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Lauren Engineers & Constructors to build 75 MW solar thermal power plant in Florida for FPL
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An artist's concept of the Martin solar plant.
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Lauren Engineers & Constructors Inc. (Abilene, Texas) on March 26th, 2009 reported that it had signed a contract with the utility Florida Power & Light Company (FPL; Arcadia,
Florida) as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for a new 75 megawatts (MW) concentrated solar power (CSP) plant located near Indiantown, Florida. The company
reports that it expects this solar project to achieve several milestones for solar power, including being the second largest solar thermal power plant in the world and the first hybrid
solar facility connected to an existing, combined-cycle power plant. The total power produced with the new solar plant is expected to amount to 155,000 megawatt hours (MWh)
of solar power annually, enough electricity for about 11,000 homes or 26,000 people. This project, named the "Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center," is to be constructed on 500
acres of land adjacent to FPL's "Martin" Plant. Using parabolic trough technology to capture heat from the sun, this project will include approximately 200,000 parabolic mirrors, Lauren
reports.
Concentrated solar power to offset 2.75 million tons of green house gas emissions over 30 years
Utilizing the latest in solar thermal technology, this revolutionary solar project is intended to advance solar power supply by producing clean energy at a competitive price. According
to FPL's website, the Martin solar Facility is expected to reduce green house gas emissions by approximately 2.75 million tons over a thirty year period. "Lauren is proud to build this
project and is dedicated to a project approach which minimizes disruption to the local community and ecosystem," said Cleve Whitener, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lauren Engineers
& Constructors. In addition to this milestone solar project, Lauren also has built the "Nevada Solar One Power Plant," a 64 MW solar power plant located in Boulder City, Nevada.
Construction for this plant, the largest built in over 17 years, had been completed in June 2007, the company reports. According to its press release, Lauren's key role as the only
contractor to have built a concentrated solar power facility in the United States in the last 17 years has helped to solidify Lauren as the premier contractor for solar power facilities
in North America.
2009-03-31 Courtesy: Lauren Engineers & Constructors Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Lauren Engineers & Constructors Inc.
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German PV producer ersol confirms profitable growth in 2008
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Groundbreaking ceremony in Arnstadt,
Germany, attended by Federal Chancellor
Angela Merkel.
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With the publication of its audited financial statements for 2008, ersol Solar Energy AG (ersol), a member of the Bosch Group, has confirmed its provisional revenue figures for 2008
(2008: € 309.6 million, previous year: € 160.2 million). The operating result (EBIT) increased to € 70.7 million (previous year: € 22.3 million), the EBIT margin
stood at 22.8%, compared to 13.9% in the previous year. The development of the financial result was also positive, with an almost five-fold increase in EBT (earnings before tax). Basic
earnings per share during the period under review were € 4.39. In 2007 this figure - affected by the capital increase in summer 2007 and impaired by increased expenditure for
interest and currency hedging transactions - was € 0.85.
Export ratio significantly higher than 50%
ersol generated over half of its revenue (55.5%) abroad: 27.9% in Europe (except Germany), 13.7% in Japan, 10.1% in China, 3.5% in North America and 0.3% in other countries. Germany
accounted for 44.5% of the company’s revenue. The export ratio in 2008 was 4.6 percentage points higher than in 2007 (50.9%). Strong growth in workforce accompanies corporate
development in the Group as a whole, at the end of last year ersol employed a workforce of 1,270. In 2008 the Group created 468 new jobs and thus passed the 1,000 employee milestone.
The personnel expenses ratio - personnel expenses in relation to total revenue – was 12.0 percent in reporting year 2008. The downward trend (2007: 13.4%) was mainly attributable
to synergistic effects from the increasing integration of individual production stages and utilisation of newly created production capacities.
Business units continue to be marked by capacity expansion
In spite of the slight downturn in business development in the fourth quarter, 2008 was a successful business year in the ersol Silicon segment. Overall ersol subsidiary SRS Inc.
benefited from the continued strong global demand for sorting and etching services. The positive trend of the previous year continued in the Wafers segment in financial year 2008: The
consumption of polysilicon per watt of output could be further reduced. At the same time the year was marked by a strong increase in production. Nominal capacity was increased as
planned from 120 MWp to 180 MWp by the end of 2008. In addition, in 2008 steps were taken to further expand nominal production capacity to 280 MWp by the end of 2009.
Investments of about € 530 million by 2012 at the Arnstadt plant
In 2008 the ersol Solar Cells segment was marked by the ramp-up of the second cell production unit "Cell Fab 2" in Arnstadt. In the second half of the year the nominal capacity here was
increased as planned by optimisation to 140 MWp, giving the segment a total nominal capacity of 220 MWp in the two cell factories. Together with the Bosch Group ersol plans to expand
its production capacity for crystalline ingots, wafers, solar cells and modules at the Arnstadt plant. This will require investments of about € 530 million by 2012. Start of
production is scheduled for early 2010. The further expansion at this site is, however, subject to the EU Commission approving the budgeted subsidies.
At the beginning of 2008 ersol Thin Film GmbH, whose thin-film activities are organised in the ersol Modules segment, successfully launched the production and sales of amorphous
thin-film modules and has a nominal capacity of 40 MWp. In 2008 the production output already amounted to 20 MW. Together with ersol sales partners numerous solar projects as open-space
or roof installations have been realised. The newly developed "Nova-T plus" module has been well received by the market in the last quarter 2008.
In addition to its crystalline trading activities, in 2008 ersol Crystalline Modules GmbH (formerly aimex-solar GmbH) which is likewise attached to the Modules business unit,
established a module technology centre in 2008. Besides its trade operations, the Modules business unit is preparing for the expansion of its module business both in terms of personnel
and technology. The ersol Group plans to build a production facility for crystalline solar modules in 2009.
CEO Holger von Hebel: the current market situation has not left ersol completely unscathed
"2008 was a very good year for ersol, in which we achieved the anticipated jump in sales and earnings. We shall continue to pursue ambitious goals in future, too, together with our new
majority shareholder, Bosch. However, the current market situation - with a high pressure on prices for solar cells and modules - has not left ersol completely unscathed. But ersol can
rely on established long-term links to customers. These secure partnerships will enable us to weather the current adverse situation together with our customers. On the cost side, ersol
is permanently striving to further reduce production costs with the aim of making solar power competitive with conventional electricity", says Holger von Hebel, CEO of ersol Solar
Energy AG.
For more detailed information on business data for 2008, please refer to the ersol Solar Energy AG Annual Report 2008, published today online on the homepage: http://www.ersol.de/en/investorrelations/reportspresentations/
2009-03-31 Courtesy: ersol Solar Energy AG Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: ersol Solar Energy AG
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German PV producer aleo solar AG steps up presence in Greece
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12.400 solar modules by aleo greenfield installation
in Thebes is one of the largest solar power plants
in Greece.
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aleo solar AG (Oldenburg, Prenzlau) on March 31st, 2009 announced that it will open a sales office in Athens in April 2009 to prepare the company for a significant increase in
photovoltaic installations in Greece. "During the last 18 months, our sales manager for Greece has been highly successful in positioning the 'aleo' brand within the emerging Greek
photovoltaic market," said Jakobus Smit, CEO of aleo solar AG. "The core elements of our philosophy are quality, service and added value. It is a philosophy that is valued by
our aleo partners in Greece." Solar power plants with an output of around 20 to 25 megawatts were installed on the Greek mainland and its islands during the previous year. This
translates into a market share of some 15 percent for aleo solar AG. With a long list of projects in hand - some already approved - aleo solar expects a multiplication of the market
volume this year and is preparing to further improve its already strong position.
Christopher Dunne, Director of Market Development, added: "Our close cooperation with leading Greek project developers, the support of banks involved in project financing and an
understanding of the way in which authorities and utilities work together has enabled us to become a well-known player in this young market."
2 MW greenfield installation in the Greek municipality of Thebes; special subsidy program for rooftop installations
The Greek photovoltaic market is based on two main pillars: the greenfield and the rooftop installation market. One of the largest greenfield installations was built in the Greek
municipality of Thebes (50 km north of Athens), utilizing two megawatts of aleo S_03 modules. This project is being financed by LBBW (Landesbank Baden-Württemberg). The market for
rooftop installations is also gaining momentum: for 2009, a special subsidy program with a volume of 750 megawatts was introduced for rooftop installations. aleo solar AG has a long
track record of expertise in this market segment. As a result of the superb conditions created by Greek feed-in legislation, project developers, installers and specialist dealers will
be driving considerable expansion in this area. From 3 - 6 April, aleo solar AG will be exhibiting for the third time in a row at the "Ecotec" trade fair in Athens (Stand: Hall
4/G1).
2009-03-31 Courtesy: aleo solar AG Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: aleo solar AG
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Suntech's Pluto Technology achieves efficiencies of 19 % on mono-crystalline PV cells and 17 % on multi-crystalline PV cells in Production
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (San Francisco, USA and Wuxi, China), the world's largest photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, on March 27th 2009 announced that it is routinely
utilizing the Pluto technology to produce PV cells with conversion efficiencies of approximately 19 % (mono-crystalline PV cells) and 17 % (multi-crystalline PV cells). Suntech recently
sent a number of Pluto PV cells to the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Germany for third party verification. The Fraunhofer Institute test results included a
mono-crystalline Pluto PV cell with a conversion efficiency of 18.8 % and a multi-crystalline Pluto PV cell with a conversion efficiency of 17.2 %, Suntech reports in a press release.
Both PV cells were produced on Suntech's 34 MW Pluto production line utilizing solar grade silicon wafers. "We are very excited about the performance of the Pluto technology.
We are consistently achieving around 19 % conversion efficiency on Pluto mono-crystalline PV cells and around 17 % on Pluto multi-crystalline PV cells in large scale production,
compared to 16.5 % and 15.5 % respectively using conventional screen-printed technology", said Dr. Stuart Wenham, Suntech's Chief Technology Officer.
Dr. Wenham added: "The ability of the Pluto technology to significantly improve the conversion efficiency of both mono and multi-crystalline silicon PV cells is one of its unique
characteristics. This will give Suntech the flexibility to offer a complete range of high efficiency solar products. In particular, we believe that Suntech's multi-crystalline Pluto
modules will be one of the most efficient multi-crystalline silicon PV modules in commercial scale production world-wide."
"Pluto delivers on the key requirements of the solar industry - high efficiency, high stability, and high power output - without utilizing higher grades of silicon. With Pluto-enabled
Suntech products, our customers will realize improvements in space utilization and reduced balance of system costs, without increasing the cost of production, making Pluto well suited
to commercial scale production and roof top applications", Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairman and CEO emphasized.
University of NSW achieved a world record efficiency of 25 % in the laboratory with antecessor technology "PERL"
The patent-pending Pluto technology is based on the PERL technology, developed by the University of NSW in Australia, which due to Suntech has achieved a world record efficiency of 25 %
in the laboratory. Pluto should improve power output by approximately 12 % above conventional screen-printed PV cells. Unique texturing technology, with lower reflectivity, ensures more
sunlight can be absorbed throughout the day even without direct solar radiation, and thinner metal lines on the top surface reduces shading loss. Suntech's Pluto technology can be
applied to a variety of grades of silicon to suit multiple applications and product types.
Dr. Shi added, "The commercialization of the Pluto technology is the result of years of world-class research and development and is a milestone achievement for Suntech. With over 350
professionals in our R&D team spanning three countries, technology is a central element of our strategy to drive the cost of solar towards grid parity without incentives. Aside from
developing high conversion efficiency PV cells, our R&D team is also engaged in the development of new solar applications and building integrated products, material and component
optimization, encapsulation technology, and power output optimization and stabilization."
20 % conversion efficiency on mono-crystalline PV cells and 18 % on multi-crystalline PV cells expected within the next two years.
Suntech anticipates ongoing enhancement of the Pluto technology and targets to achieve 20 % conversion efficiency on mono-crystalline PV cells and 18 % on multi-crystalline PV cells
within the next two years. Suntech on own account currently has a fully operational 34 MW Pluto PV cell line and targets to have a total of 100 MW installed Pluto capacity within the
next two months. Suntech expects to receive industry certification for Pluto PV modules in the second quarter of 2009 and targets to ship more than 50 MW of Pluto modules in 2009.
"Pluto" is a trademark of Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.
2009-03-30 Courtesy: Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.
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Bystronic Lenhardt delivers the first TPA worldwide: Butyl application on semiconductor thin-film substrates with maximum acccuracy
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Thermo Plastic Applicator (TPA) by Bystronic
glass.
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In the last week of March 2009 the Bystronic glass Technology Center Bystronic Lenhardt (Neuhausen-Hamberg, Germany), delivered a horizontal Thermo Plastic Applicator (TPA) which is
the first machine of its kind for the application of high-viscous butyl on semiconductor thin-film substrates. The German company Centrotherm Photovoltaics installes this machine which
is used for high-precision butyl application at the edge of substrate glasses prior to the lamination process. The butyl effectively protects the semiconductor against humidity,
Bystronic emphasises in a press release. With the market launch of the horizontally operating TPA, Bystronic Lenhardt GmbH presents the first machine of this type that is capable of
working in 24-hour operation without any interruption. Two high-performance pumps ensure that the viscous sealing material is always available. Whereas use of the
conventional butyl sealant stripes from a reel is permanently linked with production interruptions when the material needs to be changed. The dosing pumps of the TPA apply the material
accurately to a tenth of a millimetre.
The technology of Bystronic Lenhardt is based on decade-long experience in the design of machines for the production of insulating glass, where thermoplastic material is applied as
spacer between the glass plates. In the solar power industry, horizontal machines as well as vertical designs are used for sealing all types of semiconductors – cadmium-telluride
(CaTe), copper-indium-diselenide (CIS), copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS), microcrystalline silicon (µSi) or amorphous silicon (aSi). The machine can be included at the planning
stages for newly designed plants, but can also be integrated into existing systems, Bystronic announces.
2009-03-30 Courtesy: Bystronic glass Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Bystronic glass
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Photovoltaics: First Solar to develop 30 MW solar power plant for Tri-State
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An artist’s rendering of the 30 MW
solar power plant.
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First Solar, Inc., (Tempe, Arizona), a manufacturer of solar modules, on March 24th, 2009 announced that it had entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Tri-State
Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Westminster, Colorado), a wholesale electric power supplier serving more than 1.4 million consumers through 44 electric cooperatives and
public power districts in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. "This photovoltaic (PV) power plant is another demonstration of our ability to provide affordable,
utility-scale solar solutions", said John Carrington, First Solar's Executive Vice President of marketing and business development. "In addition to being cost-effective, the plant will
create 120 to 140 construction jobs, significantly reduce green house gas emissions and provide enough power to serve the equivalent of approximately 9,000 homes." Under the terms of
the agreement, First Solar is to engineer, procure and construct a ground-mounted PV power plant with 30 megawatt (MW) capacity in northeastern New Mexico.
Electric cooperative to build first utility-scale solar power plant in region
According to First Solar, this agreement represents the largest PV contract by an electric cooperative in the United States. "Our partnership with First Solar further diversifies our
resource mix and brings value to our member cooperatives across our four-state service territory", said Ken Anderson, Tri-State Executive Vice President and General Manager. "This
project in New Mexico demonstrates how electric cooperatives can effectively bring utility-scale solar projects to the rural areas they serve." According to the press release, the
project will be the first utility-scale solar power plant in the region and is expected to be complete by the end of 2010. "I look forward to many more projects like this coming to
fruition in New Mexico and across the country as we shift from fossil fuels to cleaner, green energy. I am especially pleased to see the electric coops take this major leap into
renewables", said U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
2009-03-29 Courtesy: First Solar, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.
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New NanoMarkets report: a-Si thin-film photovoltaics to lead the TFPV space for several years
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Semitransparent a-Si panels by SCHOTT Solar.
