René Schüler

New module formats and packaging challenges in distribution

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The global photovoltaic market has grown considerably in recent years. In concrete terms, this can already be seen in the preliminary product, the silicon wafer. Here, the expansion of production capacities in 2021 increased by an impressive 64 %. It is also evident that the supply is more diversified. Good profit margins have brought new market participants and driven both small and large companies to expand. Our module partners LONGI SOLAR at No. 1 and JINKO SOLAR at No. 3 among the world’s largest wafer manufacturers, together with Zhonghuan (No. 2) dominate global wafer capacity with more than 80%. Vertically integrated module manufacturers have also significantly increased their internal supply capacities. Thus, another 134 gigawatts of capacity could likely be added in 2022. (more…)

Nighttime Science

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Science does not only take place during the day in the laboratory, but from time to time also at night. In the PV sector in particular, there are also often so-called outdoor measurements on site. For example, in addition to their work in the laboratory, the scientists at HI-ERN (Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg) also carry out these kind of measurements in the form of experiments and test series using existing PV systems in operation. As a result of current research activities in a joint German project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, two prototypes for outdoor photoluminescence measurements were recently evaluated on a wide variety of module concepts at our test facility in Bad Staffelstein. (more…)