The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) is completely exiting the solar energy industry, owing to the fact that the company’s solar energy business is “no longer economically sustainable,” according to recent reports. This is in spite of the fact that the company recently unveiled a new CIGS module that … [continued]
Improving efficiency of solar photovoltaic cells takes months, sometimes years. The last few days, however, have been very interesting as three different companies announced record-breaking efficiencies. Two of the cells even have the same technology. Trina Solar, one of the leading solar PV modules manufacturers, announced on April 24 that … [continued]
Welspun Renewables Limited, a leading Indian renewable energy projects developer, has signed an agreement with Japan-based Solar Frontier for solar PV modules. Welspun Renewables will procure 100 MW of CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) solar PV modules, the company announced last week, but did not indicate as to where these modules … [continued]
A cadmium-free small-area CIGS solar cell created by the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and its partner, Manz, possesses a conversion efficiency of 21%, as verified by Fraunhofer ISE, according to a recent press release. The 21% conversion efficiency marks a new record for cadmium-free solar … [continued]
By Brad Mattson, CEO Siva Power and author of The Solar Phoenix The stiff solar tariffs recently imposed by the US on Chinese panels have made quite a splash. I think it is great my government is pushing to level the playing field so more solar companies can make products from … [continued]
After a slew of acquisitions in the thin-film solar power technology market, Hanergy is now taking steps to add them into its existing production infrastructure. The latest news is that thin-film solar module manufacturer Hanergy Thin-Film Power Group Limited plans to establish a 300 MW flexible CIGS manufacturing facility in Changde, which … [continued]
A new CIGS thin-film solar cell conversion efficiency record was recently achieved by researchers at the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) in Stuttgart. The new conversion efficiency record of 21.7% beats the previous record of 21% — that was set earlier this year by the Fraunhofer Institute … [continued]
Development on Solar Frontier’s new ‘blueprint’ CIGS solar cell factory is moving along nicely, according to recent reports. The facility — which is aiming for a cell efficiency of 15% on its production lines — is being constructed in the northeastern Tohoku region of Japan, and is expected to be … [continued]
California-based Siva Power believes claims to have developed a technology road map that will lead it to thin-film solar modules costing 28 cents per watt.
Last year a San Jose, CA, company called Solexant rebranded as Siva Power and starter to focus on CIGS thin-film solar. It looks like it’s refocusing strategy has been successful because it just got $15 million in funding from Acero Capital, DBL Investors, and Trident Capital. All three had invested in … [continued]