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According to the industry analysis firm NanoMarkets (Glen Allen, Virginia) Amorphous silicon (a-Si) -a thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) material that has been around since the late 70s
- will continue to lead the TFPV space for several years to come. NanoMarkets projects that .3 billion in revenues for a-Si based photovoltaics this year that will grow to .1
billion in the year 2014. These and other findings are from the firm’s newest report titled "Materials Markets for Thin-Film Silicon Photovoltaics". The report is the next in a
series that addresses emerging solar energy markets. Amorphous silicon combines the advantages associated with all thin-film technologies, notably reduced bulk and weight,
flexibility and the potential for lower-cost manufacturing with benefits typically associated with a mature technology - established processes and equipment. There is a lot of installed
capacity for a-Si with more in the works. So while NanoMarkets projects a relative decline against other forms of TFPV, it will happen quite slowly. Today a-Si represents about 54
percent of all TFPV shipped by value. By 2011 this number will have only slipped to 47 percent due to NanoMarkets. In addition, a-Si is the most likely technological route that will be
taken by new entrants into the TFPV business, since manufacturing equipment and materials are readily available.
A new path to efficiencies above 15 percent
Amorphous silicon has been always been hampered in the market place by its low efficiency, but NanoMarkets believes that the development of a-Si PV cells with improved efficiency will
be the key to a-Si maintaining its dominant position in the TFPV marketplace. Areas where efficiency gains can be made include: further optimization of the tandem-junction thin-film
deposition process; modification of the current processes used to texturize the TCO, which will improve the light-trapping efficiency and thus overall efficiency of the cell; and the
development of materials to support the transition to nanostructured silicon, including silicon nanowires and silicon-based quantum dot absorbers, which if successful will provide a
path to efficiencies above 15 percent.
a-Si PV cells on flexible substrates to take an increasing market share
Because of its maturity the a-Si PV market already has many players almost all of which create PV on a rigid glass substrate. However, the new report believes there is an opportunity
for new a-Si materials and modules firms to create a sector of the a-Si using flexible substrates. This area has barely been touched by existing players and NanoMarkets expects
materials for a-Si PV cells made on flexible substrates to take an increasing share of the a-Si PV materials market, growing from about 8.5 million in 2011, to 3.8 million in
2016.
CdTe and CIGS advancing
While a-Si is the dominant TFPV technology used today, it is already challenged by cadmium telluride. Near the end of the forecast period other approaches in the TFPV landscape will
also make their impact felt, especially CIGS and possibly organic PV and dye sensitive cells.
The new NanoMarkets report, Materials Markets for Thin-Film Silicon Photovoltaics both analyzes and quantifies the opportunities that are emerging for materials suppliers and device
manufacturers as the result of further development of a-Si PV and new so-called third-generation silicon PV. The report focuses on the core absorber materials, but also covers materials
for electrodes, encapsulation, dielectrics, etc.; all of which are critical to the performance of thin-film silicon PV. The report begins with a full review of the state of the art in
a-Si and other silicon-based PV materials and manufacturing. It also includes strategic profiles of leading suppliers of materials into the thin-film silicon sector.
Further information: www.nanomarkets.net.
2009-03-29 Courtesy: NanoMarkets, LC Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: SCHOTT Solar AG
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Vice Premier of China visits Applied Materials' solar facility in Xi'an
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Vice Premier Li Keqiang (3rd from left)
visiting Applied's "SunFab" testing facility.
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The US equipment manufacturer Applied Materials reported that the Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang had toured the company's SunFab Solar Module Reliability Testing facility in Xi'an,
China. According to the press release, he met with company executives to discuss the future prospects for solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity in China. The Vice Premier watched a
demonstration of the solar panel testing process and visited the solar PV array at the laboratory campus, which the company reports is the largest in the Shaanxi province, and one of
the largest in China. "Vice Premier Li's visit to Applied underscores the importance the Chinese government is placing on renewable energy and in particular solar," said Barry
Quan, President of Applied Materials China. "We are honored that he chose to visit our facility and look forward to working closely with the government in Xi'an and at the national
level to help accelerate the utilization of solar throughout China."
Tremendous growth expected for solar industry in China
Applied Materials had established an engineering and development center in Xi'an in 2007 and opened its "SunFab" module reliability testing laboratory there in 2008. Applied announces
that it had recently been named the world's largest producer of equipment for the solar PV industry. It is expanding its facilities in China and recently broke ground on phase two of
its "Global Solar R&D Center" in Xi'an. "There is a tremendous opportunity for the United States and China to work together to our mutual benefit and to make solar a more meaningful
part of the energy supply of both countries", said Charles Gay, President of Applied Solar and co-chair of the Renewable Energy Working Group for the U.S.-China Clean Energy Forum.
"With the government's support and commitment we can help make solar a more affordable option and grow the market for solar panels throughout China." The U.S.-China Clean Energy Forum
is a high-level, private-sector-led forum focused on addressing how the U.S. and China can cooperate on clean energy technologies and alternative fuels.
2009-03-29 Courtesy: Applied Materials, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Applied Materials, Inc.
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Ascent Solar opens headquarter in Colorado and expects to create up to 200 jobs
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Senior VP Ashutosh Misra in front of new equipment.
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The Governor of Colorado, Bill Ritter Jr., on March 24th, 2009 joined the team of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (Thornton, Colorado), a developer of flexible thin-film solar
modules, and local officials in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the company's new world headquarters in Thornton, Colorado. Ascent Solar reports that it had
"recycled" an existing 120,000 square-foot building and expanded it to 145,000 square-feet, and that it plans to create 180 to 200 renewable energy jobs over the next two years.
According to the press release, the facility will house manufacturing lines that will produce solar photovoltaic (PV) modules with a capacity of 30 megawatts (MW). Ascent
Solar reports that it was expanding from its existing facility in Littleton, Colorado, where a 1.5 MW manufacturing line currently produces fully integrated lightweight thin-film CIGS
(copper, indium, gallium and selenium) modules using a flexible plastic substrate. "Thanks to companies such as Ascent Solar, we're creating a sustainable energy future, sustainable
opportunities for new businesses, and sustainable jobs all across Colorado", said Governor Ritter. "The New Energy Economy is leading Colorado forward and will be one of the keys to
bringing us out of this recession."
Ascent Solar builds on 15-year company tradition in Colorado
Ascent Solar's new 145,000-square-foot facility will house its administrative headquarters and manufacturing operations, the company reports. The production of its solar modules is
expected to start in 2010. "Ascent Solar's flexible, thin-film technology has been in development in Colorado for more than 15 years, so it is a great milestone to open a large-scale
facility here that will help bring talented employees and a unique enabling solar technology to the market at a time when the economy and environment are creating great demand", said
Dr. Mohan Misra, Ascent Solar's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The company reports that it is working with its partners to develop products that include building-integrated
photovoltaics (BIPV) that can be part of rooftops, awnings and siding, for example, to provide solar power.
2009-03-28 Courtesy: Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.
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Photovoltaics: BTU International introduces new metallization furnace
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New metallization furnace for the solar industry.
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BTU International (North Billerica, Massachusetts), a supplier of advanced thermal processing equipment for the alternative energy and electronics manufacturing markets, announced
the introduction of its new metallization furnace dubbed "TRITAN". According to the company, this furnace features a triple-belt, dual speed conveyor and has dual lane capability. It
also features a wavelength optimization technology for the infrared (IR) heating lamp and provides full chamber access. It was designed for maximum thermal performance, uptime and
throughput at reduced cost of ownership, the company reports. "When we designed the TRITAN furnace we solicited direct input from our customers and key industry experts", said
Jim Griffin, Vice President of sales and service at BTU. "As a result, we've achieved a platform that is generating a lot of excitement and interest."
Solar processing equipment for silicon and thin-film photovoltaics
According to BTU, the "TRITAN" furnace was designed for faster process speeds in combination with innovative heating and gas delivery technology. With optimized IR wavelengths, solar
wafers can be heated at a very steep temperature gradient. However, the higher belt speed, driven by spike heating, does not result in a longer furnace, the company reports. Instead,
the proprietary multi-drive system allows the drying and cooling sections to run at a reduced speed, keeping the same footprint and reducing operating costs. The process chamber is
designed to provide access from both top and bottom of the conveyor for easy maintenance and serviceability, and the drying section features a stainless steel lining for easy cleaning,
according to the press release. BTU offers solar processing equipment for both silicon and thin-film photovoltaics (PV). In thin film photovoltaics, BTU's equipment is used as well for
the CIGS (copper, indium, gallium, selenium) as CdTe (cadmium tellurium) processes. Silicon photovoltaic applications are served by BTU's metallization furnaces and in-line diffusion
systems.
2009-03-28 Courtesy: BTU International Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: BTU International
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Evergreen Solar signs partnership agreement with RMT, Inc. that provides Evergreen Solar access to utility-scale solar project market
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Evergreen Solar's PV production at Devens,
Massachusetts.
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Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Marlboro, Massachusetts), manufacturer of "STRING RIBBON" solar power products with its proprietary, low-cost silicon wafer manufacturing technology, on March
23rd, 2009 announced that it has entered into an agreement with RMT, Inc., of Madison, Wisconsin. Under the agreement, the two companies will co-market to electric utilities and project
developers of utility-scale solar power projects. For all utility-scale projects that are bid jointly by the two companies, RMT will be the EPC (engineering, procurement and
construction contractor) while Evergreen Solar will provide the solar panels. In 2008 alone, utility-scale solar projects ranged in size from approximately 10 MW to 800 MW. At present,
the two companies have submitted bids for more than 400 MW of solar installations that, if won, will beimplemented over the next five years.
Expanding renewable energy choices for utility customers
RMT has designed and constructed more than 3.1 Gigawatts of renewable energy projects across the U.S. and will now add solar power to its service offerings. The company’s existing
relationships with electric utilities will serve as the platform for its partnership with Evergreen Solar, as they pursue utility scale solar power projects. “Our relationship
with RMT provides Evergreen Solar with increased access to the utility-scale solar power project market,” said Terry Bailey, Evergreen Solar’s senior vice president of sales
and marketing. “Relationships with utilities and large project developers can dramatically improve solar market delivery and further assist in closing the gap between solar and
conventional energy costs while expanding renewable energy choices available to utility customers.” “We’re proud to be aligned with Evergreen Solar, and we look
forward to engaging our team on utilityscale solar projects across the U.S.,” states Frank Greb, Vice President, RMT.
2009-03-27 Courtesy: Evergreen Solar, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Evergreen Solar, Inc.
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USA: Rancho California Water District dedicates 1.1 MW SunPower PV system
The Rancho California Water District (RCWD; Temecula, California) together with SunPower Corp. (San Jose, California), a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels,
and solar systems, on March 24th, 2009 announced the completion of a 1.1-megawatt (MW) solar-electric power system at the district's water treatment facility in Murrieta. According to
the press release, the system is expected to save the district up to 6.8 million US-dollars in electricity costs over the next 20 years. SunPower reports that it had
financed, designed and built the system under its "Access" power purchase agreement (PPA) scheme. Under the terms of this agreement, RCWD will buy the electricity generated at the solar
plant from SunPower at rates that are competitively priced against utility rates, providing the water district with a long-term hedge against rising peak power prices. According to the
press release, RCWD will own the renewable energy credits associated with the system.
Solar power is expected to reduce more than 2.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually
"The SunPower 'Access' PPA made it financially possible for the district to build this system, and reap the benefits of competitively-priced solar power from day one", said Andy
Webster, director of engineering for RCWD. "SunPower offered high-efficiency technology that maximizes the amount of solar power generated, and a turnkey solution that allowed the
system to be operational in eight months. It's good for our environment as well as for our residents and businesses." RCWD reports that the system utilizes SunPower solar panels
combined with the company's proprietary "Tracker" system, which follows the sun's movement during the day. According to the press release, this system is able to increase the sunlight
capture by up to 30 percent over conventional fixed-tilt systems, while significantly reducing land use requirements. The solar power plant is expected to reduce more than 2.5 million
pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually. "Solar makes good financial sense today for California's water agencies. There is financing available through power purchase agreements such
as SunPower 'Access,' and there are also financial incentives for solar projects available from state and federal governments", said Tom Werner, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
SunPower. "We applaud the district for hosting this showcase installation that demonstrates both good environmental and fiscal stewardship."
2009-03-27 Courtesy: SunPower Corp. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: SunPower Corp.
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Trina Solar dedicates 2.4 MW single rooftop photovoltaic power plant in Atlantic City
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13.400 on a single roof: PV system
of the Atlantic City Convention Center.
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Trina Solar Ltd. (Changzhou, China), an integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) products, on March 20th, 2009 announced that it had completed a solar array on the roof of
the Atlantic City Convention Center (ACCC). According to the press release, the project is North America's largest single roof-mounted photovoltaic system, consisting of more than
13,400 solar modules with a peak capacity of approximately 2.4 megawatts (MWp). The project had been completed in December 2008 and is said to be able to power up to 280
homes, effectively curtailing the release of 2,350 tons of carbon dioxide every year. The panels are expected to produce about a quarter of the building's energy and to provide the ACCC
with energy savings of approximately 4.4 million US-dollars over 20 years, according to the press release.
Dedication ceremony was attended by New Jersey governor, other officials
Trina Solar reports that its Director of Sales & Marketing for North America, Jim Day, was joined by project partners and invited guests as the Governor of New Jersey, Jon Corzine,
and other officials dedicated the completion of the project on March 5, 2009. "We are very delighted by the completion of this significant project, which helps to bring clean, green
solar energy solutions to Atlantic City", said Jifan Gao, Trina Solar's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). "We are proud that Trina Solar's modules were selected for this
landmark achievement. The success of this project demonstrates our capacity to deliver large scale commercial solar solutions to market as we continue to broaden our distribution
networks and project partnership agreements in the U.S."
2009-03-26 Courtesy: Trina Solar Ltd. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Trina Solar Ltd.
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Cold storage building combines efficiency with solar energy to reduce costs by more than 75 percent
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PV installation at the ICE II building.
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In a dedication ceremony on March 19th, 2009 Hamann Construction (El Cajon, California), Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises, Inc. (ICE; San Diego, California), San Diego Gas &
Electric (SDG&E) and SunPower Corp. (San Jose, California) celebrated the completion of ICE II, ICE's new 134,511-square-foot cold storage building. According to the press release
by SunPower, a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, ICE expects to achieve more than 75 percent reduction in energy costs at the facility as a
result of the energy efficient design and a 1.1 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system. "This new building will store four times as much product as the original plant
while using half the power, and the SunPower solar system on the roof will generate the equivalent of 72 percent of the energy used by the facility", said Gregg Hamann, Vice President
of Hamann Construction, designers and builders of the project. He commended on the non-penetrating rooftop system by SunPower, which allows for a "cool roof" design because it does not
disturb the insulation. Because of its design to standards and sustainability and energy efficiency, the building is expected to receive LEED certification (U.S. Green Building
Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
SDG&E awards more than 225,000 US-dollars in incentives
According to the press release, financing for the solar power system had been shared equally by Innovative Oil and Gas, a Hamann entity, and SDG&E. Accordingly, each of the
companies owns half of the solar power system and the renewable energy credits associated with it. SDG&E collaborated with Hamann as part of its "Sustainable Communities Program",
which sponsors green building, energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. SDG&E had awarded Hamann and ICE over 5,000 in incentive funding for the energy efficient
features and advanced technology included in the design of the building. "We congratulate ICE for taking advantage of the California Solar Initiative and the federal tax incentive to
finance their half of this project," said Hal Snyder, Vice President of customer solutions for SDG&E. "This truly is a community project because half of the solar power from this
roof will go right to the grid for the benefit of our local customers, while 5,000 in incentives were awarded to ICE and Hamann Construction for building a more sustainable facility
that delivers long-term benefits." SunPower reports that the solar PV system that is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by almost 1.5 million pounds annually.
2009-03-26 Courtesy: SunPower Corp. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: SunPower Corp.
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Dr. Winfried Hoffmann re-elected as President of EPIA until 2010
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EPIA's President Dr.
Winfried Hoffmann.
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The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) celebrated its annual General Meeting on Thursday March 19th, 2009. The assembly re-elected as President until 2010 and elected
Anton Milner, from Q-Cells SE, as Vice-President. Stephan Hansen from First Solar GmbH entered the Board as Director. The EPIA Annual General Meeting organised in Frankfurt
was a privileged occasion to celebrate EPIA surpassing the landmark figure of 200 members and share the association’s strategic orientations for the coming years. It was also the
opportunity to fill the seat of President, vacant since October 2008 with the resignation of Ernesto Macias.
