IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions, projects that global demand for photovoltaics (PV) will reach 79 GW in 2017, a slight 2 percent increase over the 78 GW installed in 2016. This compares to annual growth that surpassed30 percent in both 2015 and 2016.
Thanks to considerable cost reductions in PV, solar energy holds increasing appeal for use in the mobility sector. The Fraunhofer ISE has counducted research concerning this possible. The findings show, that even a replacement of diesel fuelled trucks with solar-powered ones seems to be possible to some extent.
The German chemicals group Wacker Chemie AG has become the world’s largest manufacturer of polysilicon, the feedstock for semiconductors and solar cells. With a production volume of more than 70,000 metric tons (MT) in 2016, Wacker superseded Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon, a subsidiary of GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd. in China, which produced 69,345 MT. Jiangsu Zhongneng was the number one from 2013 through 2015.
meteocontrol Japan, a joint venture with Suntech Power Japan Corporation, starts business operation in April and will offer the entire meteocontrol product portfolio.
Luc Graré, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing of REC is leaving the company on 31st March 2017. He will head two new companies he has founded recently.
The module manufacturer and PV solutions provider Upsolar has announced a new office branch in Sydney. Upsolar Australia will bring new solutions for PV generation and smart grid management to the market and has signed a distribution agreement with Regalgrid Europe s.r.l., a specialist in smart grid technology.
Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) has announced that it has successfully produced its first polysilicon at its manufacturing facility in Qatar. According to the company, the production has a capacity of 8,000 metric tonnes per year.
Photovoltaic Feed