Germany

The naysayers aren't stopping big automakers and startups from developing the technology. There are some ideas where the payoff for success would be so huge that you just have to try.

The manufacturer of assembly systems will continue production exclusively at its Chinese facility. At the same time, the company plans to continue cooperating with its German and other foreign production partners. Stopping manufacture in Germany will result in job losses.

The latest peak conversion rate over 23 per cent for a large version of n-type photovoltaic cells achieved by China-based Trina Solar has been recognized by German ISFH calibration and test center.

The accusation has been brought against IBC Solar of importing the Chinese photovoltaic modules declared in the wrong way, which has resulted in nonpayment of about €23m duties. Both the headquarters and the top management’s homes have been subject to search.

German project developer for renewable energies BayWa r.e. Renewable Energy GmbH has launched a new solar systems distribution business in Makati City, the Philippines.

A team of German scientists from HZB has performed a thorough research of methylammonium lead iodide structure. The crystal is among the most high-potential perovskites for solar cells. The researchers have discovered some properties, which are likely to help cope with the existing challenges and create cells that can boast both high efficiency and stability.

Shikun and Binui Renewable Energy will be the owner of the 120 MW Zeélim solar park in the south of Israel.

The Carl Zeiss Foundation has invested €4.5m in the R&D project by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. The KIT research team is going to invent whole new photovoltaic cells, which are supposed to provide all the benefits of organic, crystalline silicon and perovskite solar cells, such as printability, stability and ferroelectric properties.

Seoul-headquartered solar supplier Hanwha charges rivals in the United States, Germany and Australia with having violated its patent. In U.S., Jinko Solar – together with REC and Longi – have requested an intermediate review by USITC. Today, Jinko is expecting the judge to decide in its favor.

Research team from a few German institutes, together with South-China-based University of Technology, breaks a conversion efficiency record for organic photovoltaic modules. The 26 sq cm module consisting of 12 cells shows 12.6 per cent efficiency. The achievement is registered by Fraunhofer ISE.

Parent company FlixMobility plans to test hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Europe.

A new supplier from abroad enters Spain with an unsponsored photovoltaic project, debuting on a vigorous large-scale solar stage of an ever sunny South of Europe.

Insolvency proceedings started against Solibro, formerly one of the major thin-film PV suppliers in Germany. The creditors couldn’t invest the funds sufficient for the company’s restructuring. As a result, about 180 people will find themselves unemployed.

In September, PV systems with a total generation capacity of 287 MW were registered in the country. The feed-in tariff has fallen again for this quarter as a result of the new capacity additions.

This has been a breakthrough year for non-battery storage, with key advances in pumped hydro, power-to-gas, and thermal storage technologies. Many industry players are moving beyond pilot projects to contracted projects, which could lead to increased scale and lower costs.