Solar Cells Info

SolFocus 1100S slated for medium- to utility-scale installations
Mountain View, Calif., November 13, 2008
Source: SolFocus.com press release
http://www.solfocus.com/news_file/20081113075827_sf-pr-sf1100-fin-111108.pdf

SolFocus today announced its latest Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) solution – the SolFocus 1100S. This new CPV system achieves panel efficiencies of 25% resulting in systems which produce the highest energy density and highest energy yield of photovoltaic systems available today. SolFocus customer EMPE Solar will deploy the SolFocus 1100S in its recently announced 10 megawatt utility-scale project, expected to be the largest deployment of CPV technology in Europe. (more…)

by Yoichiro Hata, EE Times, Tokyo, 07 Nov 2008
Source: EETimes.com
http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212001306

In a dramatic restructuring within the Japanese consumer electronics industry, Panasonic Corp. and Sanyo Electric Co. have entered into takeover discussions that would result in Sanyo becoming a Panasonic subsidiary, Panasonic president Fumio Ohtsubo confirmed Friday (Nov. 7).  The pending deal is not focused on either company’s traditional product lines but rather on solar cells and rechargeable batteries for hybrid and electric cars.
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By Matthew Knight, For CNN, London, Nov.12, 2008
Source: CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/11/12/solar.coating/

Researchers have developed a new anti-reflective coating that boosts the efficiency of solar panels and allows sunlight to be absorbed from almost any angle.  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers say they’ve made advances in absorption of sunlight.  Scientists from the Future Chips Constellation (FCC) at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York have created the coating using nanotechnology — engineering devices on a molecular scale. (more…)

Source: EU Research Info. Center / 20 Nov 2008
http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?
id=/research/headlines/news/article_08_11_20_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=9033

Researchers at the Germany-based Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) announced that they have succeeded in improving the efficiency of solar cells, which are designed to convert available light into electricity. The quantum electronic phenomenon called the photovoltaic (PV) effect makes this possible. The team said the effectiveness of III-V semiconductor multi-junction solar cells, used in PV concentrator technology for solar power stations, has been increased by 2.1% to 39.7% — a new European record. The work, which is funded to the tune of EUR 8.34 million, is part of the EU project FULLSPECTRUM. (more…)

North East, MD, November 5, 2008
Source: Blue Square Energy.Com press release
http://www.bluesquareenergy.com/Default.aspx?DN=848bda84-29d7-4bd6-b19b-3ca06a9b08a0

Blue Square Energy, a developer and manufacturer of low-cost silicon solar cells, today announced that it has produced a 14.6 percent efficient solar cell with its patent-pending Bright Point technology.  BSE’s efficiency result is one of the highest in the world on upgraded metallurgical grade (UMG) silicon and has been verified independently by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). (more…)

Asia Pulse/LexisNexis, November 26, 2008
Source: Semiconductor.net
http://www.semiconductor.net/articleXml/LN890291678.html

Japan’s Sustainable Titania Technology Inc. (STi) has developed a way to boost the energy conversion efficiency of thin-film solar cells by about 20 per cent.  The process involves fabricating a highly reflective film on the backside of the electricity-generating layer of the solar cell so that less light is lost.
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Nikkei Electronics Asia, Oct 30, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20081030/160514/

Mitsui Chemicals Inc (MCI) has announced that its subsidiary, Mitsui Chemicals Fabro Inc (MFI), will expand its production capacity for a solar cell encapsulant, SOLAR EVA. MFI is a manufacturer and supplier of SOLA R EVA.
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Nikkei Electronics Asia, Nov 21, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20081121/161631/

JA Solar Holdings Co Ltd of China and BP Alternative Energy Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of BP plc, have announced their intention to jointly develop and market part of their solar photovoltaic (PV) product portfolio over the next five years. The definitive commercial agreement is expected to be entered into before year end. (more…)

Nikkei Electronics Asia, Nov 26, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20081126/161869/

Emcore Corp has announced its first deployment of a concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) system in China with the XinAo Group, one of China’s energy companies. As part of an earlier agreement, the 50kW test and evaluation system is fully installed and operational, and is producing power in accordance with specifications. (more…)

Nikkei Electronics Asia, Nov 28, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20081128/162044/

Tokuyama Corp plans to build its second polycrystalline silicon manufacturing base at the Samalaju Industrial Park in Sarawak, Malaysia. The company has decided to start drafting the basic design of the facility. The basic design, scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2009, will be created through a partnering agreement with Chiyoda Corp. (more…)