa imposes 10% import tariff on solar panels
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) has imposed a 10% import tariff on solar panels to protect local manufacturers, attract investment, and deepen the value chain. The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association has questioned the lack of formal industry engagement, calling the timing “not ideal.”
ICRA upgrades Tata Power to AA+ with Stable outlook
The ratings upgrade takes into account Tata Power’s healthy operating and financial performance driven by the diversified business profile, superior operating efficiencies, and long-term offtake agreements for the generating portfolio.
The Hydrogen Stream: India issues guidelines for funding of testing facilities under the National Green Hydrogen Mission
The funding scheme, with a total budgetary outlay of INR 200 crore till FY 2025-26, will support the development of robust quality and performance testing facilities to ensure quality, sustainability, and safety in green hydrogen production and trade.
Lithium-ion battery fire safety starts with the manufacturer
Fluence America’s president says stakeholder and first responder engagement is necessary to keep failures from becoming newsworthy events.
The importance of measuring albedo at solar sites
As bifacial modules proliferate, estimations of albedo are becoming more important and with developers not prepared to install weather stations to assess solar resource, a popular option has become third-party, on-site measurements over periods as short as a day. Is this an acceptable compromise between costly on-site measuring and less accurate satellite data? Everoze’s Stefan Mau discusses the potential benefits and limitations of this approach.
All solar cell efficiencies at a glance – updated
The research group led by Professor Martin Green has published Version 64 of the solar cell efficiency tables. There are 19 new results reported in the new version.
Premier Energies secures 350 MW solar module order from Apraava Energy
Premier Energies will supply 350 MW of its solar modules to Apraava Energy’s PV project in Rajasthan.
