Solar Cells Info

by Suman Chakraborti, TNN. Calcutta, 20 July 2009
Source: Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Kolkata-
Centre-gives-Rs-15-cr-for-solar-lanterns/articleshow/4796590.cms

The Centre has cleared Rs 1.5 crore for distributing 14,000 solar lanterns in the Aila-affected areas. This will give a major boost to the state government’s efforts to redevelop the affected villages in the Sunderbans.  West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation (WBGEDC) managing director S P Gon Choudhuri said this was the first time the Centre has approved 100% grant for introducing solar lighting in a particular area. (more…)

Designed to accommodate specific needs of residential and commercial installations
Huntingon Beach and San Francisco, CA, July 15, 2009
Source: Solar Sharp USA press release
http://solar.sharpusa.com/solar/ads_and_pr/1,2482,0,00.html

Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group, the U.S. solar arm of Sharp Corporation, a leading global provider of solar electric solutions, bolsters its NU line of solar modules with the introduction of the new NU-U230F3 and the NU-U235F1 modules.  Delivering powerful performance and enhanced aesthetics, the new NU modules are an optimal choice to meet the needs of both residential and commercial solar installations. (more…)

By Yuliya Chernova (of Dow Jones Clean Technology Insight),
New York, July 14, 2009
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090714-708396.html

Solar panel maker Suntech Power Holdings Co. (STP) signed nonbinding agreements with four Chinese provinces and cities to develop up to 1.8 gigawatts of solar projects.  Projects resulting from these agreements could be installed between 2010 and 2012, Steve Chadima, Suntech’s spokesman, said in an email.  Suntech agreed to develop 300 megawatts in Shaanxi province, 500 MW in Shizuishan city, located in Ningxia province, 500 MW in Qinghai province, and 500 MW in the Panzhihua city of the Sichuan province. (more…)

by Erin Ailworth July 16, 2009
Source: Green Blog, Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2009/07/new_state_entity_will_oversee_utility-scale_solar_projects.html

A new state entity will work with the four investor-owned utilities in Massachusetts to develop large-scale solar power installations, state officials announced Thursday.  “Development of solar generation through a statewide pool will drive down costs through economies of scale and spread the costs and benefits across the broadest base of customers,” Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley wrote in a statement announcing that her office would be working with Governor Deval Patrick’s office on the effort. (more…)

2,262 roofs can generate 19.4 megawatts of electricity
By Mike Lee, Union-Tribune Staff Writer, San Diego , July 16, 2009
Source: San Diego Tribune
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/16/1m16solar001246-city-leads-california-solar-instal/?metro&zIndex=132821

The sun might seem to shine a little brighter in San Diego today with the release of an independent analysis that shows the city has the most solar roofs and greatest solar-power capacity in place statewide.  The nonprofit group Environment California ranked San Diego tops in its “California’s Solar Cities” report, ahead of Los Angeles, a much larger city, and San Francisco, which has a reputation for all things green. (more…)

byNuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES 18 June 2009

Major Taiwan-based solar cell makers Motech Industries, E-Ton Solar Tech, Gintech Energy, Neo Solar Power and Solartech Energy have recently seen significant increases in utilization rates, according to the companies.

Major Taiwan-based solar cell makers’ current utilization rates
Company   —   Utilization rate, Remark
Motech   —70-80% in Taiwan, 100% in eastern China ,
Utilization in Taiwan expected to rise in July
E-Ton   — About 80%  , Utilization likely to rise in 3Q09
Gintech –  Nearly 100% , May reach full capacity in July
Neo Solar  –  Over 80% ,  May reach full capacity in July
Solartech  –  About 50%, Utilization expected to reach 70-80% in 3Q09
Source: Companies, compiled by Digitimes, June 2009

by Lisa Zyga Prius flower, July 20th, 2009 , PhysOrg.com
http://www.physorg.com/news167321476.html

As part of Toyota’s national marketing campaign for the third generation Prius launch in 2010, the company is “planting” giant solar-powered flowers in urban areas. The flowers generate electricity and provide free Wi-Fi for anyone passing by.  Meant to represent the Prius theme of “Harmony between Man, Nature, and Machine,” the 18-foot flowers have solar cells behind their petals and at the base of the stem. The generated electricity travels down the stem to plastic green benches with 110-volt outlets. Each of the five flower provide room for up to 10 people to sit while charging their cell phones, laptops and other devices. Currently appearing in Boston, the solar flowers will later travel to New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The flowers operate daily from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. (more…)

By SiliconIndia news bureau , 19 July 2009, Bangalore
http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/Solar_Semiconductor_to_establish_solar_cell_plant_at_Fab_City_-nid-59511.html

Solar Semiconductor, a Hyderabad-based photovoltaic (PV) modules manufacturer has announced that it will set up a solar cell plant at its Fab City campus. The company plans to invest $100 million (Rs. 490 crore) in this plant. According to Ravi Surapaneni, Vice-President of the company, initially the plant will have a capacity of 30 Mw and subsequently it will be ramped up to 60 Mw.  At present, Solar Semiconductor has a photovoltaic module-making capacity of 200 Mw a year, including 130 Mw at the Fab City and 70 Mw at Kompally. Both the facilities are dedicated to the export markets in the U.S., Germany, Spain and Italy. The solar cells manufactured at the new plant will be utilized by the company’s PV module-making plant at the Fab City. (more…)

By Chris BryantBerlin, July 15 2009
Source: Financial Times.com
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fb4cc69e-70d4-11de-9717-00144feabdc0.html

Q-Cells, the world’s biggest manufacturer of solar cells, yesterday blamed tough market conditions for its decision to scrap its full-year sales outlook and warned it would post a big loss in the second quarter. The update shocked investors, leaving the stock more than 14 per cent lower at €11.32 at the close after the German company revealed that an anticipated seasonal upturn in demand had not materialised. Competition from Asian producers has caused an over-supply of solar components, while financing for big projects remains in short supply. (more…)

Japanese electronics company Sharp is seeking tieups overseas, improved technology, and ramped-up business at home to boost its solar power business
By Kenji Hall, Asia /July 20, 2009,
(BusinessWeek’s technology correspondent in Tokyo)
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jul2009/gb20090720_163441.htm

In late 2007, not long after stepping in as president of Sharp, Mikio Katayama learned an important lesson about the energy industry. Katayama was meeting with diplomats in Japan and government officials overseas to discuss Sharp’s business producing photovoltaic solar panels. He had figured mounting evidence about global warming would be a wake-up call for countries to invest more in clean energy technologies. But instead, officials talked about solar energy in terms of national security. “That’s when we realized that it wasn’t just about saving the environment,” he recalled in a recent interview. (more…)