This was a significant contract win for Xantrex, and the result of meeting the strict standards required by SunEdison of its vendors.

Designed for European grid-connected PV installations, the Xantrex "GT500E" is a 500kW three-phase inverter that meets all applicable CE requirements. Picture Source: Xantrex Technology Inc.

Brian Jacolick, SunEdison vice president of sales and procurement, said "We chose Xantrex after a comprehensive assessment of its product and we are confident in their commitment to deliver high quality, reliable, and efficient inverters for our growing customer base. We are pleased to have them as an approved vendor." Xantrex’s CEO John Wallace adds: "We will build on this partnership with SunEdison and see tremendous opportunity in working with this innovative solar provider. We look forward to supplying the most efficient, reliable and cost effective inverters in the industry to meet the needs of our diverse customer base."

Xantrex Technology Inc. (12/22/2006)

Solar Thermal in Europe grows significantly -
European Conference in June 2007

The use of solar thermal has increased significantly in 2006, the same applies for sales of solar thermal systems in Europe which grew by 35 % up to 1.900 megawatts of solar thermal power. The most dynamic markets are in France, in the UK, and in Germany, where growth rates are in between 40 % and 70 %. Industry and research institutions - motivated by their large success - are developing a common vision for the use of solar thermal in 2030 and have just launched the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform (ESTTP).

France: 50 % tax reduction for solar thermal systems - Italy will grant 55 %

The European solar thermal market has become more and more dynamic within the last few years. France shows annual growth rates from 50 % up to 100 % and aims to increase the newly installed capacity from 150 megawatt-thermal (MWth) per year today until 700 MWth per year in 2010. In order to achieve this goal investors receive a tax reduction of 50 % for each solar thermal system installed. Italy will grant a 55 % tax reduction to achieve a similar goal. In Spain, the government has obliged homeowners to to installing a solar thermal system when renovating an existing building or during the construction of a new building in order to reach their ambitious goals. Further market growth is expected also in the UK and in the leading markets of Austria and Germany.

Solar Thermal Technology Platform elaborates a strategy for research and development

"The current development in solar thermal is very encouraging and we are positive that it will accelerate in the coming years", says Ole Pilgaard, President of ESTIF. This dynamic is heightened by the insight that solar thermal technology will play a much more important role in the fight against climate change and against the dependency on fossil fuel imports. Experts consider that in the long run, 50 % of the low temperature heating needs in Europe can be covered by solar thermal. In order to discuss the necessary technological developments, experts from industry and science have launched the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform (ESTTP), which kicked-off their work on December 6, 2006. Until 2008, this platform will elaborate a strategy for research and development as well as for support policies and other positive framework conditions.

400 experts will discuss markets, technology and political developments

The European Solar Thermal Energy Conference is the most important forum worldwide for discussing these new developments. From June 19 – 20, 2007, it will take place in Freiburg for the third time, just two days before the Intersolar trade fair, the biggest solar-only trade fair in Europe. At estec2007, more than 400 experts form industry, science, politics and consultancies are expected for an exchange about market-, technological and political developments. Abstract proposals can be submitted online by January 8, 2007. Interested participants and press representatives can pre-register online as of the beginning of December.

The estec2007 is a conference of the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation, ESTIF, and organized by the German Solar Industry Association, BSW, in co-operation with Intersolar2007. estec2007 is supported by the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) program of the European Commission. This industry-oriented conference is supported by the most important European solar thermal companies, among them the German manufacturer of absorbers and collectors, KBB Kollektorbau. The copper industry is highly positive about the development of solar thermal, which is the rationale for the commitment of the European Copper Institute to be one of the important sponsors.

Further information about this conference is available at www.estec2007.org, where you can register for the monthly newsletter, giving information about the international development of solar thermal in the lead up to the conference and about the most important conference topics.

ESTIF; German Solar Industry Association (BSW) (12/21/2006)

European Parliament votes for binding targets for each renewable energy sector

On Dezember 14th 2006, the European Parliament provided a clear signal on how to promote renewable energy in the EU up to 2020. "At the same moment, the Commission is considering to come forward with nice words but no concrete measures to support the rhetoric, according to a leaked draft of the Renewable Energy Roadmap scheduled for January 2007", the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) bashes in a press release. The European Parliament responded to the European Commission’s Green Paper on sustainable, competitive and secure energy by calling for binding sectoral targets for renewables in order to achieve 25 % of renewables in primary energy by 2020.

Commission should listen to Citizens’ demands for more renewable energy

At the same time the European Commission prepared its proposal for a roadmap that would effectively change the existing, successful sectoral approach to renewables legislation, by proposing vague measures and ambiguous commitments, EREC reviews. "By omitting sectoral targets in its draft Roadmap, the Commission is providing cynical window dressing", according to EREC. "The Parliament’s vote today is a historic opportunity for the Commission to listen to European citizens’ demands for more renewable energy. Together with the Parliament they could show leadership by proposing binding targets and legislation for all three sectors: electricity, heating and biofuels", said EREC policy director Oliver Schäfer. "The draft Roadmap, as it stands, would undermine existing law, create a legislative vacuum for many years to come and fire up widespread investor uncertainty. The Commission should focus on creating the der EU-Gesetzgebung in EU renewables legislation – heating and cooling – rather than undermining existing legislation for electricity and biofuels", Schäfer continues.

