Solar
CZTSe -based thin film solar cell with 9.7 percent efficiency
At Intersolar conference in San Francisco, imomec, imec’s associated lab at the Hasselt University, and Solliance to present a CZTSe (Cu2ZnSnSe4)-based solar cell with 9.7 percent efficiency (1x1cm2, AM1.5G). Imec explains: CZTSe is an emerging alternative solar cell absorber in thin-film solar
2 min readSolarbuzz forecasts 22% y-o-y growth for solar PV in 2nd half 2013
NPD Solarbuzz forecasts in the second half of 2013, global solar photovoltaic (PV) demand to reach 20 gigawatts (GW), up 22% Y/Y, mainly due to surge in demand in China and Japan. The full year 2013 PV demand is forecasted to reach 35.1 GW. “The solar PV industry continues to transition from a Eu
3 min readConcentrator triple-junction compound solar PV cell efficiency reach 44.4%
Sharp has announced improvement in its concentrator triple-junction compound solar PV cell efficiency reaching 44.4%. Concentrator solar cells use lens-based concentrator system that focuses sunlight on the cells to generate electricity. Measurement was confirmed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Sola
2 min readNPD Solarbuzz: Solar PV wafer production to grow by 19% in 2013
NPD Solarbuzz has reported solar photovoltaic wafer production is forecast to grow by 19% in 2013, passing 30 GW and recovering to the 2011 level. However, industry utilization is expected to remain below 60%, and while prices have stopped falling, no significant increases are expected, so profitabi
3 min readNPD Solarbuzz: Top-20 solar PV suppliers capture 70% share in 1st Q 2013
NPD Solarbuzz reports the top 20 solar photovoltaic (PV) module suppliers accounted for almost 70% of global PV shipments in Q1’13. “The continued consolidation of solar PV manufacturers is creating opportunities for the leading tier 1 module suppliers,” explained Ray Lian, Senior Analyst at NPD
4 min readSharp claims development of a Solar PV cell with record efficiency of 37.9%
Sharp has announced that it has developed a world's highest solar cell conversion efficiency of 37.9% using a triple-junction compound solar cell in which three photo-absorption layers are stacked together. Sharp explains "Compound solar cells utilize photo-absorption layers made from compounds c
2 min readABB to acquire solar PV inverter maker Power-One
ABB and Power-One have announced that their boards of directors have agreed to a transaction in which ABB will acquire Power-One for $6.35 per share in cash or $1,028 million equity value. Power-One is a leading solar inverter maker with revenues close to 1 Billion US$. "Solar PV is becoming a m
3 min readNPD Solarbuzz: Solar PV module revenues to reach $32 Billion by 2017
NPD Solarbuzz reports solar PV industry module revenues are forecast to decline 20% in 2013 to $20.5 billion from $25.5 billion in 2012. While revenues will remain below 2012 levels during 2013 and 2014, they are set to increase from 2015 onward. PV module revenue is estimated NPD Solarbuzz to reac
3 min readDelta designs its solar inverters using Cree SiC MOSFETs
Delta Energy Systems has designed its new generation of solar inverters using SiC power MOSFETs from Cree as switching devices. SiC MOSFETs increase power density and efficiency and reduce weight of solar inverters. “The next-generation PV inverters from Delta are designed to set a new milestone
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