Members re-elected Dr. Winfried Hoffmann as President of the association until 2010 by 82 % of votes. Dr. Winfried Hoffmann is currently VP and Chief Technology Officer of the Solar
Business Group at Applied Materials GmbH. He has nearly 30 years experience in the solar PV business. Anton Milner was elected Vice-President by 78 % of votes. Anton Milner is Chief
Executive Officer and co-founder of Q-Cells SE. He has been involved in the PV sector since 2000.
Stephan Hansen was elected as Board Director among 8 candidates. Stephan Hansen holds the position of Managing Director at First Solar GmbH. He was born and educated in Germany and
graduated from the University of Stuttgart in 1993 with a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. After that he worked in the fields of business process re-engineering, optimisation
of production and strategy & new business development. Before joining First Solar as Managing Director in 2004, he worked for three years in the PV sector in managerial positions
for companies of distribution, system integration and module manufacturing in Germany and the US. As Managing Director at First Solar GmbH, he is responsible for worldwide sales of
modules, customer service and the implementation of Business Development strategies in EMEA.
The EPIA Board of Directors is now composed of President Dr. Winfried Hoffmann and three Vice-Presidents: Dr. Murray Cameron (Phoenix Solar AG, Chief Operating Officer); Boris
Klebensberger (SolarWorld AG, Chief Technology Officer) and Anton Milner (Q-Cells SE, Chief Executive Officer).
Directors are: Günther Cramer (SMA Technologies AG, Member of the Management Board); Christian Langen (Sovello AG, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer); Michael Harre (SCHOTT Solar GmbH,
Chief Sales Officer) and Stephan Hansen (First Solar GmbH, Managing Director).
2009-03-26 Courtesy: EPIA Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: EPIA
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EPIA review: 2008 was an exceptional year for the photovoltaic market
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In 2008 the global PV market grew to
at least by 5.5 GW.
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The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) presented its annual market figures to its members on Friday, 20th 2009. The global solar photovoltaic (PV) market grew to at
least by 5.5 gigawatts (GW) in 2008 compared to a growth of 2.4 GW in 2007. Spain ranks first, followed by Germany, EPIA reports in a press release. At its 4th market potential and
production capacity Workshop EPIA also presented its global market analysis and projections for the next 5 years. In 2008 the global installed capacity totaled almost 15 GW compared to
9 GW in 2007. Spain represented almost half of the new installations in 2008 with about 2.5 GW new capacities, followed by Germany with 1.5 GW additional connected PV systems in the
last year. The USA confirmed their trend with 342 MW newly installed capacities, followed by South Korea which registered 274 MW of new PV installations over the year. Italy
connected almost 260 MW to the grid while France, Portugal, Belgium and the Czech Republic made good scores confirming Europe’s global leadership in the deployment of solar PV
energy, EPIA emphasizes. "A diversification of the market is taking place with countries adopting appropriate support policies, this is very good news for the PV industry and the
environment", said Dr. Winfried Hoffmann, President of EPIA, in his concluding speech.
Up to 7 GW estimated market volume in 2009 depending on policy frameworks
EPIA also presented its market and production forecasts for the next 5 years. Given the current crisis context, high uncertainties over the 2009 market exist, the Industry Association
accentuates. This year, experts believe the market could reach up to 7 GW, each individual country’s development influencing the final figure. In particular Spain recently changed
its support scheme, setting-up a cap which will limit the development of the global market in 2009. The PV sector is hoping other markets such as the US, Germany, France and Italy will
pull the demand. Favourable policy frameworks are expected to further accelerate PV deployment in these countries. In 2013, the global PV market could reach 22 GW if appropriate
policies, such as feed-in tariffs, are in place. These figures will be presented in detail at EPIA’s 3rd International Conference on Solar Photovoltaic Investments on April 7th
– 8th in Frankfurt, Germany.
2009-03-25 Courtesy: EPIA Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: EPIA; Phoenix Solar AG
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US-solar industry association SEPA releases details on 2009 events and educational programs for utilities
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Impression of a SEPA mission to Germany.
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The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA; Washington, DC) announced its second annual "Solar Fact Finding Mission for Utility Decision Makers" from May 17th to 22nd leading a
delegation of utility executives and managers to Spain. SEPA also annunciated that its first annual "Utility Solar Conference" will be held on July 28th and 29th in San Jose, California
and that registration for both programs is open now. In the past year, U.S. utilities have become some of the largest and most important customers for the solar industry. Utility
executives have started to recognize the relevance and importance of solar energy to their overall business plans and energy mix, which is why SEPA has expanded its educational outreach
to utilities in 2009. "As utilities explore options to incorporate solar into their portfolio, more forums are needed to facilitate information sharing with their peers, both
in the U.S. and abroad", said Julia Hamm, Executive Director of SEPA. "SEPA's Fact Finding Mission and Utility Solar Conference provide two excellent opportunities for utilities to
better understand both the technical and non-technical matters related to incorporating solar projects and programs into the utility business," she added.
Solar Fact Finding Mission for utility decision makers
SEPA plans to lead a delegation of utility executives and managers to Spain to learn about the country's experience with both photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP).
According to the association, the group of a maximum of 30 utility delegates will tour commercial installations and research facilities and meet with Spanish utilities, regulators and
solar companies. Utilities are invited to apply to participate in the tour. In 2008 SEPA conducted its first Solar Fact Finding Mission to Germany, which according to the press release
turned out to be a resounding success, with all of the participants saying that they would recommend it to their utility peers. David Rubin, Director of Service Analysis for Pacific Gas
& Electric Company (San Francisco, California) and 2008 Fact Finding Mission participant, commented that "SEPA organized a world class tour of German solar installations and solar
companies for U.S. utility executives in 2008. The agenda was thorough, packed with information and insights, and the execution was flawless."
SEPA Utility Solar Conference
SEPA also announced that its first Utility Solar Conference (USC) is scheduled to be a two-day conference, which will be open only to utility employees. It is designed to be a forum
where utilities interested in a viable long-term solar strategy can share information, exchange ideas and talk through the details of various strategies and business models in a safe
environment free of outside influences. The conference will not include exhibits and industry participation will be limited to a small number of select sponsors, SEPA reports. The
conference will be limited to 300 utility participants, pre- and post-conference events are scheduled for July 27th and 30th. According to the press release, the comprehensive
conference content is being designed by utilities for utilities, targeting employees across departments with a role in solar program and project development and implementation. Electric
utility employees are invited to learn more and register online at http://www.utilitysolarconference.com.
2009-03-25 Courtesy: SEPA Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: SEPA
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GreenVolts and NREL to commercialize advanced IMM multi-junction solar cell technology
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CPV system by GreenVolts.
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GreenVolts, Inc. (San Francisco, California), producer of concentrating photovoltaic technology (CPV), on March 16th, 2009 announced that it had entered into a development
relationship with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL; Golden, Colorado) to commercialize the inverted metamorphic (IMM) advanced multi-junction solar cell design. According
to the company's press release, the Department of Energy (DoE) committed 500,000 US-Dollars for GreenVolts to co-develop NREL's patents and bring this new technology to
market. Under the terms of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), representatives of both parties will cooperate to make important technical advancements.
NREL is also expected to provide test and measurement services, the necessary technology specifications and process information as well as advice and assistance in the device
optimization and technology transfer. GreenVolts reports that it has also signed a licensing agreement with NREL to commercialize their patents.
GreenVolts to develop a customized cell tailored to its optical system
The purpose of this two-year agreement was to transfer NREL's IMM solar cell technology to GreenVolts, the company reports. It aims to develop a customized cell tailored to its optical
system and to accelerate the widespread commercialization of the CPV technology through its high-volume manufacturing partners. The development agreement is scheduled to be completed in
multiple phases, each of which will build towards GreenVolts delivering a customized, reliable IMM device that can be cost effectively fabricated at high volume. "We believe this new
IMM technology is key to a tremendous leap forward in solar cell efficiency", NREL Director Dan Arvizu said. "We are pleased to be working with GreenVolts to both refine these
advancements and provide for a viable way to bring them to market."
NREL already demonstrated solar cell efficiencies at 40.8
According to Greenvolts, the NREL IMM technology has already demonstrated one of the world's highest reported solar cell efficiencies at 40.8 percent and that it holds the promise for
even further substantial increases. A customized solar cell is expected to enable GreenVolts to optimize its concentrating photovoltaic system by increasing efficiency and reliability
while reducing the overall cost of energy. "This is an exciting opportunity to make significant advancements in the performance of solar cell technology", said Bob Cart, Founder and
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GreenVolts. "We look forward to working closely with NREL to develop a quality high volume, low cost manufacturing process to ensure that this next
generation technology will be readily available."
2009-03-24 Courtesy: GreenVolts, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: GreenVolts, Inc.
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Solyndra offered 5 million loan guarantee by the U.S. Department of Energy
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Solar PV system with cylindrical panels
for commercial rooftops by Solyndra.
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Solyndra, Inc. (Fremont, California) on March 20th, 2009 announced that it is the first solar energy company to receive an offer for a loan guarantee by the U.S. Department of Energy
(DoE) under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Solyndra, manufacturer of innovative cylindrical photovoltaic (PV) systems, reports that it will use the proceeds of a 535
million US-dollar loan from the Treasury's Federal Financing Bank to expand its solar panel manufacturing capacity in California. "The leadership and actions of President
Barack Obama, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and the U.S. Congress were instrumental in concluding this offer for a loan guarantee", said Solyndra Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and
founder, Dr. Chris Gronet. "The DoE 'Loan Guarantee Program' funding will enable Solyndra to achieve the economies of scale needed to deliver solar electricity at prices that are
competitive with utility rates. This expansion is really about creating new jobs while meaningfully impacting global warming."
500 MW annual manufacturing capacity to provide up to 15 GW solar electricity over project span
According to the press release, the guaranteed loan is expected to provide debt financing for approximately 73 percent of the project costs, allowing Solyndra to initiate construction
of its second solar panel production facility in California. On completion, the new facility, dubbed "Fab 2," is expected to have a manufacturing capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) per
year. Over the life of the project, Solyndra estimates that Fab 2 will produce solar panels sufficient to generate up to 15 gigawatts (GW) of solar electricity. Solyndra estimates that
the construction of this complex will employ approximately 3,000 people and that the operation of the facility will create over 1,000 jobs. "The DoE, in consultation with independent
consultants, performed a thorough investigation and analysis of our project's financial, technical and legal strengths", said Dr. Kelly Truman, Solyndra's Vice President of Marketing,
Sales and Business Development. "We are proud to be the first company to pass this comprehensive review, and we would like to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of the staff of the DoE
'Loan Guarantee Program' office."
2009-03-24 Courtesy: Solyndra, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Solyndra, Inc.
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National Semiconductor acquires Act Solar, extending its PV efficiency and management capabilities
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National's "SolarMagic" will be
available in spring 2009.
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National Semiconductor Corp. (Santa Clara, California) on March 19th, 2009 announced that it had acquired Act Solar, Inc. (Santa Clara, California) a privately held solar energy
company that provides power optimization solutions for commercial and utility-scale photovoltaic installations. National reports in a press release that the acquisition of Act Solar
expands its portfolio of PV power optimization technologies and adds new diagnostics and panel monitoring capabilities for solar PV arrays. "National Semiconductor is
applying its 'PowerWise' capabilities to drive new energy generation and efficiency initiatives in the solar panel marketplace," said Mike Polacek, Senior Vice President of National's
Key Market Segments. "Now with Act Solar we can further improve the performance and efficiency of solar systems, at the same time providing monitoring capabilities not available before.
This will make solar installations more efficient and ultimately reduces the cost of solar energy for everyone."
Technology promises to improve solar array efficiency significantly
According to the company's press release, National's "SolarMagic" technology is capable of enhancing the efficiency and output of solar arrays when the panels are affected by mismatch
issues including shade, debris, different panel types and panel aging. Recent internal testing showed that the power optimizing system recovered 57 percent of power lost due to shade,
the company reports. Act Solar's products may improve array performance by 6 to 11 percent, National emphasizes, using a patent-pending technology that complements central inverters by
dynamically re-circulating small amounts of electricity to balance solar arrays. The technology utilizes a technique for power tracking, which works by "injecting" energy into the
string as opposed to traditional DC-DC voltage converting approaches. Early field tests and historical modeling have shown that this solution can cumulatively deliver 40 to 80 percent
more power over the operating life of a solar panel installation, the company reports.
2009-03-24 Courtesy: National Semiconductor Corp. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: National Semiconductor Corp.
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First Solar produced PV modules with a total capacity of 1 GW
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First Solar production at Frankfurt/Oder,
Germany.
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First Solar, Inc., (Tempe, Arizona) on March 20th, 2009 announced that it has produced 1 gigawatt (GW) of its advanced solar modules since beginning commercial production in early
2002. It took the Company more than six years to produce its first 500 megawatts (MW) and eight months to produce its second, creating today’s 1GW total, First Solar emphasizes in
the press release. By the end of this year, the Company has announced it will have the capacity to produce more than 1GW per year- the equivalent of an average-sized nuclear power
plant. "This volume allows us to rapidly reduce manufacturing costs, thereby furthering our mission of making solar power an affordable alternative to conventional energy
sources", said First Solar president Bruce Sohn. "We appreciate the many contributions our associates have made in reaching this 1GW milestone and are grateful for all their hard
work."
23 manufacturing lines on three continents
First Solar began production in Perrysburg, Ohio, with a single manufacturing line and approximately 150 associates in 2002. By the end of 2009, the Company’s solar modules will
come from 23 manufacturing lines on three continents and employing more than 4,000 associates. The Company currently has manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Germany and Malaysia and
offices located throughout North America and Europe.
2009-03-24 Courtesy: First Solar Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: First Solar Inc.
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US PV producer Sencera demonstrates 8.7 % efficient thin-film silicon solar cell
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Photovoltaic thin film deposition by Sencera.
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Sencera (Charlotte, North Carolina), manufacturer of thin film silicon based photovoltaic (PV) modules, on March 17th, 2009 announced that it had successfully deposited
single-junction silicon solar cells with an initial 8.7 percent sunlight to electricity conversion efficiency under standard test conditions. As a result, the company reports, it had
secured the final 5.2 million of a 15.6 million US-Dollar investment from the California based lead investor Quercus Trust. According to the press release, the efficiency gain had been
achieved with process and hardware enhancements of Sencera's manufacturing platform "Viper", a proprietary, fully automated plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)
system. Recent innovations on the "Viper" had improved cell absorption of both blue and red light sections of the solar spectrum, which according to the company result in the
conversion of more sunlight to solar electricity. "This efficiency milestone validates our manufacturing platform and our cost model. We intend to expand our present 1 MW research
capacity to 35 MW annual capacity over the next two quarters", said Dr. Rusty Jewett, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sencera.
35 MW solar module factory under construction in Charlotte, NC
Sencera reports that it has fully funded the first manufacturing line without incurring debt. Over 75 percent of the production equipment and process required to manufacture solar
modules is the company's proprietary design, Sencera emphasizes. "Sencera's capital requirement to build a factory is less than one-half the cost of competitors. As a result, Sencera is
positioned well for long term price volatility in the solar module marketplace", said Sencera's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Britt Weaver. According to the press release, initial
company plans include the production of a 106 watt single-junction amorphous silicon module with an efficiency of 7 percent at its 35 megawatt (MW) solar module factory under
construction in Charlotte, North Carolina. Future plans include the development of a second generation tandem junction module with a targeted stabilized efficiency of more than 11
percent. According to the press release, this would increase the manufacturing capacity to 50 MW without the purchase of additional equipment. Sencera reports that the solar cell
performance had independently been confirmed by The University of Delaware's Institute of Energy Conversion.
2009-03-23 Courtesy: Sencera Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Sencera
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Inverters by SMA America used for the second-largest solar farm on Hawaii
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500 kW solar electric array adjacent to
Wilcox Memorial Hospital, Kauai.
