The long read: Bifacial drives encapsulant switch
Suppliers of encapsulant materials – plastic sheets that are heated to laminate together the components in PV module stacks – are rapidly expanding to keep pace with module manufacturing in Asia and other parts of the world. Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) continues to dominate the market, but new developments in module technology are driving a slow shift to more costly polyolefins.
Managing solar PV waste in India
A new report compares the European Union and Indian regulatory frameworks for managing end-of-life solar panels. It also assesses and analyses the PV waste market and processing capacities in India and shares recommendations for the Indian stakeholders.
JA Solar unveils 415 W solar module with 21.3% efficiency
The module can be used for residential and commercial PV projects. It is available in five versions with power outputs claimed by the company of 390-415 W and reported efficiencies of 20.0-21.3%.
Solar tariff rise due to customs duty would cost to Discoms INR9 billion annually
India’s declining solar tariff trend will see a reversal as the basic customs duty comes into effect. According to India Ratings, tariffs will likely touch INR 2.43 when using imported solar modules with 40% duty applicable, putting an additional cost burden on Discoms.
Sungrow unveils 325 kW string inverter
The device will go into mass production in the second half of this year. It features an efficiency of 99.01% and is claimed to be the most powerful string inverter ever launched on the market to date.
Solar tariffs could rise about 20% due to customs duty
The installation cost is set to increase as a 40% customs duty on solar modules, and 25% on cells, comes into effect from next year.
Electric car maker Triton-EV registers India office
The US-headquartered company has registered its Indian arm by the name of Triton Electric Vehicles India in New Delhi as it plans to capture the nation’s growing EV market. It is also in discussion with a few states to set up a factory.
Trina launches 670 W solar panel
The latest product in the Vertex series from the Chinese manufacturer has a power conversion efficiency of 21.6%.
AI identifies a $14bn solar problem
How do you know when an inverter or module is under-performing? Monitoring services should shed light on problems but AI-driven digital asset manager Raycatch says much information is hidden behind a wall of “noise.” Breaking that wall with advanced data analysis could unlock billions of cost savings.
Solar manufacturer wants customs duty waiver to domestic sales by SEZ units
Domestic sales by manufacturing units located within special economic zones (SEZs) are treated as exports, attracting customs duty levy. This puts the SEZ manufacturers at a disadvantage compared to those in the domestic tariff area.
