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solar modules

Solar cells and solar modules are the workhorses of the solar system, they decide on performance and electricity yield. Here we show new products and trends in module technology.

© Meyer Burger
Manufacturing

End of European PV production?

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The PV market is booming. But European manufacturers are in crisis mode due to the overwhelmingly favourable competition from China. Companies such as Meyer Burger are threatening to close down module production. They are calling for resilience bonuses, among other incentives.

© SolarNL
Topic of the week: The Netherlands

New Dutch program to build up PV manufacturing industry

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The new Dutch program SolarNL now started. It aims to build up a strong PV cell and module manufacturing industry in the Netherlands and is financed publicly and privately.

© Myriam Kaiser
Research

Fraunhofer ISE provides module manufacturers with modern laboratories

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In the newly organised development centre, module manufacturers can use extensive equipment to further develop their technologies. Fraunhofer ISE supports manufacturers in the further development of their products.

© Sunova Solar
Manufacturing

Sunova Solar still listed Tier 1 player by Bloomberg

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In its 1st quarter 2024 report, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) still lists Sunova Solar as a Tier 1 module manufacturer.While 43% of module manufacturers were removed from the BNEF list, Sunova fulfilled the new criteria of providing minimum 6 projects with 5 MW or larger size.

© Aleo
Aleo Solar

New in-roof solar module with half cells

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Aleo is launching the new Leo Sol half-cell module with 385 to 400 watts onto the market. The powerful module can be integrated into the roof surface using the Solrif in-roof system from Ernst Schweizer.

© FuturaSun
Italy

FuturaSun presents varied innovations at Key Energy

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FuturaSun will showcase various innovative products at Key Energy trade fair in Rimini from 28 February to 1 March.

© Trina Solar
Vertex

Trina Solar starts mass production of the latest Vertex solar modules

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Trina Solar has announced that the first Vertex S+ 505W rolled off the production line at its factory in Changzhou recently, marking the beginning of mass production. The Vertex S+ series was specifically designed for commercial and industrial rooftops.

© Vorsatz Media
The smarter E Europe 2023

Dajana Scherr and Rudolf Frank of Sonnenkraft: Complete systems for heat, water and electricity

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PV Guided Tour: Turning every building into a power plant for solar energy is the goal of the provider of complete solutions from Austria. Marketing Manager Dajana Scherr and Head of Product Management Electricity Rudolf Frank show which components are needed and what is new in the portfolio.

© Sebastian Willnow
Solar mobility

Opes builds module factory for mobile solar technology

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Solar modules for integration into vehicles: Opes Solar Mobility is building a new factory for this purpose in Zwenkau, Saxony. The location was chosen carefully.

© SolarNL
The Netherlands

New Dutch program to build up PV manufacturing industry

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The new Dutch program SolarNL now started. It aims to build up a strong PV cell and module manufacturing industry in the Netherlands and is financed publicly and privately.

© Bauer Solar
Solar modules

Bauer Solar warns of counterfeit modules and asks for help

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Several containers with fake modules put into circulation. Bauer Solar is now taking legal action against the Chinese manufacturer and all other parties involved.

© DAS Solar
Netherlands

DAS Solar delivers N-type PV modules to Dutch project

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DAS Solar supplied 2.1MW of high-efficiency N-type modules for the Xperal Zonneweide Kempenbroek PV project, which was successfully connected to the grid in the Netherlands. The project is located in Limburg Province, a province with abundant sunlight.

© Heiko Schwarzburger
Bernhard Weber of Aiko Solar

"We will soon reach 500 watts of output for solar modules"

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Rear contacting offers an opportunity to increase the performance of the modules. Bernhard Weber from Aiko Energy Germany explains why the solar cell manufacturer is now launching its own modules on the market - with ABC cells.

© Luxor Solar
Specialist modules

Low-glare solar module with special glass

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Manufacturer Luxor Solar has developed the special Non Reflect module. This means that interference caused by light immissions can be taken into account in projects.

© Vorsatz Media
The smarter E Europe 2023

Dr Erich Merkle of GridParity: Glass-glass-modules open up new applications

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CEO Talk: Glass-glass-modules from Europe open up completely new applications. Roofing of schoolyards or parking areas - the demand is huge. How can installers benefit? About this the Editor in Chief Heiko Schwarzburger talks to Dr Erich Merkle.

© Solar Fabrik

Top products of the week

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An almost transparent solar module with 440 watts, a storage unit that uses lithium instead of lead, a planning software now with new battery options and a bifacial glass-glass module with more watts. These are our top products of the week:

© Fraunhofer ISE / Bernd Schumacher
PV technology research

Developing a tandem solar module with over 25 per cent efficiency

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Photovoltaic modules based on perovskite silicon tandem solar cells have the potential to achieve higher efficiencies than today's silicon modules. A research team at Fraunhofer ISE has now produced a module with an efficiency of 25 per cent using perovskite silicon tandem solar cells from Oxford PV.

© Sharp Energy Solutions
Solar modules

Bifacial glass-glass module with more watts

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Sharp presents its new bifacial Topcon solar module with 575 watts. The NB-JD575 module is a glass-glass solar panel with 144 N-type M10 half cells and 16 busbars.

© Solitek
Solar modules

POE encapsulated PV modules particularly durable

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The preference for glass-glass modules plays a significant role in influencing the decisions of module makers regarding encapsulants. These encapsulants are broadly classified into three material types: EVA, POE, and the co-extruded EPE encapsulant.