Solar Cells Info

The country hopes to become a leader in exporting technology for generating electricity.
Craig Whitlock / Washington Post,
ESPENHAIN, Germany, May 8, 2007
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070509/NATION/705090311/1020/NATION

When it opened here in 2004 on a reclaimed mining dump, the Geosol solar plant was the biggest of its kind in the world. It is so clean and green that it produces zero emissions and so easy to operate that it has only three regular workers: plant manager Hans-Joerg Koch and his two security guards, sheepdogs Pushkin and Adi.

The plant is part of a building boom that has made gloomy-skied Germany the unlikely global leader in solar-generated electricity. Last year, about half of the world’s solar electricity was produced in the country. Of the 20 biggest photovoltaic plants, 15 are in Germany, even though it has only half as many sunny days as countries such as Portugal.
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By Prague Daily Monitor, 9 May 2007
This story is from the Czech News Agency (ČTK).
http://launch.praguemonitor.com/en/80/czech_business/6126/

Prague, May 8 (CTK) – Solar power plants in the Czech Republic generated a record amount of electricity thanks to the sunny weather in the first two months of spring this year, CTK has learned from their operators.  The country’s largest solar power plant, in Busanovice, south-western Bohemia, generated double the planned amount of electricity in April.
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The Yomiuri Shimbun / May 10, 2007
Source: Yomiuri
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/science/20070510TDY03003.htm

Shiki Arts Center, home of the Shiki Theatre Company’s rehearsal workshop, in Aoba Ward, Yokohama, has been powered by solar energy since the end of last year. The roof of the building, where about 600 actors and actresses hone their theatrical skills, is covered with 1,540 solar panels generating 292,000 kwh a year, accounting for the annual electric power usage of 75 households, is aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 192 tons.
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Calistoga, Calif. – April 3, 2007
Premier Power press release
http://www.premierpower.com/solar_energy_company/pr_story.php?mid=8

Premier Power completes a 220 kW solar electric system for Château Montelena. Comprised of two solar electric systems, the solar arrays provide up to 100% of the site’s annual energy needs.  As responsible stewards of Napa Valley, Château Montelena aspires to conserve and protect the environment in all aspects of their operations. One of the ways Château Montelena realized they could conserve energy and preserve the environment, was to generate electricity using the sun’s energy.
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Biggest ever renewables company to list in London

By Sophie Brodie, 10 May 2007
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/05/09/bcncrystalox.xml

Crystalox, a company based in Wantage that makes silicon ingots for solar panels, is to list on the London market. It is expected to be the biggest IPO by a company involved in renewable energy in the UK, valuing the business at £500m. The company is to issue £50m in new shares and existing investors will float £100m, making £150m in total available to the market.
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Project will feature made-in-Washington solar panels
BELLEVUE, Wash. – May 8, 2007
Source: Puget Sound Energy /press release
http://www.pse.com/insidePSE/newsPSEpicksEISolutions.aspx

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) (utility subsidiary of Puget Energy) today announced that EI Solutions will design and construct for PSE the Pacific Northwest’s largest solar-power generating facility alongside the utility’s Wild Horse wind-farm in central Washington. PSE plans to begin construction of the solar project in June, and have most of its power-generating panels in operation before the end of 2007.

EI Solutions, based in San Rafael, Calif., topped a field of 12 finalists to build for PSE a $3.7 million, 500-kilowatt (kw) solar-power generating facility. It not only will be the Northwest’s largest solar-powered system, but also will be the first commercial installation to use made-in-Washington solar panels.
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SAN JOSE, Calif., May 7, 2007
Source: SunPower Corp. press release
http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=241238

SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR), a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency, commercially available solar cells, solar panels, and solar systems, today announced that its PowerLight subsidiary has signed a contract with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) for solar electric power systems totaling 4.6 megawatts on seven Wal-Mart facilities in California. The solar installations are part of Wal-Mart’s broader initiative to reduce the company’s environmental footprint, and are expected to provide an average of 25 percent of Wal-Mart’s energy usage at each of the seven facilities.
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AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 7
source: Ovonic.com / press release
http://www.ovonic.com/ne_ecd_ovonics_press_releases_more.cfm?pressrelease_id=464

Agreement to expand sale of UNI-SOLAR(R) products in Italy

United Solar Ovonic, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (NASDAQ: ENER) , announced today that it has received two orders totaling over $ 5.8 million of photovoltaic (PV) products from Unimetal S.p.A to be delivered before September 2007.   Unimetal, a supplier of sheet metal roofing materials based in Torre San Giorgio, Italy, will integrate the unique UNI-SOLAR(R) flexible solar products in its steel metal roofing products for distribution in Italy, France and Spain.
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Sherman So — South China Morning Post, May 10, 2007 /News from LexisNexis
Source:Semiconductor international
http://www.reed-electronics.com/semiconductor/articleXml/LN610466257.html

Shunda Holdings, a Chinese mono-crystalline silicon ingot and wafer maker, raised US$82 million from private equity investors to build a new production facility.  Actis, a private equity investor in emerging markets with US$3.4 billion under management, invested US$40 million in the deal. The rest was raised through local investors Jolmo and Waichun, Actis said. (more…)

Taiwanese Company Will Deliver PV Cells for SolarSave(R) Membranes
SOLANA BEACH, CA, May 09, 2007
Open Energy.com /press release via MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network)
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/frame_multimedia?prid=250266&attachid=486494

Open Energy Corp. (OTCBB: OEGY) today announced that it has signed an open purchasing agreement with Motech Solar, the world’s seventh largest producer of solar photovoltaics, to supply 6″ multi-crystalline cells.  David Saltman, CEO of Open Energy, stated, “Our trip to Asia last week was focused on securing solid raw material supply, and exploring outsourced manufacturing opportunities for our membrane, tile, and glass products. Dr. Simon Tsuo and his talented technical team have built a world-class operation, with highly automated production lines, impressive quality control programs, and secure silicon supply agreements. We are thrilled to have them as a strategic supplier of PV cells.”
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