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SMA America, Inc. (Rocklin, California), U.S. subsidiary of the German SMA Solar Technology AG and manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) solar inverter technology, on March 19th, 2009
announced that its "Sunny Central 250U" solar inverters had recently been chosen for the second-largest solar farm on Hawaii. Sunetric (Kailua, Hawaii), the state's largest locally
owned solar integrator, had installed the 500 kilowatt (kW) system at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on the island of Kauai, making it the first solar farm installation at a Hawaiian
hospital, according to the press release. "SMA is very proud to see the Sunny Central inverters selected for such an important project", said Jürgen Krehnke, President and
General Manager of SMA America. "In an environment where flawless performance and uncompromised reliability really make a difference, SMA's field-proven technology made the Sunny
Central a logical choice."
Solar array expected to offset 52% of a hospital's electricity needs
The solar farm is expected to generate 740,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of power annually, which would be enough electricity for about 85 homes. The installation is comprised of 2,190 solar
panels by SunPower (San Jose, California) and assembled on 1.4 acres of land adjacent to the hospital. Three "Sunny Central 250U" inverters convert the energy into usable power for the
hospital, SMA reports. "In 2008, we installed more PV than anyone else in Hawaii, and we choose SMA inverters because their strong track record for success, reliability and sealed
design gives us confidence", said Todd Georgopapadakos, Sunetric's Vice President of business development. Aside from saving the hospital more than 0,000 annually by offsetting 52
percent of its electricity needs, the system is expected to eliminate 670 tons of carbon emissions and to keep 1,100 barrels of oil from being used each year.
2009-03-23 Courtesy: SMA America, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: SMA America, Inc.
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USA: Recurrent Energy acquires UPC Solar's 350 MW solar project pipeline
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Hillside array in Marin County consisting
of 2,358 photovoltaic panels.
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Recurrent Energy, Inc. (San Francisco, California), a distributed power company and provider of solar energy, on March 18th, 2009 announced that it had purchased a solar project
pipeline of up to 350 megawatts (MW) capacity from UPC Solar, a Chicago-based renewable energy development company. According to the press release, the transaction provides Recurrent
Energy with direct access to project opportunities in development across the continental United States, Hawaii and Canada including a number of large solar photovoltaic (PV) plants
planned throughout the province of Ontario. As part of the agreement, Recurrent Energy will retain UPC Solar's development team to complete the Canadian solar projects.
Recurrent Energy's expansion across North America represents a significant milestone in its focus on smaller utility-scale power assets ranging from 2-20 MW each, the company
emphasizes. Recurrent Energy will develop, own, finance, and operate the solar projects in UPC Solar's multi-megawatt pipeline, targeting over 100 MW of operational assets by
2012.
Expansion of clean energy assets part of global business strategy
"The addition of UPC Solar's development assets is a strategic move for Recurrent Energy that reflects our financial strength and vision of the opportunity in distributed solar power",
said Arno Harris, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Recurrent Energy. "We look forward to working with UPC Solar's development team to bring these projects to commercial
operation and to significantly advance our global clean energy objectives." UPC Solar is part of the UPC Energy Group, which according to the press release has over 750 MW of
operational renewable energy assets and over 3,000 MW in development worldwide. "The UPC Solar team is excited to join with Recurrent Energy on the further development of this vast
project pipeline", said David Brochu, President and CEO, UPC Solar. "In addition to having one of the finest teams of investors, developers, and executives, Recurrent Energy brings a
strong balance sheet and clear strategy for success in the distributed solar market, an unbeatable combination for reaching economies of scale."
2009-03-22 Courtesy: Recurrent Energy, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Recurrent Energy, Inc.
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BP Solar to negotiate 37 MW photovoltaic projects with Long Island Power Authority
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8.8 MW solar power array by BP Solar
in Toledo, Spain.
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BP Solar announced on March 11th, 2009 that the company had been selected to enter into negotiations with the New York state utility provider Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), to
provide nearly 37 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) capacity. BP Solar reports in a press release that its proposal includes two large-scale commercial solar photovoltaic projects at
the site of the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) located in Upton, New York. Each project would be sized at just over 18 MW, making BNL home to the
largest solar photovoltaic site in the State of New York. "We are pleased to have been selected by the Long Island Power Authority to enter into further negotiations for a
utility-scale opportunity to be located at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory", said Mark Kerstens, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for BP Solar.
"This effort further signifies our commitment to renewable energy development at a large scale not only in New York but across the U.S."
BP Solar reports that it will immediately begin negotiations with LIPA for a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for the two projects, and expects to finalize the contract in the
coming months. BP Solar reports that it will send independent power producer industry veteran Felix Taubman to lead the negotiations, who is responsible for BP Solar's utility-scale
business in North America. BP Solar is part of BP Alternative Energy and on own account employs about 2,200 employees globally. It designs, manufactures and markets solar energy
products for use in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
2009-03-22 Courtesy: BP Solar Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: BP Solar
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Concentrator Photovoltaics at the beginning of the learning curve
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CPV focuses onto highly efficient solar cells.
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Juan Carlos Mińano and Pablo Benítez from LPI, an optical design, prototyping and manufacturing company, headquartered in Altadena, California, are going to present on "How new
optical concepts & designs affect efficiency", as part of the 2nd Concentrated Photovoltaic Summit, to be held on April 28th – 29th in Toledo, Spain. They point out that the
time evolution of efficiencies and cost shows thatCPV is at the beginning of the learning curve with a big potential for improvements. The duo from LPI believes that for concentrator
photovoltaics (CPV) to succeed, there is requirement of high efficiency, sufficient high concentration and as much tolerance as possible. The best efficiency concentration tolerance is
being achieved by advanced optics, CPV Today, the organiser of the event, emphasizes in a press release. Scaling-up CPV will need the synergy with present high- throughput low-cost
industries (such as automotive or solid state lighting). Going forward, the US start-up companies also believe that by bridging the gaps of knowledge by exchanging of
academic research results and experiences in the field, they can move closer to understanding the issues in the forerun of the first commercial concentrating photovoltaic power
plants.
Concentrator PV to reduce the cost of generating electricity from solar energy
One of the key elements of a CPV system is the optical system that focuses a large area of sunlight onto each solar cell. CPV solar arrays utilise 2-axis sun tracking systems to capture
more of the available sun energy. The high energy output from a more efficient PV system, and the savings in costly semiconductor area make the application of CPV technology
economically advantageous. The proponents of this technology are counting on the fact that as Concentrator PV arrays advance their projected learning curve in terms of high volume
manufacturing and increased cell efficiency, this technology will continue to dramatically reduce the cost of generating electricity from solar energy. According to Gustavo Nofuentes,
Professor of Electronic Engineering applied to PV-IDEA Group of the University of Jaén, Spain, the complexity of the required highly precise tracking system, brought together with
maintenance procedures, has traditionally prevented the implementation of small CPV arrays, which would not benefit from the potential cost reduction that is inherent in larger CPV
systems. "Despite these considerations, some smaller and flatter designs are becoming available in the present market. Anyway, the potential for achieving cost reductions through scale
justifies the expenditure in complex tracking systems in a life-cycle cost approach", said Nofuentes, speaking to CPVToday.com ahead of 2nd Concentrated Photovoltaic Summit.
Optics in a concentrator system are less expensive than the photovoltaic cell
The concentration allows substitution of cost-effective materials such as lenses and mirrors. The focus is on concentrating the sunlight onto a very small, highly efficient
multi-junction solar cell by using optical lenses and mirrors. Besides reducing the consumption of PV materials, the concentrator approach allows for entering the domain of highly
efficient multi-junction cells. One of the main advantages is related to cost: Area for area, optics in a concentrator system are less expensive than the photovoltaic cell. The basic
concept is that if the amount of cell area per unit can be reduced, then the overall cost of the system will drop. It is pointed out that under 500-sun concentration, 1 cm2 of solar
cell area produces the same electricity as 500 cm2 would without concentration. This is particularly significant when considering the inherent efficiency advantage of the multi-junction
technology over Silicon solar cells.
Concentrating systems can make use of inexpensive and field-proven materials
The other main advantage is related to manufacturability and reliability. Concentrating systems are mechanical assemblies and can make use of inexpensive, field-proven materials and
manufacturing techniques, such as are used in the automotive and disk drive industries. By using common materials such as glass and aluminum for the bulk of a system, and much less
solar cell material, concentrator systems are less susceptible to supply constraints of specialised materials such as PV cells, making the technology highly scalable to large volumes of
production.
Further Information: http://www.cpvtoday.com/eu09/programme.shtml
2009-03-21 Courtesy: CPV Today Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Concentrix Solar GmbH
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PV producer Q-Cells SE confirms figures for fiscal year 2008: Sales rose by 46 %
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PV reference plant with solar cells
by Q-Cells (Rödgen, Saxony-Anhalt).
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On March 19th, 2009 Q-Cells SE (Bitterfeld-Wolfen; Germany), manufacturer of solar cells and photovoltaiv (PV) products presented its Annual Report for 2008 at a press conference in
Frankfurt/Main. The company therewith confirms its preliminary figures of 24 February 2009. With a PV production volume of 570.4 megawatts (MWp) in its core business, Q-Cells SE on own
account was again the world’s largest manufacturer of solar cells last year. Sales rose by 46 % to € 1,251.3 million (previous year: € 858.9 million). EBIT, which was
depressed to a much greater degree in the previous fiscal year by the start-up costs of new technologies and the new production facility in Malaysia, grew by 4 % to € 205.1
million (2007: € 197.0 million).
Net income for the year totaled € 190.6 million, which is an increase of 28 % on the figure for the previous year of € 148.3 million.
Excluding the contribution from the investment in Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC) net income for the year stood at € 140.3 million (€ 127.2 million). Q-Cells has
therefore successfully continued its expansionary course in the past year. In addition to commissioning the final section of Line V in the first half of the year, the sixth production
line was commissioned at the Bitterfeld-Wolfen site in the fourth quarter of 2008 allowing total cell capacity to be increased to 760 MWp. The new fab in Malaysia, on which construction
started in the second quarter of 2008, will launch the making of its first solar cells in Q2 this year.
Thin-film mass-production by subsidiaries Sontor and Solibro
In addition to expansions in the core business, two of the thin-film subsidiaries or investments started mass-production last year. Both Sontor GmbH and Solibro GmbH continued their
ramp-up successfully in the fourth quarter of 2008. Work also began on expanding capacity at Solibro to a total of 135 MWp (currently 30 MWp) in the fourth quarter. Across the Group,
Q-Cells created a total of 861 new jobs through its expansion, which means that the company employed 2,568 individuals in total at the end of last year.
The Annual Report 2008 and an up-to-date presentation of the Company are available for downloading in the Investor Relations section of Q-Cells SE’s website.
2009-03-19 Courtesy: Q-Cells SE Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Q-Cells SE
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Photovoltaics: Xantrex introduces solar power conversion substations to North America
Xantrex Technology Inc. (Vancouver, Canada), a subsidiary of Schneider Electric and manufacturer of advanced power electronic products and systems, on March 10th, 2009 announced the
launch of its "Solar Power Conversion Substation" (SPCS) technology to the North American photovoltaic (PV) market. According to the company's press release, the SPCS is a pre-wired
equipment package typically consisting of Xantrex solar power inverters, direct current combiner boxes, step-up transformers and a medium voltage switch, housed in a prefabricated
building that protects the equipment from environmental impacts. The package due to Xantrex was specifically designed to meet the growing demand of large scale grid-tied solar farms and
large commercial rooftop solar installations. "The SPCS will allow customers to reduce total electrical installation cost and project cycle time by up to 15%", said Rudy
Wodrich, Business Development Director for Xantrex Technology Inc. "The old method of inter-wiring the electrical equipment on the jobsite was often inefficient and difficult to
coordinate the delivery of components from multiple vendors. By placing the inverters into a structure with a controlled environment, customers can use the products in harsh desert
climates where many future large scale solar projects are planned."
Upgrade-options available for inverter kit
Xantrex inverters convert the direct current collected by solar panels into high-quality alternating current power at low voltage. According to Xantrex, the transformer in the SPCS
package converts the AC power so it can be directly transferred to the utility grid. The company announces that it offers other items that can be added to the package, including climate
controls, security equipment, array string monitoring, SCADA monitoring equipment (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) and power metering. Xantrex is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Schneider Electric, with facilities in the United States, Germany and Spain, and a joint venture in China.
2009-03-19 Courtesy: Xantrex Technology Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
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ACCIONA starts to build its third CSP plant in Spain
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Concentrating solar power
plant.
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ACCIONA Energy S.A. (Spain) reported on March 9th, 2009 that it had started with the construction work for a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant with a capacity 50 megawatts (MW)
at Majadas de Tiétar (Cáceres) representing an investment of 237 million Euros (304 million US-Dollars). According to the press release, the facility is scheduled to enter service
during the summer of 2010, using solar trough technology to produce clean electricity. ACCIONA reports that this will its third CSP plant with a capacity of 50 MW built in Spain. The
company plans to use the same technology that it applied in its "Nevada Solar One" plant (64 MW) which is operational since June 2007 in the United States. In June 2009
ACCIONA expects to start construction on its fourth CSP plant (Palma del Río I) also will have a capacity of 50 MW. The company estimates to achieve its objective of 200 MW of solar
thermal power capacity installed in Spain by the end of 2010, making a very strong contribution to reaching the development objective for this technology under the national "Renewables
Plan": 500 MW by 2010.
Up to 400 jobs during the construction phase
The Majadas plant, like the other facilities developed by ACCIONA in Spain, is based on solar trough collector technology tested in the "Nevada Solar One" plant. The Majadas plant will
be built on 135 hectares (334 acres) of land, where eight hundred solar collectors will be installed with a total of 192,000 mirrors covering a total of 48 linear miles (78 km). The
mirrors concentrate the sun's rays onto collectors where fluid runs through a circuit and heats up to temperatures above 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The fluid is then used to produce water
vapor and drive a conventional turbine that, connected to a generator, produces electricity. The project is expected to have an impact on the economic development of the Cáceres
province, creating about 350 jobs during the construction phase and 31 in the operational phase. ACCIONA reports that it is currently going through administrative procedures for a fifth
CSP plant dubbed "Alvarado II," again with a capacity of 50 MW, which the company says will be built after the others.
2009-03-18 Courtesy: ACCIONA Energy S.A. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: ACCIONA Energy S.A.
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SolFocus and Samaras to expand concentrating photovoltaic project in Greece from 1.6 MW to 10 MW
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SolFocus CPV systems in Spain.
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The US-manufacturer SolFocus Inc. (Mountain View, California) on March 9th, 2009 announced that it will dramatically expand its installation of concentrating photovoltaic technology
(CPV) in Greece under a new agreement. In November 2008 the company had originally announced the project as a 1.6 megawatt peak (MWp) deployment by SolFocus and the Samaras Group
(Thessaloniki, Greece), a consultancy services provider specialized in the development of renewable energy projects. The new agreement involves a joint effort between SolFocus, the
Samaras Group and its engineering company Concept, to increase the project to 10 MWp, SolFocus announces in a press release. Over the past four months, the partners have
investigated several sites and have started engineering plans for the installation. "The swift expansion of this project resulted from the favorable political, economic, and energy
generation environment that exists in Greece for commercial solar technologies", said Mark Crowley, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of SolFocus. "2009 is truly the beginning
of CPV commercialization and Greece is a front-runner. We expect that CPV will follow a similar growth path in other high-sun regions over the next several years."
CPV-technology to provide the highest solar electricity generation potential per area of land
Spanning multiple sites in Greece, the PV deployment is scheduled to have a capacity of 10 MWp using the SolFocus "1100S" system. SolFocus reports that it offers conversion efficiencies
that are typically 30-50 percent superior than traditional photovoltaic (PV) panels and that it provides the highest solar electricity generation potential per area of land. "The
Samaras Group is confident that we can accomplish such a significant project expansion with the continued partnership of SolFocus", said Dimitrios Samaras, President of the Samaras
Group. "SolFocus systems are easy to scale, reliable in the field, and amazingly efficient. We look forward to proving the strength of CPV through the results of this installation." The
first year of production alone is expected to prevent the release of 17,500 tons of CO2 emissions. The installation is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2009, with the first delivery
of power expected in fall, according to the press release.
2009-03-17 Courtesy: SolFocus Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: SolFocus Inc.
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ENN Solar produces China’s first 5.7m2 tandem junction solar panels on Applied Materials SunFab thin film line
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ENN solar facility at Langfang, China.