Overwhelming majority for sectoral targets for renewable energy

"An overwhelming majority of 479 representatives of European citizens voted in favour of sectoral targets for renewable energy and only 16 parliamentarians voted against. We urge the European Commission to team up with the Parliament, acknowledge its visionary approach and put Europe on the road to a truly sustainable energy future in its upcoming proposal for a Renewable Energy Roadmap. The Parliament’s call will hopefully not be overheard by President Barroso" Schäfer added. "The European renewable energy industries call on the European Commission to support the European Parliament’s approach in its upcoming Renewable Energy Roadmap. Anything else would threaten to dismantle the current, successful framework for renewables. The EU should continue its successful approach of specific sectoral targets to avoid putting existing frameworks under threat and creating widespread investor uncertainty", EREC appeals to the Commission.

EREC (12/18/2006)

Honda to start production of solar cells in fall 2007

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (TOKYO, Japan) announced on December 1st plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary, Honda Soltec Co., Ltd. Honda Soltec is to produce and sell the next-generation thin film solar cell independently developed by Honda. The new company will lead Honda to make a full-scale entry into the solar cell business, Honda Motor Co. reports in a press release. The next-generation solar cell to be produced and sold by Honda Soltec was developed by Honda Engineering Co., Ltd., the production engineering subsidiary of Honda. By using thin film made from a compound of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS), Honda’s next-generation solar cell achieves a major reduction in the amount of energy consumed during the manufacturing process by approximately 50 % compared to what is required to produce conventional crystal silicon solar cells. This makes the new solar cell more environmentally-friendly by reducing the amount of CO2 generated even from the production stage.

At the end of September 2006, Honda began construction of a plant to mass produce solar cells within the current site of Honda’s Kumamoto factory, and the new facility shall become operational in fall 2007. Picture Source: Honda

Picture Source: Honda

E.ON to build U.K.'s largest offshore wind farm

At the beginning of next year, construction of "Robin Rigg" will start, the U.K.'s largest offshore wind farm with an aggregate capacity of 180 megawatts,. E.ON UK plans to build 60 three-megawatt turbines to be sited off the coast of Scotland. Robin Rigg is expected to enter service in early 2009 and will produce approximately 550 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, enough to meet the average annual electricity needs of approximately 150,000 homes. Compared with conventional generation, the wind farm will prevent about 230,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Investments in the project will total about EUR 500 million, E.ON reports in a press release.

In the United Kingdom, E.ON currently operates Scroby Sands, a 60 megawatt offshore wind farm which entered service in 2004. In Germany and Denmark, E.ON is involved in a number of pilot projects for offshore wind farms. Here, however, substantial development work remains to be done because such facilities have to be sited further offshore at greater water depths.

E.ON offshore wind farm Scroby Sands. Picture Source: E.ON AG

E.ON AG (12/11/2006)

Oerlikon Solar receives order for delivery of 160 MW turnkey solar cell plant in Germany

Oerlikon Solar (Pfäffikon SZ) has been awarded a contract totalling CHF 320 million from German API GmbH in Offenbach (Germany). The order includes eight Kai 1200 systems, 40 laser scribing and 16 TCO systems as well as the associated processing equipment, Oerlikon Solar reports in a press release. Oerlikon Solar will supply turnkey production systems with an annual produced capacity of 160 MW. API will use these systems to construct the largest European plant for the manufacture of thin-film solar modules in Germany. API is backed by a group of Saudi investors who are entering the future market of thin-film solar power with this initial investment.

The expansion of Oerlikon's new solar business is exceeding all expectations, the company emphasizes.

Picture: A robot unloads glasses of 1.4 sqm, which have been coated in the KAI 1200 chamber with a silicon absorber layer of less than 0.3 µm. Picture Source: Oerlikon Solar

Major orders also by Schott Solar and ErSol

This division, which was only founded in early 2006, has already posted major orders from Schott Solar GmbH as well as ErSol Thinfilm GmbH with an order volume of over CHF 100 million. "The present order brings us into entirely new dimensions, both in sheer investment volume as well as in the customer base," says Thomas Limberger, CEO of Oerlikon. "This order also demonstrates the potential of Oerlikon thin-film technology, with its powerful growth rate and profit margins high up in the two-digit range."

Oerlikon Solar (06/12/2006)

Solarvalue obtains Approval for Purchase of future Solar Grade Silicon Factory

The Slovenian authorities on November 30th gave their official approval for the purchase of the TDR factory in Ruse, Solarvalue AG reports in a press release. The deed of sale was already signed by the Supervisory Board of the then owner (HSE) in October. The new owner will be WP Profil Solarvalue Holding d.o.o., a joint venture between Solarvalue AG and W&P Profil d.o.o. This approval is also to be the kick-off for work to start on the factory's conversion. The production of high-purity solar grade silicon is to begin by mid-2007. In the Solarvalue process, metallurgical silicon is produced first, followed by two further processing steps in which the product is going to be refined into low-priced solar grade silicon. By the end of 2008 Solarvalue intends to increase the production capacity to 4,400 tons of solar grade silicon.

Solarvalue AG was established in June 2005 by Dr. Karoly Horvath. The initial purpose of the company is the manufacture of solar grade silicon. The long-term goal according to the company is the development of the entire value chain of an integrated PV enterprise. Solarvalue AG shares are quoted on the Frankfurt Open Market.

Solarvalue AG (12/01/2006)