Solar Cells Info

By Paul Davidson, USA TODAY / 27 July 2008
Source: USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2008-07-27-solar-chips_N.htm

Semiconductor companies are rushing into the solar power business faster than a Pentium-driven computer, promising to turn a niche form of renewable energy into a mass-market product.  Since May, computer powerhouses Intel (INTC), IBM (IBM) and National Semiconductor (NSM) have barreled into solar energy, joining hundreds of fellow technology mainstays. Virtually every chipmaker is weighing a solar play, says Rhone Resch, head of the Solar Energy Industries Association.  “We have a classic Silicon Valley land rush,” says T.J. Rodgers, CEO of Cypress Semiconductor (CY), which owns 56% of SunPower.Drawing the stalwarts is solar’s 40% annual growth, says Gartner analyst Jim Hines. The 50-year-old chip business is expanding only about 5% annually after years of torrid growth. (more…)

EMCORE Strengthens Its Leadership Position with $29 Million New Purchase Orders for Concentrator Solar Cell Receivers
Albuquerque, NM, July 9, 2008
Source: Emcore Corp. press release
http://www.emcore.com/news_events/release?y=2008&news=201

EMCORE Corporation (NASDQ: EMKR) a leading provider of Semi-conductor-based components and subsystems for the broadband, fiber-optic, satellite and terrestrial solar power markets, announced today that it entered into two definitive supply agreements for solar cell receivers in June 2008 with a total value of approximately $29 million. These supply agreements incorporate advance deposits to ensure production priority for these customers. The end applications for the product to be delivered range from solar farm to commercial rooftop installations employing Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) technology. Production for these orders has commenced and shipments are scheduled to occur over the next 24 months. (more…)

Albquerque, N.M., July 25, 2008
Source: Emcore Corp. press release/
http://www.emcore.com/investor

EMCORE Corporation,  a leading provider of Semi-conductor-based components and subsystems for the broadband, fiber-optic, satellite and terrestrial solar power markets, announced today that its world record Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) solar cell technology has been chosen by R&D Magazine for an R&D 100 award. This prestigious award recognizes the IMM solar cell as one of the most innovative technologies of 2008. (more…)

Rochester Hills, MI, July 8, 2008
Source: Energy Conversion Devices press release
http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2008-07/artikel-11229954.asp

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD), announced today that its UNI-SOLAR(R) thin-film flexible solar laminates will power the world’s largest rooftop solar power system. The 12-megawatt system is being installed on GM’s assembly plant in Figueruelas, Zaragoza, Spain and will become operational in the fall of 2008. ECD will supply the solar laminates through its wholly owned subsidiary, United Solar Ovonic, LLC.  When fully operational, the photovoltaic system will have a peak capacity of 12 megawatts, producing as much as 15 million kilowatt hours of “green” energy annually, enough to power approximately 4,500 homes. The Zaragoza facility marks the third major use of UNI-SOLAR laminates by GM. (News/Aktienkurs) UNI-SOLAR thin-film flexible solar laminates also power GM parts warehouses in Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana, California, two of the largest rooftop solar power installations in the United States. (more…)

Jiangsu and Jiangxi, China, July 15, 2008
Source: Canadion Solar Inc, press release
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196781
&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1174922&highlight=

Canadian Solar Inc.today announced a 9MW sales agreement for its e-Modules with Conergy USA, a global leader in renewable energy solutions. The contract runs for 12 months until June 2009 and delivery will start this month.  Kim McLawhorn, President of Conergy Americas commented, “We are pleased to offer CSI’s e-Modules for our off-grid and grid-connected installations of photovoltaic systems. As a leading global PV supplier, we are confident in the long-term growth of the US solar market and look to continue our strategic partnership with CSI as we help consumers achieve clean and independent energy solutions.” (more…)

SiGen’s innovative “kerf-free” wafering equipment moves into pilot line
San Jose, CA, July 11, 2008
Source: Silicon Genesis press release/Businesswire
http://www.sigen.net/about/news.html

Silicon Genesis, a leader in process and technology for engineered substrates announced today that it has successfully produced solar substrates for the PV industry using a revolutionary “kerf-free” wafering process technology developed by SiGen called PolyMax™. This introduction represents a significant move for the company into the solar PV wafer production environment, capitalizing on in-house technology and expertise.  By eliminating sawing losses, the PolyMax™ equipment set can substantially reduce the amount of polysilicon used within the ingot to wafer manufacturing steps and also eliminate some of the costly consumables in today’s wafer manufacturing. First targeted to process monocrystalline silicon to produce high-efficiency silicon solar cells, the equipment is expected to help the PV industry reach grid parity while simultaneously relaxing the shortage of polysilicon feedstock. (more…)

Shanghai, China, July 14, 2008
Source: Solarfun Power Holdings, press release/Businesswire

Solarfun Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: SOLF), an established manufacturer of photovoltaic (“PV”) cells, modules and ingots in China, today announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries has entered into a 47.0 MW sales contract with Schüco International KG (“Schüco”), a leading PV system provider in Europe. Under the terms of the agreement, Solarfun has agreed to supply a total of 47.0 MW of PV modules to Schüco at a fixed price to be delivered according to a binding delivery schedule from December 2008 to October 2009. The PV modules are intended to be installed in major projects in south-east Europe and the Middle-East. (more…)

Raises Contractual Backlog to Nearly $3 Billion
Marlboro, MA, July 15, 2008
Source: Evergreen Solar press release/BusinessWire
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080715005695&newsLang=en

Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLR), a manufacturer of solar power panels with its proprietary, low-cost String Ribbon™ wafer technology, announced it has signed a new long-term sales contract valued at approximately $1.2 billion with German-based IBC SOLAR AG. This contract extends through 2013 and brings the company’s total contractual backlog to nearly $3 billion with 5 customers.  “We are very pleased to begin this significant long term relationship with IBC SOLAR, the largest PV distributor in the world”, said Richard M. Feldt, Evergreen Solar’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “This contract represents the single largest contract in the history of our company and is one of the largest contracts ever between a panel manufacturer and a distributor.” (more…)

Source: Aleo Solar AG press release/ 30 May 2008
http://www.aleo-solar.de/en-presse/aleo-solar-ag-steps-up-presence-in-the-important-italian-m.html

Aleo solar AG today announced that it acquired numerous new customers at Solarexpo in Verona from 15 to 17 May, thus underscoring the growing importance the Italian market has for the company. Back in January, aleo solar AG had established a wholly-owned subsidiary, aleo solar Italia S.r.l., with the aim of expanding its business activities in Italy. The company has further stepped up its presence in the Italian market by opening a new office in Treviso, which will manage business in Italy from 29 May. (more…)

Sourcer: Aleo Solar AG press release/ 10 June 2008
http://www.aleo-solar.de/en-presse/aleo-solar-presents-pure-black-high-performance-modules.html

Aleo solar today announced that it has chosen this year’s Intersolar in Munich to premiere its new pure black product range, featuring the solar modules aleo S_73 and S_77. The new module types will be available exclusively in Germany, and in performance categories ranging from 160 to 190 watts. The modules are characterized by their distinctive visual appeal: in combining a black Tedlar film with a black anodized aluminum frame, aleo solar has managed to create a pure black module that is capable of meeting the highest aesthetic requirements. (more…)