Solar Cells Info

by Matt Hickey,  February 13, 2009
Source: CNet news
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10164232-1.html

I have a few friends (who shall remain nameless) who are often unreachable because they don’t charge their phones when they should. These same friends should look into the new Samsung Blue Earth, which is to be unveiled in a couple days at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.  The phone is green, despite its blue color, and it’s not just the integrated solar panels that make it so. The Blue Earth is made of recycled plastic, features a pedometer, and even software that reaffirms just how much you’re helping the planet by using it. If Al Gore had one of these mobile devices in hand, it would likely explode. (more…)

Shanghai, Feb 12, 2009
Source: JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd press release
http://investors.jasolar.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=208005&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1256176&highlight=

JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: JASO), a leading manufacturer of high-performance solar products, today announced that it has signed a supply contract with BP Solar International, Inc., pursuant to the broader strategic cooperation agreement signed with BP Alternative Energy Holdings Limited, announced last November.  Under this new agreement, JA Solar will supply monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cells to BP Solar in 2009, with an initial volume of 175 MW and with the potential to expand to 360 MW. JA Solar is already delivering product under its existing supply agreement with BP. (more…)

By Steve Almasy, CNN, Jan 28, 2009
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/01/28/solar.powered.cars

Toyota’s third-generation Prius, due at dealerships this spring, will have an optional solar panel on its roof. The panel will power a ventilation system that can cool the car without help from the engine, Toyota says.  Solar Electric Vehicles in California makes a roof-mounted solar panel for a standar Toyota Prius.  But it’s a long way from the 2010 Prius to a solar-powered car, experts told CNN. Most agree that there just isn’t enough space on a production car to get full power from solar panels. (more…)

By Ucilia Wang, Greentech Media, February 04, 2009
Source: Seekingalpha.com
http://seekingalpha.com/article/118477-q-cells-subsidiary-scales-up-
micromorph-production-together-with-applied-materials

A Q-Cells (QCLSF.PK) subsidiary that makes micromorph thin-film solar panels is scaling up its production nicely, the company said Tuesday.  Sontor, founded in 2006, started mass production at its German factory last August and rolled out 3.6 megawatts worth of solar panels last year. A solar power plant in Lower Bavaria installed 1.6 megawatts worth of those panels, which are now producing power and hooked up to the grid, the company said. (more…)

By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY, 20 Jan 2009
Source: USA Today.com
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-01-19-solar-panel-cars-automakers-prius_N.htm

Even as skies are gray this winter, automakers are looking to sunnier times — not just for more sales, but also to power solar cells going on new cars.  Toyota (TM) just announced that the next-generation Prius will have an optional solar panel that powers an electric fan. The fan activates to cool the cabin when the car is parked and the interior temperature rises.  Fisker Automotive, a start-up based in Irvine, Calif., goes further. The luxury hybrid shown at last week’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit has a large solar panel that supplies extra juice to the battery. (more…)

Toronto, Jan. 23, 2009
Canadian Solar Inc, press release
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196781&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1247716

Canadian Solar Inc. (“the Company”, “CSI” or “we”) (Nasdaq: CSIQ) today announced that it has donated 5,000 Euros to the Klimaschutz- und Solarforderverein am Gymnasium School in Neutraubling, Germany. The donation will be used to partially finance a 10 kWp rooftop solar project using our CS6A-150 modules. Other donors include students, teachers and alumni, as well as private individuals. The school will in turn use the net proceeds from the project to help fund projects in developing nations. (more…)

Toronto, Feb 02, 2009
Source: Canadian Solar Inc, press release
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196781&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1250809

Canadian Solar Inc. today announced the official opening of its new PV Cell Research Center. The new center is located in the Company’s solar cell Fab II in Suzhou and consolidates all of the Company’s R&D facilities in one place.  The purpose of the center is to improve the efficiency and production yield of both regular polysilicon cells and our proprietary solar grade e-cells. CSI has been actively investigating several high efficiency solar cell structures, including selective emitter, N-type and back-contact cells. The Company has ongoing research programs with DuPont, University of Toronto and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. (more…)

by Rick Merritt, EE Times, San Jose, CA, 27 Jan 2009
Source: EETimes.com
http://www.eetimes.com/news/design/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212903004

A San Jose startup has licensed materials technology that can harvest energy from infrared light, boosting the efficiency of solar cells. Solexant aims to commercialize one of many advances under development at a photonics institute at the University of Buffalo.  “This is a very exciting period as new dimensions in photonics keep emerging in areas such as energy and health care,” said Paras N. Prasad, executive director of the university research group, speaking in a keynote at Photonics West here. (more…)

This year is critical for copper-indium-gallium-selenide panel makers to show that all those huge private equity founds and factory plans will make them formidable competitors in the global solar market in the next few years, says report.
by: Ucilia Wang, January 30, 2009
Source: Greentech Media.com Report
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/report-cigs-could-supply-3gw-of-solar-panels-by-2012-5625.html

They have raised huge capital. They have built factories and even attracted some buyers. Could this year be the starting point when stronger CIGS players emerge?  In a new solar report forecasting production and comparing technologies, Greentech Media analysts certainly believe so.  “We expect some of them to ramp up production in 2009 – they are getting to commercial volumes. That will give them a definite edge when it comes to cost,” said Shyam Mehta, a senior analyst at Greentech Media. Mehta co-authored the report, “PV Technology, Production and Cost, 2009 Forecast,” with Travis Bradford, founder of the Prometheus Institute and a Greentech Media advisor. (more…)

Source: Solid State Technology, February, 2009
http://www.solid-state.com/display_article/352194/5/none/none/Dept/Wafer%E2%80%93based-solar-cells-aren%E2%80%99t-done-yet

The solar industry’s recent growth spurt has shown that success brings new challenges. Once content to salvage silicon scrap from the integrated circuit industry, wafer–based solar cells have become the largest consumer of high–purity silicon. As a result, manufacturers of wafer–based silicon solar cells are caught between rising raw material costs on one side, and less expensive alternative technologies on the other. (more…)