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ENN Solar Energy Co., Ltd., Langfang, China, on March 16, 2009 announced that it has produced China’s first 5.7m2 high-efficiency, tandem junction thin film photovoltaic (PV)
panels using a "SunFab" thin film line, rated at 60 megawatts per year, supplied by Applied Materials, Inc. Working together at ENN’s leading-edge facility in Langfang, China, ENN
and Applied achieved this milestone just five months after equipment installation, Applied Materials reports in a press release. The ultra-large PV panels are nearly four times larger
than conventional modules on the market and use Applied’s innovative tandem junction technology to deliver significantly higher conversion efficiencies at competitive
costs. "By combining the high efficiency of tandem junction technology with ultra-large 5.7m2 substrates, we’re able to deliver modules that dramatically reduce
installed cost per watt", said Dr. Rick Wan, General Manager of ENN Solar. "Our close association with Applied Materials has enabled ENN to build a winning platform, combining our
next-generation solar technology with our world-class manufacturing capability."
"We are committed to delivering the highest level of technology innovation and manufacturing excellence to our customers", said Dr. Randhir Thakur, senior vice president and general
manager of Applied Materials’ SunFab thin film solar and display business group. "ENN’s rapid ramp from equipment installation to producing tandem junction panels is an
example of the unique capabilities that Applied delivers – unparalleled research and development, technology and manufacturing innovation, and global service and support for our
customers."
2009-03-17 Courtesy: Applied Materials, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: ENN Solar Energy Co., Ltd.
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Applied Materials reports solar cell cost reduction by new wire saw
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New Applied HCT MaxEdge wire saw.
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Applied Materials, Inc. (Santa Clara, California) on March 16th, 2009 released a new wire saw dubbed "HCT MaxEdge" for slicing ingots into ultra-thin solar wafers. The company
reports that this new system could help customers to drive down the cost for manufacturing crystalline silicon (c-Si) photovoltaic (PV) cells by up to 0.18 US-Dollars per watt, assuming
a polysilicon price of US-Dollars 55 per kilogram. According to the press release, key technical advances include a dual-wire management system that enables "MaxEdge" to deliver higher
throughput and load capacity than competitive systems, while requiring much less factory floor space and fewer operators for equivalent megawatt output. The new system due to
Applied Materials allows PV cell manufacturers to produce thinner wafers, thereby reducing the amount of silicon per wafer, which ultimately results in lower cost-per-watt of installed
PV capacity. The "MaxEdge" delivers ultra-thin wafers without sacrificing throughput by enabling larger ingot lengths and using thinner wires at higher cutting speeds, Applied Materials
emphasizes.
Cheaper wafers for competitive solar energy
The "MaxEdge" system's dual-wire management system employs four independently-controlled direct drive motors and advanced process control to lower wire tension, reducing wire wear and
decreasing ingot scrap and unplanned downtime, Applied reports in the press release. The reduced tension due to Applied allows the use of smaller diameter cutting wires, resulting in
significantly less silicon loss without compromising yield. "With the 'MaxEdge' system we've boosted the wafer output and lowered the operating expenses of our industry-leading 'HCT B5'
system, making the best wire saw on the market even better", said Stefan Schneeberger, Vice President and General Manager of Applied Materials' Precision Wafering Systems division.
"Since the wafer is the most expensive component of crystalline silicon-based PV manufacturing flow, reducing wafer fabrication cost is critical to the goal of making solar energy
competitive with grid power."
2009-03-17 Courtesy: Applied Materials, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Applied Materials, Inc.
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PHOTON Consulting releases solar energy research system "The Wall"
PHOTON Consulting LLC (Boston, Massachusetts), an independent solar energy research company and consultancy on March 4th, 2009 announced the release of its research system dubbed
"The Wall" to the general public. Developed originally as an internal tool, this database has so far been used by PHOTON Consulting researchers exclusively. With comprehensive and
concise analytics "The Wall" is a decision support tool for the solar industry, containing historical data and 5-year forward projections for the solar energy industry, including price,
volume, revenue, cost and demand for crystalline silicon (c-Si) and thin film technologies, the PHOTON Consulting reports in a press release. The database screens over 1,500
companies, models 700 companies and analyzes more than 60 markets, yielding a wealth of data that is updated on daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis, according to the
release.
Database to provide users with up-to-date solar industry data at their fingertips
Users of "The Wall" will have the ability to search the database as well as interact with the research by exporting information to it through Excel files. Additionally, the database due
to PHOTON Consulting enables users to create customized presentations by selecting desired slides and exporting them to PDF. "The Wall is a powerful and vital information tool that
provides strategic managers access to nearly any piece of solar industry data at their fingertips", stated PHOTON Consulting's Managing Director, Michael Rogol. PHOTON Consulting
invites those interested in learning more about its database to sign up for a complimentary demonstration by contacting info@PHOTONconsulting.com
2009-03-17 Courtesy: PHOTON Consulting LLC Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
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BioSolar to commercialize bio-based backsheets for thin-film solar modules
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Biosolar develops bio-based
backsheets for PV panels.
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BioSolar, Inc. (Santa Clarita, California), developer of a technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources on March 9th, 2009 announced that it plans to expand
the company's technology dubbed "BioBacksheet" to accommodate copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film modules. According to the press release, the
company's patent-pending technology for crystalline silicon (C-Si) photovoltaic solar cells is currently in the pre-production phase. Designed to replace petroleum-based components by
renewable plant sources, the "BioBacksheet" due to Biosolar is a premium-grade backsheet consisting of a cellulosic film combined with a highly water resistant and high dielectric
strength nylon film made from beans of the castor oil plant. "At present, the C-Si area is the largest photovoltaic market segment", said Dr. David Lee, BioSolar's Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). "However, at BioSolar we recognize that the low-cost potential of thin-film modules, particularly CIGS and CdTe, are emerging as formidable
competitors in the global solar market and attracting gigantic investments. Many of these thin film PV manufacturers have expressed strong interests for a 'green' backsheet to be
incorporated into their thin-film solar panels."
Lighter and cheaper backsheets for photovoltaic products
BioSolar cites a Greentech Media solar report, in which analysts forecast that "companies making cadmium-telluride panels could produce nearly 1.5 gigawatts or 6 percent of the global
supply by 2012." The report also predicts that in the same time frame, "companies that make copper-indium-gallium-selenide solar panels could produce 12 percent or nearly 3 gigawatts of
the worldwide supply of solar panels." Dr. Stanley Levy, BioSolar's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) said: "These products require a backsheet comprising an almost perfect moisture
barrier. Currently, glass is the material of choice. It works, but it is heavy and expensive. In response, we have started development on a 'BioBacksheet' with the required barrier
properties for this application. It is a composite film consisting of bio-based and 100% recyclable materials. The resulting product is expected to be much lighter than glass as well as
lower cost." Lee added: "The greatest impediment to solar replacing fossil fuels is cost. Manufacturers struggling to make these technologies cost-effective are increasingly looking to
various material choices. We expect this breakthrough product to be rapidly adopted as the standard for the backsheet component of both traditional as well as thin-film photovoltaic
modules."
2009-03-16 Courtesy: BioSolar, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: BioSolar, Inc.
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Photovoltaics: Veeco to provide equipment for CIGS solar cell production to Korea
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"FastFlex" web coating system by Veeco.
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Veeco Instruments Inc. (Plainview, New York), a manufacturer of systems for scientific research and for the LED, solar, data storage and semiconductor industries, at the beginning of
March 2009 announced that it had entered into a strategic partnership with Daiyang Metal Co., Ltd. (Ansan, South Korea), a producer of cold rolled stainless steel. According to the
press release, Veeco is to supply manufacturing equipment for the production of CIGS (copper, indium, gallium, selenium) solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and Daiyang has placed a first
multi-million dollar purchase order with Veeco for its "FastFlex" web coating systems, to build a thin-film CIGS solar cell production line in Yesan, Korea. The FastFlex
systems are comprised of deposition systems for CIGS, molybdenum (Mo) and transparent conductive oxide (TCO). Veeco plans to start shipments of these systems during the fourth quarter
of 2009. "Daiyang Metal has an aggressive multi-year, multi-site plan to become a leading worldwide manufacturer of CIGS solar cells", commented Chan Ku Kang, Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of Daiyang. According to Kang, the short term goal of Daiyang is to aggressively ramp its CIGS production capacity to 200 Megawatts (MW) during 2010 and 2011 and up to one
gigawatt (GW) capacity by 2013. "We spent a lot of time researching and surveying the suppliers of CIGS manufacturing tools, and were very impressed with the level of process support
and collaboration we received from Veeco during that period. We chose Veeco because they are best prepared to meet our manufacturing and technology needs today and in the future," Kang
said.
CIGS emerges as the next generation solar technology
Veeco's CEO John R. Peeler, said: "This partnership is especially important to us because with Daiyang as the substrate manufacturer and Veeco as the production equipment supplier, we
can accelerate the solar industry's efficiency roadmap. CIGS is emerging as the next generation solar technology, offering combined benefits of higher efficiencies and lower costs when
compared with silicon." According to Veeco, the market research company Nanomarkets has estimated that the CIGS production capacity would increase 30-fold between 2008 (152 MW) and
2015, when the capacity is expected to reach 4.9 GW. "Daiyang's selection of Veeco is confirmation of our leadership in thermal evaporation sources. Thermal source technology is quickly
becoming the preferred CIGS deposition method because it provides customers with high volume, low cost manufacturing solutions that drive down the manufacturing cost per watt",
concluded Piero Sferlazzo, Senior Vice President of Veeco's solar equipment business.
2009-03-15 Courtesy: Veeco Instruments Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Veeco Instruments Inc.
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KYOCERA inaugurates new solar module manufacturing facility in Mexico
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President Calderón (left) activates Kyocera’s
new automated warehouse in Tijuana.
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Kyocera Solar, Inc. (Scottsdale, Arizona), a supplier of solar energy solutions, on March 6th, 2009 inaugurated its second manufacturing plant in Tijuana, Mexico, to produce solar
photovoltaic (PV) modules, the company announced in a press release. Kyocera reports that its new, two-story manufacturing plant in Tijuana encompasses 223,000 square feet of production
space, plus an additional 28,000-square-foot facility connecting the new factory to an existing Kyocera plant. At its projected maximum annual production capacity of 150 megawatts (MW),
the plant is expected to produce enough solar PV modules to equip 42,600 homes each year with 3.5-kilowatt (kWp) solar electric generating systems. The inaugural event was attended by
Mexico's President, Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa. President Calderón, the Baja Governor José Guadalupe Osuna Millán and the mayor of Tijuana Jorge Ramos took some time to
meet the work force at the new plant and unveiled a commemorative plaque. President Calderón announced his intention to implement a large-scale program for renewable energy in Mexico,
which is to include Mexican-made solar modules. "Kyocera gives us a clear case of how we can transform critical moments into new opportunities using long-term vision", President
Calderón said.
New plant part of global production expansion efforts
Saul Garcia, President of Kyocera Mexicana, S.A. de C.V., recognized the group of about 500 Kyocera employees and thanked them for their efforts to increase solar module production.
"Kyocera Mexicana bases its strength on the quality of our people. Together, we commit to expanding our production to achieve 150 megawatts per year in annual output", Garcia stated.
According to the press release, the new facility is part of a multi-year plan to expand Kyocera's global manufacturing capacity for solar modules. Kyocera plans to invest an estimated
30 billion yen (about 300 million US-Dollars) in plants and equipment, and expects to have a combined annual capacity to produce 650 megawatts (MW) of solar modules by the end of March
2012.
2009-03-14 Courtesy: Kyocera Solar, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Kyocera Solar, Inc.
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Silicon Genesis claims new solar wafer thickness record with 20 µm mono c-Si PV foil
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20 microns solar wafer by Silicon Genesis.
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Silicon Genesis (SiGen; San Jose, California), provider of engineered substrate process technology, on March 4th, 2009 announced that it had for the first time been able to produce
solar-cell foils with a thickness of only 20 microns (µm). The 125 mm square monocrystalline silicon (mono c-Si) foils are robust and highly flexible, the company reports. Neither a
photovoltaic (PV) thin-film nor a wafer, the new form-factor was named a "foil" to describe its physical characteristics as a thin, flexible yet free-standing material.
According to the press release, this achievement represents an important milestone in the development of SiGen's "PolyMax" kerf-free wafering technology. The 20 µm solar-cell foil
combines the advantages of the low polysilicone utilization of thin-film PV with the high efficiency potential of mono c-Si PV, the company emphasizes.
Thin PV-foil expected to allow new solar applications and to reduce the cost per installed watt
SiGen expects that the new technology may lead to dramatic reductions in overall production costs for solar cells, ultimately leading to reduced costs per watt. The mono c-Si foil is
the result of the company's continuous development of the production of full size wafers with thicknesses of 150 µm and 50 µm on the company's pilot production line. These capabilities,
according to SiGen, are now being used for the development of high volume manufacturing equipment. The availability of 20 µm mono c-Si foils is expected to allow PV cell manufacturers
to explore new applications and formats with cost effective production. The kerf-free nature of the "PolyMax" wafering system enables savings of material and the development of a new
category using thinner mono c-Si wafers and foils. "The high efficiency potential of our 20 µm c-Si foil technology creates new opportunities for the Solar PV industry," said Francois
Henley, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SiGen. He expects that the flexibility of the 20 µm foils will allow for the development of diverse applications such as building-integrated
photovoltaics (BIPV) and flexible PV. The "PolyMax" system concept and the 20 µm substrate results were recently presented at PHOTON's 4th Photovoltaic Technology Show in Munich,
Germany.
2009-03-12 Courtesy: Silicon Genesis Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Silicon Genesis
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Con Edison to bring solar energy to New York City customers, homes and business
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Con Edison to extend solar energy share in the
New York City grid.
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The utility Con Edison Company (New York City), a subsidiary of Con Edison Inc., on March 5th, 2009 announced that it had filed a proposal with the Public Service Commission (PSC)
for an 18-month solar energy pilot program encompassing homes, business, and the company's own facilities. According to the press release, Con Edison anticipates to generate 12
megawatts (MW) of solar electric capacity by 2011. The filing would support the solar power recommendations from Governor Paterson's Renewable Energy Task Force as well as
the city's "PlaNYC" energy goals and could complement the state's overall effort to make New York's energy portfolio greener, more diversified and more secure. The company reports that
it views the proposed program as a first step in promoting a vibrant solar industry in New York, utilizing the easily accessible flat roofs that are common across the service area on
commercial and residential buildings.
State, federal and city incentives sought to help finance solar pilot program
"From the White House to Albany to City Hall, renewable energy is seen as a keystone for freeing the country from its dependence on fossil fuels and reducing carbon dioxide emissions,
while creating new jobs", said Gurudatta Nadkarni, Con Edison Vice President for Strategic Planning. The pilot program is expected to generate data about the potential impact of solar
installations on the electricity grid's most heavily-used sections. The company also wants to explore the costs and available funding for solar generation and help to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and the consumption of fossil fuels. Con Edison expects that the program will yield important insights about its customer's interest in solar, its potential impact on
system operations, and that it will spur more expansive projects after results are evaluated. If approved, the solar proposal could generate capacities up to 5 MW from large
installations with a capacity of 200 kilowatts (kW) each or more, 5 MW are projected from smaller installations and 2 MW from Con Edison's own facilities. The company seeks to get
financial help through stimulus appropriations, federal and New York City tax incentives and through funds from the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA). The
total cost of the initial pilot program is estimated at 20-25 million US-Dollars. The proposal can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.coned.com/messages/solarpilot.pdf.
2009-03-12 Courtesy: Con Edison Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Con Edison Inc.
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Mitsubishi Corporation buys 34% stake in ACCIONA's Amareleja solar plant
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Amareleja PV plant (45.8
MWp).
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ACCIONA S.A., one of Spain's leading corporations with operations in infrastructure, energy, water and services on March 4th, 2009 announced that the Mitsubishi Corporation (Tokyo,
Japan) had acquired a 34 percent stake in ACCIONA's subsidiary Amper Central Solar, the developer of Portugal's Amareleja (Moura) solar plant. In the presence of José Manuel
Entrecanales, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ACCIONA, and Mitsubishi Corporation's Chairman Mikio Sasaki, the companies signed an agreement giving Mitsubishi a stake in
the Amareleja photovoltaic (PV) solar plant. The companies announced that the deal marks the first collaboration of both companies in the field of renewable energy and that they intend
to work together on renewable energy and other sustainable development projects in the future. They hope for synergies resulting from their respective technologies, business
activity and geographic locations. Both companies agreed on the need to move towards a sustainable energy model and to create the base for the significant expansion of industry and
other productive sectors.
