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This Week in Solar

By Toby Shute – Updated Apr 6, 2017 at 12:58AM

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The race to grid parity, one week at a time.

Hey, solar Fools. No earthshaking news this week, I'm afraid, but I did find a few tidbits worth sharing.

On Tuesday, JA Solar (NASDAQ:JASO) announced that it is developing high-efficiency solar cells using solar start-up Innovalight's silicon ink technology. The Harris & Harris Group (NASDAQ:TINY) portfolio company just installed its first high-throughput industrial printing system back in June, so this certainly makes JA Solar an early adopter. The solar shop is targeting commercialization next year.

On Thursday, Solarfun Power (NASDAQ:SOLF) reiterated its shipment volumes and guided revenue to a range of $135 million to $144 million. Even on the high end, that revenue level is well below Wall Street analysts' average target. If solar had a road sign today, it would read: Beware of falling sales prices!

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) continues to attract utility-scale suitors, this week landing a 27-megawatt supply agreement with the U.S. subsidiary of juwi Holding AG. The company's thin-film panels will supply two near-term projects, one in Florida and one in Ohio.

Also on Thursday, Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) introduced a new technology for improving the efficiency of crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells. One application -- double-printed metal line deposition -- has been shown to improve efficiencies by up to half a percentage point. If baseball is a game of inches, solar is a game of microns, so even 50 basis points are a big deal.

Speaking of efficiency, Q-Cells rounded out the week by announcing a record 15.9%-efficient polycrystalline module prototype, due on the market next year. The German company thus edges out Suntech Power (NYSE:STP), which claimed a record 15.6% last month.

Harris & Harris, First Solar, and Suntech Power are all Motley Fool Rule Breakers recommendations. See if you take a shine to the service with a free 30-day trial.

Fool contributor Toby Shute doesn't have a position in any company mentioned. Check out his CAPS profile or follow his articles using Twitter or RSS. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Stocks Mentioned

First Solar, Inc. Stock Quote
First Solar, Inc.
FSLR
$129.85 (-1.46%) $-1.92
Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd. Stock Quote
Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd.
HQCL
Applied Materials, Inc. Stock Quote
Applied Materials, Inc.
AMAT
$84.29 (-0.88%) $0.75
180 Degree Capital Corp. Stock Quote
180 Degree Capital Corp.
TURN
$5.58 (-3.71%) $0.21

*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.

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