Amareleja solar plant exemplifies benefits of solar power
With a total investment of 261 million Euros (329 million US-Dollars), the Amareleja PV plant is an example of how renewable energy can contribute to local economic development. It is
the world's largest grid-connected photovoltaic solar plant with a generation capacity of 45.8 megawatts peak (MWp), producing about 93 million kilowatt hours (KWh) of clean solar
electricity annually. The plant is expected to help achieve the objectives laid out in the Portuguese government's "E4 Energy Efficiency and Endogenous Energies" policy. It is also
expected help Portugal to meet its greenhouse gases reduction commitments.
2009-03-11 Courtesy: ACCIONA S.A. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: ACCIONA
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Spanish PV producer Isofotón signs agreement for the construction of a module production center in Ohio
Isofotón S.A. (Madrid) through its subsidiary Isofotón North American, has signed a cooperation agreement with the State of Ohio by which both sides commit mutually to cooperate in
the implementation of a new Isofotón production center in the federal State. This decision is contingent upon negotiation and approval of incentives, site location, and other due
diligence, Isofotón reports in a press release. This signing represents the completion of a long process initiated in 2007, a period during which Isofotón has been conducting
pre-feasibility studies to determine the partners that will guarantee the project success, and that has meant many meetings, in several States, at the highest levels. Moreover, the
signing is also the first step in a process in which the company will identify strategic utility partners to develop its U.S. business plans. The Governor of Ohio, Ted
Strickland, has highlighted the importance of the agreement in the context of public support to the photovoltaic sector. "We are tremendously excited that Isofotón has committed to
expanding into Ohio", Governor Ted Strickland said. "This commitment demonstrates our globally-recognized research capabilities, the state’s forward-looking energy policy, and our
manufacturing strength."
Scheduled PV production capacity of 60 MW
Isofotón acknowledges Ohio as a key partner to boost its business in a market as important as the US, and is working also with the advice and cooperation of MAPA, a strategic consulting
firm focusing on the establishment of Spanish companies in the US. The projected new PV plant will carry out the assembly of cells that the company will manufacture in its Production
Center in Malaga, therefore increasing with this start up its productivity in Spain. The production from the Ohio plant will be allocated to the US market, so that Isofotón will be able
to cover the demand of the dollar zone from a more competitive position. The start of the implementation of the plant is estimated to occur between 2010 and 2011, and will have an
estimated production capacity of 60 MW photovoltaic modules.
Strong political support for renewables
The US is a crucial market for the coming years, in which Isofotón maintains an important presence through its subsidiary since 2004. President Obama strongly supports renewable
energies, especially solar energy. The U.S. President hopes to attract the leading technology companies to develop his economic stimulus plan. In the US, Ohio is known for its interest
in renewable energy, featuring specific programs and strategic investments for the promotion of an innovative and competitive solar industry, with the goal of reaching 820 MW in
2025.
2009-03-11 Courtesy: Isofotón S.A. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
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SOLON SE: Innovation prize for SOLON Black 160/05 in-roof module
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Solon in-roof module Black 160/05.
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The SOLON Black 160/05 in-roof module has been awarded the Innovation Prize of the 24th Photovoltaic Solar Energy Symposium, SOLON SE reports in a press release. The symposium is the
oldest solar forum in Germany and the most important conference in the technical photovoltaic sector. The jury selected the SOLON Black 160/05 from eleven contestants. Decisive factors
included its attractive design and ease of installation. The SOLON Black 160/05 is completely black and blends in harmoniously with any roof surface. In addition, no conventional
installation systems such as sarking membranes, aluminum rails, or module clamps are required. The jurors were also convinced by the polyurethane frame. Together with Bayer
MaterialScience AG, SOLON SE has developed a special process for producing the solar module with this frame. Predrilled holes integrated in the frame make direct installation possible.
In addition, the plastic frames of the individual modules overlap each other like roof tiles, making the system part of the water-bearing layer and allowing for optimum water
drainage.
The new SOLON in-roof system is suitable for roofs with slopes between 22 and 60 degrees; the plates enable connection to all common roof tiles. The SOLON Black 160/05 due to the
producer achieves maximum peak output of 180 watts, corresponding to 14.06 percent efficiency. SOLON guarantees 90 percent output for the first ten years and 80 percent for 15 more
years. The Photovoltaic Solar Energy Symposium awarded the Innovation Prize for the 9th time on March 5. The jury consisted of representatives from the energy supplier Badenova AG, the
Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research, the solar company Energossa, and the Fraunhofer ISE research institute.
2009-03-11 Courtesy: SOLON SE Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Solon SE
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SunRay Renewable Energy breaks ground for a 25 MW solar PV plant in Italy
Construction work has started on a large-scale photovoltaic plant in Italy, the SunRay Renewable Energy group based in Malta announces in a press release. The project is being
constructed for SunRay Renewable Energy, which is developing solar power installations across the Mediterranean region. The Montalto di Castro plant is being managed through a company
called Cassiopea PV srl, a subsidiary of SunRay Renewable Energy. With a peak power of 24 Megawatts (MWp) from the installation of around 80,000 solar panels, the Montalto di Castro
plant will be capable of producing over 40,000 MWh of energy per year from renewable sources, SunRay reports in its press release. The plant due to the company will avoid the emission
of more than 22,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, substantially contributing to achieving Italy’s targets under the Kyoto Protocol. The project is expected to employ more than
200 people in the first 12 months and more than 20 people per annum for the next 25 years during its operation. During its construction, the plant will also provide substantial
additional commercial benefits for the local community, resulting in demand for local engineering and civil specialists as well as for landscape and farming experts and local
restaurants.
Extending the values of the local communities
Giora Salita, Head of Business Development of the Sunray Renewable Energy Group commented: "This project has been developed in line with the core principles of our business development,
which is preserving and extending the values of the local communities where our projects are developed. We have worked closely with the region of Lazio, the province of Viterbo, Terna
Grid Operator and, most importantly, the people of Montalto who are going to share the benefits of new work places and new revenue streams for the next 25 years. We expect that this
project will set a trend of education in renewable energy in elementary and high schools, which will start in Montalto di Castro and will then hopefully spread across the entire Lazio
Region and further."
Preserving the local ecosystem by introducing additional vegetation
Despite being one of the largest installations in Europe, the project has been designed to integrate seamlessly into the local environment and the surrounding countryside, Sunray
Renewable Energy emphasizes. It is designed to preserve the local ecosystem by introducing additional vegetation and allowing the grazing of grass around and inside the zone of the
park. "We are in the final stages of negotiating an engineering, procurement and construction contract with one of the leading worldwide contractors in the photovoltaic sector. The
management of the SunRay group, as well as our partners, Denham Capital, will ensure that our Italian team - which is led by CEO Paolo Riccardo Felicioli and Head of Projects Giuseppe
Brunelli - have all the possible support to deliver a project that will be a pride of the local community today and for the many generations in the future". added Yoram Amiga, Chief
Executive of the SunRay Renewable Energy group.
A substantial net contribution to the national grid
The planned energy output of the Montalto di Castro plant will substantially exceed local needs and the park is expected to be a substantial net contributor to the national grid. It
will be the leading example in Italy of the contribution solar power can make to meeting the country’s consumption needs.
2009-03-10 Courtesy: SunRay Renewable Energy group Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
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Vermont: Senator Sanders announces solar power for the VT National Guard
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At the Vermont Air Guard's Airport a large-scale
PV power plant is scheduled.
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The US-Senator of Vermont, Bernie Sanders, on March 3rd, 2009 announced that he had secured a million grant for the Vermont National Guard that could result in the largest solar
energy project in the state and one of the largest in New England. According to the press release, the solar project is still in the design phase, but could result in a large
photovoltaic (PV) solar array at the Vermont Air Guard's facilities on the Burlington Airport to cover a significant amount of its electricity needs. "This project will not
only help the Vermont National Guard reduce its electricity bill and carbon footprint, but will be a major step forward in moving our state toward a greener economy which relies more
and more on sustainable energy", Sanders said. "There is little doubt in my mind that in the years to come the energy mix in this state will be very different than it is today, with a
far greater reliance on sustainable energy. I hope that this project becomes a model for what can be done and a catalyst for further action", he added.
Energy transition needed to reduce emissions, create jobs and improve US geopolitical position
Sanders is the chairman of the new Senate "Subcommittee on Green Jobs and New Economy" and had secured the million grant in the 2009 Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations bill.
Sanders thanked Major General Michael Dubie, the Vermont adjutant general, for the guard's support of the solar project and for its willingness to help make the Vermont National Guard a
leader in sustainable energy. He also stressed his consent with President Obama's plans to transform the US energy system. "We need to move aggressively to energy efficiency so we use
less fossil fuel, and we need to develop such sustainable energies as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and others. As we make that energy transition we will not only improve our
geopolitical position in the world and reverse global warming, we also will create, over a period of time, millions of good-paying jobs throughout our country," Sanders added.
2009-03-10 Courtesy: www.sanders.senate.gov Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: www.sanders.senate.gov
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Photovoltaics: Gemini Solar to build 30 MW power plant for Austin Energy
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2 MW solar array at Denver Airport -
developed by Renewable Ventures (Sharp panels).
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Gemini Solar Development Company LLC (San Francisco, California) on March 5th, 2009 announced that it had been selected to build a photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant with 30
megawatts (MW) capacity for Austin Energy, a municipal electric utility in Austin, Texas. According to the company's press release, the solar facility will be built on approximately 300
acres of city-owned land located about 25 miles east of downtown Austin. The installation of the solar array is expected to create about 600 local construction jobs and the system is
scheduled to be operational by the end of 2010. When completed, the solar generated power will avoid approximately 30,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year and provide enough solar
electricity to power 5,000 homes, according to Gemini. "Austin Energy's leadership in renewable energy is a great example for utilities across the country", said Kristina Peterson,
President of Gemini. "Gemini is proud to have been selected for this showcase project. This reflects Austin Energy's strong commitment to the increasing adoption of renewable
energy and is a great step forward for Texas, a global energy industry leader. Solar is the new cost-effective energy source", Peterson added.
Solar electricity to be sold through 25-year power purchase agreement
Gemini Solar is a joint venture between Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (Wuxi, China), the world's largest manufacturer of photovoltaic modules and financier and developer MMA
Renewable Ventures (San Francisco, California). Gemini Solar was formed in October 2008 to develop and finance photovoltaic projects of 10 MW and larger. Gemini Solar will own and
operate the solar power plant and sell the electricity to Austin Energy under a 25-year non-escalating power purchase agreement (PPA). Suntech's polycrystalline silicon solar panels
will be installed in groups on ground-mounted, single-axis trackers, which follow the sun from east to west throughout the day to maximize the power production. "By partnering with
Gemini on this landmark project, Austin Energy is demonstrating true vision when it comes to environmental sustainability", said Matt Cheney, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MMA
Renewable Ventures. "Through a long term power purchase agreement, Austin Energy will be able to deploy solar without upfront installation cost or ongoing maintenance expenses."
Austin to significantly increase renewable energy use until 2020
In 2003, the Austin City Council had adopted a strategic energy policy which calls for the development and use of clean energy by Austin Energy. A key component of this energy policy is
the commitment towards the development of solar energy with the targets of 30 MW solar capacity by 2010 and 100 MW by 2020. "Diversifying our renewable energy portfolio is a key
strategy to help insulate our customers from volatility and escalating prices in traditional energy markets", said Austin Mayor Will Wynn. "We want Austin to be ahead of the curve as
the nation finally takes on the challenge of global warming and makes the transition to a new energy economy."
2009-03-09 Courtesy: Austin Energy Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Austin Energy
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ACME to construct 1 GW solar thermal power plants in India using eSolar technology
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Rendering of a full-sized (46MW) module.
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eSolar (Pasadena, California), a producer of modular, scalable solar thermal power plants, on March 3rd, 2009 announced that it had signed an exclusive licensing agreement with the
ACME Group (ACME; Haryana, India) to build up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar thermal power plants over the next 10 years. According to the press release, eSolar had named ACME as a
master licensee of its modular, scalable technology, thereby granting the company the exclusive right to represent eSolar in India. The terms of the agreement combine both
companies' resources to enable complete project capabilities, ranging from technology development and component manufacturing to power plant construction and operation. According to the
press release, ACME will also make a million equity investment in eSolar. "eSolar has produced the first solar energy that is competitive with fossil fuels," said Bill Gross, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of eSolar. "ACME's million commitment demonstrates their confidence in eSolar's technology. We are committed to working with the very best partners, such as
ACME, to scale deployment as quickly as possible around the world."
Up to 1,000 MW solar energy to be brought to India
eSolar reports that this partnership represents its first international licensing agreement. As a master licensee, ACME will build, own and operate solar thermal plants in India using
eSolar's modular and scalable design and will work with other companies to build solar thermal power plants in India. According to the press release, ACME has already signed power
purchase MOUs (Memoranda of Understanding) for 250 MW capacity, with the first construction scheduled to start later this year on eSolar power plants with a total of 100 MW capacity.
ACME targets to install up to 1,000 MW of solar power within India over the next 10 years, the company reports. "The eSolar system presents a viable, cost-effective alternative that can
scale quickly to meet India's growing energy needs," said Manoj Upadhyay, Chairman and CEO of the ACME Group. Commenting on the deal, ACME Chief Operating Officer (COO) Atul Sabharwal
added: "Our partnership with eSolar is a milestone toward both companies' goal of delivering solar power that is cost-competitive with fossil fuel based energy."
2009-03-08 Courtesy: http://www.esolar.com/news/press/2009_03_03 Solarserver.de © Heindl
Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: http://www.esolar.com/news/press/2009_03_03
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Former SunPower COO Pai joins board of U.S.-based solar manufacturer Suniva
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PM Pai, director of Suniva, Inc..
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Suniva, Inc. (Norcross, Georgia), manufacturer of crystalline silicon solar cells, on March 3rd, 2009 announced the addition of Mr. PM Pai to its board of directors. Pai, the former
Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the SunPower Corporation (San Jose, California) is expected to impart his expertise as Suniva streamlines supply chain operations, increases production
and expands its marketing in the USA, Suniva reports in a press release. "PM is one of the most highly regarded minds in manufacturing and is credited as a major force in
turning SunPower into a leader in the global solar industry", said John Baumstark, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Suniva. "Suniva’s solar cell technology was specifically
designed to increase efficiency without high cost and PM’s expertise and advice will be most valuable in helping to bring our new technology to market quickly and to establish
market leadership."
Solar industry expertise to help establish strong market position
From April 2005 to July 2008, Pai had been the COO of SunPower and responsible for strategic planning, production expansion and supply chain development on a worldwide basis. According
to the press release, Pai will work closely with Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, founder and Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Dr. Stephen Shea, Vice President of manufacturing and Dr. Daniel Meier,
Vice President of R&D in his new role at Suniva. "With Stephen, Daniel and Ajeet, Suniva's technical team already has over one hundred years of photovoltaic experience", said Pai.
"Coupling this expertise with the business acumen of John Baumstark and the rest of the executive team, Suniva has quickly secured a great reputation and enviable market position. I
look forward to helping them achieve great success on the path to grid parity."
2009-03-07 Courtesy: Suniva, Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Suniva, Inc.
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Solar Heating: Irish company announces collector innovation with increased efficiency
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Pre-packaged vacuum collector by Surface
Power.
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The Irish solar thermal company Surface Power (Mayo, Ireland) on February 5th, 2009 reported that independent testing of its solar thermal collectors by TÜV Rhineland had shown that
they were more efficient than other leading solar collectors currently on the market. Surface Power plans to create 20 new jobs over the next 12 months with the launch and international
distribution of this product. The new collector had undergone six years of development and testing, and has the potential to reduce domestic and commercial hot water bills by up to 70
percent if insulation standards meet new building regulations, Surface Power estimates in a press release. Independent tests due to the producer had shown that the new collector was in
one case as much as 131 percent more efficient than another in morning and evening time, and 76 percent more efficient at midday, according to the press release. J ohn Quinn,
founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Surface Power, believes that having a very good product result will help drive growth and jobs for the company in 2009. "The market for the
solar collector was worth in excess of one billion dollars in 2008 and has grown by 300 % since 1998. We received over 400 inquiries from the USA alone last month after the
specifications were released during the Christmas period," Quinn said.
Collector design allows easy installation, product is well-suited for building retrofits
Surface Power expects the international home renovation market to be very strong during the next three years. This may mean a great potential for growth because the company offers the
only pre-packaged vacuum collector on the world market that can be installed quicker and cheaper than other such collector, the company emphasizes in its press release. "Our solar
collector has been compared to 52 other collectors which hold the prestigious Solar Keymark certification, and the results of the comparative testing are excellent," said Quinn. "The
solar collector is a hot water type designed specifically for the retrofit market, although it is perfectly suitable also for new builds. It was designed to deal specifically with Irish
climatic conditions such as wind, rain and clouds." Quinn believes that the cost per kilowatt (kW) is the biggest advantage of the new solar collectors, which he believes can generate
up to 70 percent in savings on hot water bills, when coupled with an insulation upgrade. "It's great to see the end of a product development cycle and a huge spike in inquiries from the
renovation market in Europe and USA, we have several more products in development and plan to release one per year," Quinn concluded.
2009-03-06 Courtesy: Surface Power Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Surface Power
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Nevada Energy, Solar Millennium and MAN Ferrostaal cooperate in the development of solar-thermal power plants in Nevada
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Solar thermal power plant "Andasol 1.
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Solar Millennium (Erlangen, Germany) is cooperating with NV Energy Inc., a large energy supplier in Nevada, in the development of large solar-thermal power plants. Solar Millennium
LLC, the American subsidiary with headquarters in Berkeley (California), NV Energy and MAN Ferrostaal Inc., the joint venture partner of Solar Millennium AG for the construction of
solar-thermal power plants in the US, signed a memorandum of understanding (M.O.U.) for the joint development of projects in the Amargosa Desert. A first step will be the design of a
parabolic trough power plant with a capacity of 250 megawatts (MW) and thermal storage technology, of the type already used by Solar Millennium in the Andasol 1 and 2 projects in
Southern Spain, Solar Millennium reports in a press release. This enables planned electricity production beyond daylight hours. This solar power plant is to help meet the high
electricity demands of the sunny region during the hot summer months. Solar Millennium began with the development of the project about two years ago, the company emphasizes. The parties
also plan to cooperate in the development and implementation of further solar-thermal power plants in Southern Nevada.
Investment volume for the power plant with a capacity of 250 MW amounts more than one billion US dollars
"Solar technologies have been making great strides in the last several years. Solar-thermal power plants with thermal storage technology are capable of providing reliable power supply,
and they will be part of the future energy mix. Such projects can also be an important boost to the local economy", Michael Yackira, CEO of NV Energy, emphasizes. The investment volume
of the power plant with a capacity of 250 MW is more than one billion US dollars. For the construction approximately 1,000 people will be provided with work over a period of two to
three years. Christian Beltle, CEO of Solar Millennium AG, sees a large market potential for solar-thermal power plants in the USA: "Some areas of the south-west of the United States
have excellent solar radiation conditions, with up to 2,800 kWh/m˛/a, and many of these regions are close to large population centers. In the future, solar-thermal power plants will
play a big part in covering the electricity requirements in Nevada in a climate-friendly way. We are very much looking forward to cooperating with NV Energy and, taking into
consideration the current support from the local authorities, we plan to start construction in 2010."
30 % of the project to be financed within the framework of President Obama's Economic Stimulus Bill
Josef Eichhammer, CEO of Solar Millennium LLC, is optimistic when it comes to the course of the project: "With NV Energy, we have found a reliable partner for the planning of power
plants, and this will help us obtain the necessary approvals within the planned schedule. When talking to politicians and authorities in Nevada, as well as in other states and also in
Washington, there is usually a very positive mood when it comes to the construction of solar-thermal power plants. The start of construction in 2010 will also be a plus for the
financial side of the project, since we will be able to finance 30% of the project within the framework of President Obama's Economic Stimulus Bill."
This stimulus package, for the maintaining of jobs and the creation of new industries, was recently passed by President Obama, and one of the main beneficiaries is the renewable energy
industry.
MAN Ferrostaal CEO Schmidt: The start of a new era for Nevada
Uwe T. Schmidt, CEO of MAN Ferrostaal Inc. and member of the Management Board of MAN Ferrostaal AG, emphasizes: "Having constructed more than 5,000 industrial facilities around the
world, we have the experience to build this solar-thermal power plant with thermal storage technology to the full satisfaction of Nevada Power." Schmidt adds: "We are convinced that the
plant will set a new benchmark for such power plants. In the future, such power plants will turn Nevada from an energy importer into an energy exporter, marking the start of a new era
for Nevada." As a first step under the agreement, the parties are undertaking various energy transmission and environmental studies, as well as developing financing options, which will
then be thoroughly inspected by the Public Utility Commission in Nevada. The actual planning and construction of the solar-thermal power plant can then begin.
Michael Yackira also points out: "NV Energy is very much interested in thermal storage technology. Our company wants to remain at the forefront of utilizing renewable energies, which
also makes it very important for us to participate in this project for the benefit of our customers and the environment."
2009-03-06 Courtesy: Millennium AG Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Solar Millennium AG
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Off-grid Specialist Phaesun GmbH brings together African customers and European suppliers at a Solar Workshop in Paris
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Off-Grid Solar Workshop in Paris.
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The off-grid specialist Phaesun GmbH from Memmingen (Germany) has brought together 48 customers and suppliers from 16 countries at a French-speaking Solar Workshop in Paris. From
February 28th to March 1st , the PV system integrator Phaesun and six manufacturers of batteries, charge controllers, solar modules and off-grid inverters presented their new products
for stand alone solar photovoltaic systems. Besides listening to oral presentations the audience also had the chance to see product samples and talk to the developers of the charge
controllers, inverters and battery boxes. Phaesun and the manufacturers explained how their products work and how to do the trouble shooting in case of a failure. "Our second
Solar Workshop was a great success", says Phaesun sales manager Amar Chikha. "We wanted to offer a platform to transfer knowledge between us, our suppliers and our customers and we
succeeded. The customers who came mainly from Africa used the workshop not only to ask questions. In addition, they gave us valuable feedback for the further development of our selected
product range. The Solar Workshop provided an excellent platform for users and developers", he adds.
Different requirements for stand alone PV systems
Requirements for stand alone solar PV systems are different than for grid-connected applications. An example: Solar modules for off-grid photovoltaic systems are delivered with open
junction boxes without cables, users can connect the specific cable that fits their need in parallel or in series depending on the system voltage. In contrast, solar modules for
grid-connected applications are delivered mainly with expensive casted cable connections and certified connectors for series connection only. This limits installations of solar modules
in the field, far away from the next city. "Our module supplier ET Solar has reacted to these different requirements", Chikha says. "It is our task to optimally adjust the products from
our suppliers to fit the needs of our customers. As a one-stop shop, we provide the whole solution, including not only the complete system, but also the service, the advice, the
dimensioning and the documentation. We set a high value on the full service package, beside a competitive pricing", he says. Phaesun will invite customers and suppliers next year to the
third Solar Workshop that will take place in the Middle East.
2009-03-06 Courtesy: Phaesun GmbH Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Phaesun GmbH
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Suntech to bring micro-inverter technology by Enphase to its US dealer network
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Enphase Micro-inverter on Array.
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Suntech America Inc. (San Francisco, California), subsidiary of Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., Chinese manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) modules, on March 2nd, 2009 announced that
it will offer micro-inverter by Enphase Energy (Enphase; Petaluma, California) to its growing network of authorized dealers in the United States. This is part of its commitment to
bringing cutting edge technology to customers, the company reports in a press release. In comparison to centralized inverters, the micro-inverters by Enphase directly bolt to the PV
system racking, thereby reducing installation time and cost. They also increase the versatility in system size and module positioning, which the company hopes will enable Suntech's
authorized dealers to capture new business and speed up the installation process. Enphase also offers a web-based, real-time monitoring system dubbed "Enlighten" that
provides information on the performance of PV systems, such as current and lifetime performance metrics, detailed information on each individual module of the array and analytic tools.
"Enphase Energy has come out with some very impressive inverter technology that will change the way solar is installed. We want to help our authorized dealers stay ahead of the curve,
which is why we decided to make this available to our customers", said Roger Efird, President of Suntech America, Inc.
Initial micro-inverter order of 1 Megawatt volume
"Suntech delivers top-quality solar modules to its authorized dealers and their customers. Enphase is committed to partnering with leading solar technologies and as such we are excited
to be a part of the offering Suntech is making to its authorized installers", said Paul Nahi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Enphase Energy. Suntech reports that it will stock Enphase
micro-inverters alongside Suntech modules in its US warehouses to ensure streamlined ordering for its dealer network. According to the press release, the initial order amounts to
approximately one megawatt (MW) of Enphase micro-inverters. Suntech says its goal is to make solar more affordable and accessible to a broader spectrum of customers and that it is
dedicated to the adoption of advanced technologies to help solar become a mainstream form of energy in the United States and across the world.
2009-03-05 Courtesy: Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Enphase Energy.
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USA: First Solar to acquire OptiSolar's utility-scale PV project
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First Solar’s manufacturing, research and
design Campus in Perrysburg, Ohio, USA.
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The US-based PV manufacturer First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona), on March 2nd, 2009 announced it had entered into an agreement to acquire the solar project pipeline of OptiSolar
(Hayward, California). The First Solar reports that the acquisition includes a 550 megawatt (MW) solar development project dubbed "Topaz" under a power purchase agreement (PPA) with
PG&E (San Francisco, California), a project pipeline of an additional 1,300 MW of PV capacity which are in negotiation with Western region utilities as well as strategic land rights
of approximately 136,000 acres with the potential to deploy utility-scale solar electric power projects with a capacity of up to 19 gigawatts (GW). The company announces that
OptiSolar's core development team responsible for assembling and executing the solar project pipeline will join forces with First Solar's development team. First Solar
expects to construct solar power plants developed under the acquired project pipeline and to sell them to a combination of regulated utilities, diversified energy companies and other
independent power producers. "OptiSolar has created an impressive and well-designed development pipeline. Adding these resources, along with their development team, to First Solar is
our next logical step to delivering multi-GW of solar power to US utilities over the next several years", said Mike Ahearn, First Solar's chief executive officer (CEO).
0 million all-stock transaction expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2009
First Solar's investment in the development pipeline and planned projects is expected to create at least 400 new "green collar" jobs in California. The company reiterated its commitment
to supporting the planned projects and said that it would use its resources to bring these projects on-line on time. Project development is scheduled to begin as early as 2010. "We are
particularly excited to deploy utility-scale solar installations in California", Ahearn said. "The State of California has been a leader in solar technology and the 'Topaz' project will
be an important aspect of meeting the state's renewable goals." First Solar plans to acquire all of OptiSolar's project development business in an all-stock transaction valued at
approximately 0 million. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2009. "Combining the solar industry's cost-performance leader with a multi-gigawatt
solar power project portfolio and the expertise of a world-class development team is a tremendous step forward for utility-scale PV solar generation", said Randy Goldstein, OptiSolar
CEO.
2009-03-05 Courtesy: First Solar Inc. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: First Solar Inc.
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Laser technology to power efficiency and productivity in photovoltaics
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"Sunweb" MWT solar cell by Solland Solar,
a Partner of SOLASYS.
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By the middle of the next decade, the price of solar power in Germany will decrease to that of conventionally generated electricity. Therefore the manufacturing price of solar cells
must be reduced and the cells must be made more efficient. To reach these aims and to demonstrate the feasibility of laser manufacturing processes in photovoltaics ten companies and
institutes are cooperating in the € 6-million joint EU project called SOLASYS, which is being coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT. The "Next
Generation Solar Cell and Module Laser Processing Systems" (SOLASYS) demonstration project aims at lowering manufacturing costs while increasing cell efficiency at the same time. It is
being funded by the EU in the Seventh European Framework Program in the energy segment. The joint project is worth € 6 million, € 3.5 million of which are covered
by an EU subsidy. The project was launched on September 1, 2008, and is due to last 36 months. The project's initial results will be presented at the coming international trade fair
LASER 2009 - World of Photonics, which will be held in Munich from June 15-18, 2009.
Photovoltaics refers to the process of generating electrical power directly from sunlight. It is very popular in some European countries mainly because of favorable feed-in tariffs. The
European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) forecasts that the total installed output will grow tenfold by the year 2017, even though solar power today is far more expensive than
electricity generated by conventional means. It is predicted that "grid parity", which refers to the moment at which solar electricity and household electricity cost the same, will be
reached in Germany in the middle of the next decade. One third of the high power prices is due to the cost of materials and another third to the cost of manufacturing solar cells. The
lower efficiency of conventional cells also plays a role. Depending on the type of cell, it can be between 6 and 16 percent. If this is increased, fewer cells are required for the same
electrical output.
A consortium of ten companies and institutes is participating in SOLASYS. They include manufacturers and developers of laser systems (Trumpf Laser GmbH and Laserline GmbH from Germany)
and of machines (Manz Automation GmbH from Germany), research institutes (CNRS-LP3 from France and IMEC from Belgium), producers of solar cells and solar modules (BP Solar from Spain,
Solland Solar from The Netherlands and Energy Solutions from Bulgaria) and a manufacturer of beam guiding systems (Scanlab AG from Germany). Because of its many years of experience in
the field of laser-based materials processing, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology in Aachen is heading the project.
Improving current processes and integrating new methods in industrial production
The laser has many advantages as a materials processing tool, such as non-contact machining, controlled energy input, high speed and precision. Yet, in the manufacturing of solar cells,
lasers are only used sporadically, for instance to isolate the cell's negative and positive terminals. SOLASYS aims to improve current processes and integrate new methods in industrial
production. Five specific processes are involved: high-speed drilling of microscopically small holes, ablation of thin layers without damage to the substrate, laser soldering for cell
interconnection, laser isolation of the front and rear sides as well as laser-based selective doping.
Laser drilling is one example of how SOLASYS will lower costs for the manufacturing of silicon solar cells. The "metal wrap through" concept (MWT) involves transferring the metal
contacts from the front of the cell to the back using drilled holes with the diameter of a human hair. This requires drilling 100 holes in less than a second. The aim of this method is
to increase cell efficiency by reducing shading from contacts on the front side of the panel, and to simplify cell contacting, since both electrical terminals are on the rear
side.
In the future, the connection of several cells to form a single module will also be performed using lasers. Laser soldering permits precise control of the soldering temperatures and
hence specific process optimization. If the temperature at the solar cell deviates from the set value, the laser output can be adjusted accordingly, which enables a high-quality solder
joint and low thermal stress.
Thanks to the methods elaborated in SOLASYS, a throughput of one cell per second will be attained even for modern, complex cell concepts.
Production lines will be set up to demonstrate the industrial feasibility of this laser machining approach. The work of SOLASYS will benefit both existing as well as novel solar cell
concepts. The aim, in both cases, is to increase throughput and yield, and improve the efficiency of solar cells.
Initial results will be presented to a broad audience of experts at the joint Fraunhofer stand in Hall C2 at the LASER 2009 trade fair in Munich, which will be held from June 15-18,
2009. For more background information and news updates, please visit the project website http://www.solasys.eu.
2009-03-05 Courtesy: Fraunhofer ILT Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Solland Solar Cells BV, Heerlen, NL
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Photovoltaics: DuPont Microcircuit Materials doubles manufacturing capacity for metallization pastes
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Solamet boosts the efficiency
of photovoltaic solar cells.
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DuPont Microcircuit Materials (MCM; Bristol, United Kingdom), part of DuPont Electronic Technologies, on February 25th, 2009 announced that it had recently expanded its production
capacity and made key quality improvements at its facility in Bristol. Driven by an anticipated long-term growth in the photovoltaic (PV) industry, DuPont MCM predicts a significant
increase in demand for its thick film metallization pastes and expects that this demand will multiply over the next five years. The company reports that it had doubled its production
capacity for these specialty pastes. "DuPont's 'Solamet' thick film metallization pastes enable solar cell manufacturers to significantly reduce their cost per watt by
achieving higher cell efficiencies, higher production yields and more efficient use of materials", said Craig Oliver, European business manager of MCM. "We undertook this expansion
project to support the fast-growing photovoltaic market in Europe and the increasing portfolio of Solamet products jointly developed by MCM research facilities worldwide, including our
newest Solamet PV159 front side conductor. We expect the growth trend to continue in PV."
Enhancement of clean-room capabilities to meet customer quality demands
In addition to the increased production capacity for MCM thick film materials, which can be used in a wide variety of electronic applications, DuPont also plans to enhance all of its
clean room facilities to meet the continually improving quality requirements of its customers. "This state-of-the-art manufacturing facility enables DuPont to meet and exceed customer
expectations for high quality and consistency", Oliver said. DuPont MCM has over 40 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of specialized thick-film compositions for
electronic applications in the automotive, display, photovoltaic, biomedical, industrial, military, and telecommunications markets.
2009-03-04 Courtesy: DuPont Microcircuit Materials Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: DuPont Microcircuit Materials
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SEMI's PV Group announces data collection program for PV equipment market
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PV Group published a "Global Photovoltaic
Standards Roadmap".
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The PV Group (San Jose, California), a subdivision of the global industry association SEMI which serves the manufacturing supply chains for the microelectronic, display and
photovoltaic (PV) industries, on January 26th, 2009 announced the addition of the "Photovoltaic Equipment Data Collection Program" to its market research portfolio. The program, a
partnership between SEMI's PV Group and the French market research and strategy consulting company, Yole Développement (Yole; Lyon, France), is expected to release PV equipment
book-to-bill reports and to provide subscribers with timely and global information on the PV equipment market. According to the announcement, PV equipment manufacturers are currently
being recruited to take part in the program. It will focus on several categories, such as manufacturing equipment for the production of solar cells and modules as well as for ingots,
wafers and polysilicon. Each category will consist of data aggregated from a minimum of three companies. "SEMI has been a longstanding and credible voice in providing market
statistics for the semiconductor manufacturing industry", said Stanley T. Myers, president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SEMI. "Because such a large percentage of our members
also serve the PV industry, this new data collection program is a logical fit within our existing offerings, ensuring a complete global snapshot of the PV equipment segment."
Inaugural report scheduled to be released in May 2009
"We have long enjoyed a strong relationship with SEMI, and have worked together in the past to provide market information on the MEMS and Nanotechnology programs", said Jean-Christophe
Eloy, founder of Yole Developpement. "I believe this collaboration fills in an obvious gap by providing up to date and accurate information on the PV equipment industry." The inaugural
report is scheduled to be released in May 2009, containing data from the first quarter of this year. Subsequently, the SEMI PV Group plans to issue reports quarterly. They will be
available for a subscription fee, with a discount for SEMI- and PV Group members. Yole Développement is specialized in photovoltaics, 3D packaging, MEMS and compound semiconductors, and
custom market research and technology and strategy analysis, market reports and marketing and communication services. Companies interested in participating in the data collection
program are asked to contact Dan Tracy at dtracy@semi.org or Gaetan Rull at rull@yole.fr.
PV industry standards to accelerate innovation, provide safety guidelines
On February 4th, 2009, the SEMI PV Group announced the release of its "Global Photovoltaic Standards Roadmap Guidance Document", which identifies opportunities for reducing cost and
accelerating innovation in thin-film and crystalline silicon cell and module manufacturing through industry standards. The document was developed by a team of equipment and materials
suppliers, solar cell and module manufacturers, safety experts and others, the association reports. "While many semiconductor equipment, materials and device manufacturing companies
that employ SEMI Standards are diversifying into PV, the PV industry has a highly specialized and unique set of needs, with a diverse set of stakeholders", said Dan Martin, executive
vice president of SEMI PV Business Development and SEMI Global Standards.
The "Global Photovoltaic Standards Roadmap" is available on the internet at: http://www.pvgroup.org/cms/groups/public/documents/web_content/ctr_026213.pdf
2009-03-04 Courtesy: Yole Développement; SEMI PV Group Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: PV Group
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Oerlikon Solar and Tokyo Electron join thin film PV forces
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Thin film PV production technology by
Oerlikon Solar.
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Tokyo Electron (TEL), a global supplier of innovative semiconductor production equipment, has announced a strategic cooperation with Oerlikon Solar, supplier of thin film silicon
photovoltaic (PV) production equipment. "This strategic cooperation between TEL and Oerlikon Solar creates a new solar powerhouse which will unlock the huge potential of the Asian solar
market. There could be no better partnership in the center of the Asian solar market" , emphasizes Dr. Uwe Krüger, CEO of Oerlikon. "By forming a cooperation with Oerlikon Solar, TEL
will be able to satisfy its customers with outstanding equipment and related support, while drawing upon the technology and supporting capabilities it has acquired in the semiconductor
and FPD production equipment markets," commented Terry Higashi, CEO and Chairman, Tokyo Electron Limited. Together, TEL and Oerlikon will significantly expand the adoption of
thin film silicon PV technology in parts of Asia, Oceania and Japan, areas which are already leading in solar adoption and export.
Oerlikon Solar provides production equipment, technology and services; TEL allocates established network of sales and support resources
The partnership will be based on Oerlikon Solar's proven PV technology and on TEL's extensive sales and customer support network, semiconductor experience and highly respected market
leadership. TEL will become the exclusive representative for Oerlikon Solar's thin film silicon PV equipment and end to end production solutions in parts of Asia, Oceania and Japan.
They will also provide manpower and services in the area of installation, ramp-up and customer service. Oerlikon Solar provides the complete production equipment, technology and
services for thin film silicon PV modules, offering critical cost and performance advantages for emerging solar markets. TEL has more than 45 year's of experience in semiconductors and
flat panel display (FDP) production equipment. Their established network of sales and support resources and Oerlikon Solar's proven technology is a winning combination for the thin film
PV market, the companies emphasize. "Our strategic partnership with TEL is designed to leverage complementary strengths to create the quality and scale of thin film silicon PV needed to
satisfy the growing demand for clean and economically viable energy sources. This partnership will benefit our customers enormously in Asian emerging growth markets with predictable
end-to-end manufacturing facilities for thin film solar panels and local sales and customer support through TEL's global network", said Jeannine Sargent, CEO Oerlikon Solar.
Enormous Growth Market
The global market for thin film PV is expected to increase at an average rate of more than 60% per year through 2012, which is more than twice the rate of growth expected for
traditional crystal silicon technology. Japan, the third largest global solar market, plans to cut greenhouse gas levels 60-80 percent below 2008 levels by 2050.
Sargent: "According to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), PV systems could be generating enough energy to satisfy the electricity needs of almost 14 percent of the
world's population by 2030".
Mass Production Proven
Since its first customers started mass production in 2007 - over 700,000 modules have been produced on Oerlikon Solar equipment. In addition a rapid growing number of customers are in
the process of ramping up production. Oerlikon Solar brought its first "Micromorph" customers (Inventux in Germany and Auria Solar in Taiwan) to mass production in 2008. "Micromorph" is
one more important element for reducing the production costs of solar energy and to reach grid parity. This proprietary Oerlikon Solar technology boosts cell efficiency by up to 50
percent while dramatically reducing cost per watt, Oerlikon Solar accentuates.
2009-03-04 Courtesy: Oerlikon Solar Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Oerlikon Solar
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Florida: FPL to power the Sunshine State with energy from a 25 MW solar photovoltaic site in DeSoto County
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An artist rendering of FPL's Desoto
Next Generation Solar Energy Center.
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The utility Florida Power & Light Company (FPL; Arcadia, Florida) on February 26th, 2009 announced the groundbreaking for its "DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center." The
company reports that this project will be the first to bring commercial-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power to Florida. The 25 megawatts (MW) solar electric plant is scheduled to be
completed at the end of 2009. The DeSoto plant due to FPL will use 90,000 PV panels on 180 acres of land and is expected to provide enough electricity to power more than 3,000 homes,
which is nearly 20 percent of the population in DeSoto county. FPL will use solar panels by the SunPower Corporation (San Jose, California) along with this company's
proprietary "Tracker" technology. This allows the solar panels to automatically follow the sun's movement throughout the day, thereby increasing the sunlight capture by up to 25 percent
compared fixed PV systems, according to the press release. "We're proud to be the company that is bringing commercial-scale solar power to the Sunshine State", said FPL Group President
and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jim Robo.
Job creation, tax breaks, greenhouse gas reductions expected from solar power plant
The new facility is expected to provide significant economic benefits to DeSoto county, creating more than 200 jobs during peak construction and providing more than million in annual
tax revenues by the end of 2010. Over its lifespan the new solar installation will avoid more than 575,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the use of fossil fuels in Florida
by more than 277,000 barrels of oil and seven billion cubic feet of natural gas, FPL emphasizes. The DeSoto solar power plant is one of three new solar facilities FPL is currently
building in Florida, which added up will total a solar PV capacity of 110 MW. FPL broke ground in December of 2008 on a 75 MW hybrid solar energy plant scheduled to be fully operational
in 2010. FPL plans to build a third facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, which will add 10 MW to the state’s photovoltaic capacity. "We envision a Florida 'CleanTech Corridor'
spanning the peninsula and filled with renewable and other clean-energy projects," Robo said.
2009-03-03 Courtesy: FPL Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: FPL
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Suntech and Eagle Roofing sign distribution agreement on PV roof tiles in the US
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., Chinese photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, and the US PV systems integrator Eagle Roofing Products announced in a press release that they have
entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for North America. Eagle Roofing will distribute "SolarBlend" roof tiles to its extensive network of roofing, solar, and electrical
contractors as part of its popular "Eagle Solar Roof". The "SolarBlend" roof tiles will be approximately four feet wide, 50-watt panels, with grey, terra cotta and brown frames.
Expected availability of the 50-watt panels is spring of 2009. Eagle anticipates having these water-resistant solar roof systems featuring SolarBlend on over 1,000 homes across the
country and will continue to train contractors on how to sell and properly install these systems, the companies report in the press release. "Eagle is proud to offer
SolarBlend from Suntech to our customers and to work with a company whose name means innovative solar", said Jay Banister, Eagle's national solar and marketing manager. "Suntech is
recognized as the global leader in solar module production and Eagle is dedicated to bringing this clean, efficient energy resource to the roofs of residential and commercial customers
throughout North America." By its own account Suntech recently licensed technology for integrated solar modules, including "SolarBlend" from Applied Solar, Inc.
A full suite of wrap-around services
Eagle also offers onsite technical support, paperwork processing of state rebates, financing and full permit package submittals including electrical line diagrams and roof layouts, the
company reports in the press release. This full suite of wrap-around services enables many non-traditional solar contractors to participate in selling and installing solar systems,
greatly increasing the potential of quality solar system installations across the country. In addition to "SolarBlend", Eagle will also carry Suntech's "Black Label" STP 175S - 24/Ab-1
rack-mounted modules. These 175-watt modules will be offered with the same value-added, wrap-around services that are provided with the Eagle Solar Roof, the companies report in the
press release.
Combining the core strengths of both companies
"We are excited to team with Eagle Roofing Products to offer an integrated solar electric solution", said Leonard May, Suntech's managing director of BIPV products (Building Integrated
Photovoltaics). "By combining the core strengths of both companies, we are confident that we will consistently deliver innovative products to a wide audience of contractors and their
customers across the U.S., Canada and Mexico."
2009-03-03 Courtesy: Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Eagle Roofing Products
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Spanish research center IKERLAN develops solar modules on plastic substrates
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PV module developed by IKERLAN.
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The IKERLAN Technology Research Center (Alava, Spain), a private non-profit reference center for the innovation and comprehensive development of mechatronic and energetic products,
announced that it had, for the first time in Spain, developed a solar electric panel based on plastic materials. IKERLAN in a press release expects that its new photovoltaic (PV) module
will revolutionize the possibilities of utilization of solar energy, the Research Center emphasizes. Due to IKERLAN among the main advantages of the new module are its low cost and the
abundance of the raw materials. The modules will be flexible and transparent, which allows to integrate them into windows and awnings without any visual impact on the facades of
buildings. The semitransparent solar module built by IKERLAN is 30 mm x 30 mm and connects 16 individual solar cells. The research center reports that the new panels can be
of different colors and that they are very flexible. They could be placed as semitransparent windows or photoelectric curtains that allow a certain passage of light to the interior and,
at the same time, convert a part of this solar energy into electricity. The Center points out that the new solar modules could also be used in textiles. For instance, they could be
applied as chargers for portable electronic devices as they may be incorporated into garments, bags or even tent material.
IKERLAN was created in 1974 at the initiative of a group of companies and entities which today form part of the Mondragón Corporación Cooperativa. IKERLAN on own account has over 30
years of experience in combining and applying mechanics, electronics, computing, micro technology and fuel cell technologies.
2009-03-02 Courtesy: IKERLAN Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: IKERLAN
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Berkeley Lab report shows significant reductions in costs of solar photovoltaic systems
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Berkeley Lab report on PV costs.
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Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley, California) recently published a study on the costs of installed solar
photovoltaic (PV) power systems in the U.S.,. The analysis shows that the average cost of PV systems declined significantly from 1998 to 2007, but remained relatively flat during the
last two years of this period. The Berkeley researchers say that the overall decline in the costs of installed solar PV systems was mostly the result of decreases in non-module costs,
such as labor, marketing, overhead, inverters, and the balance of systems. "This suggests that state and local PV deployment programs, which likely have a greater impact on
non-module costs than on module prices, have been at least somewhat successful in spurring cost reductions," states the report, which was written by Ryan Wiser, Galen Barbose, and Carla
Peterman of Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Energy Technologies Division. One purpose of the study was to provide reliable information about the costs of installed systems over time
and whether government incentive programs had been successful, explained Wiser.
Average cost-per-watt installed declined 30 cents or 3.5 % annually between 1998 and 2007
The study examined 37,000 grid-connected PV systems installed between 1998 and 2007 in 12 US states. It found that the average costs, in terms of real 2007 dollars per installed watt,
had declined from .50 in 1998 to .60 in 2007, equivalent to an average annual reduction of 30 cents per watt or 3.5 percent every year in real dollars. The researchers found that
the reduction in non-module costs had been responsible for most of the overall decline in costs. According to the report, this trend suggests in part that state and local PV-deployment
policies had achieved some success in fostering competition within the industry and in spurring improvements in the cost structure as well as the efficiency of delivery infrastructure
for solar PV power. Other information about differences in costs by region and by installation type emerged from the study as well. The cost reduction over time had been largest for
smaller PV systems, such as those used to power individual households. Also, installed costs show significant economies of scale: Systems completed in 2006 or 2007 that were less than
two kW in size averaged .00 per watt, while systems larger than 750 kW averaged .80 per watt. Installed costs were also found to vary widely across states. Among systems completed
in 2006 or 2007 with a capacity less than 10 kW, average costs ranged from a low of .60 per watt in Arizona to a high of .60 per watt in Maryland. The authors suggest that PV costs
can be driven lower through sizable deployment programs.
Cash incentives declined, federal tax credits gained importance
The Berkeley study found that direct cash incentives provided by state and local PV programs had declined over the study period while other sources of incentives, such as the federal
incentive tax credits (ITC), had become more significant. As a result of the increase in the federal ITC for commercial systems in 2006, total after-tax incentives for commercial PV
were at an all-time high at .90 per watt in 2007. Total after-tax incentives for residential systems on the other hand averaged .10 per watt in 2007, their lowest level since 2001.
Because incentives for residential PV systems had declined over this period, the net cost of residential PV had remained relatively flat since 2001. At the same time, the net cost of
commercial PV had dropped. It had been .90 per watt in 2007, compared to .90 per watt in 2001, a drop of 32 percent, due in large part to the increase in federal ITC. The research
was supported by funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) and by the Clean Energy States Alliance (Montpelier, Vermont).
The complete report is available online (PDF; 42 p.) at http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/emp/reports/lbnl-1516e.pdf
2009-03-01 Courtesy: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
Picture Courtesy: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
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