Solar Cells Info

• Supply of about 40 MWp thin-film modules by contractual agreement
• ersol Thin Film to deliver “Nova®-T” type modules between 2008 and 2010
Erfurt, 3 June 2008
Soruce: Ersol Thin Film, press releaes
http://www.ersol.de/en/newsmediarelations/pressreleases/pressrelease/
news/1212330668/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=35&cHash=d28a11f472

ersol Thin Film GmbH (ersol Thin Film), a subsidiary of ersol Solar Energy AG, today signed a contract with Ralos Vertriebs GmbH (Ralos) for the supply of about 40 MWp thin-film modules. Amorphous thin-film modules are to be supplied to the German solar distributor over a period of three years from 2008.
(more…)

By Jeremy van Loon, June 2, 2008
Source: Bloomberg.com
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aNkjxKkZ0aUM&refer=europe

Germany is slashing the subsidies that built its solar industry up to $8.8 billion in sales and made the country the world’s biggest market for panels that capture the sun’s energy.  Homes and businesses earn a government-guaranteed price of as much as 47 euro cents ($0.74) for each kilowatt-hour of solar power they generate, enough to run a vacuum cleaner for 60 minutes and double the market rate. Spain and France are copying Germany’s model as a way to nurture clean-energy industries that can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and cut gas emissions blamed for global warming. (more…)

Brussels, June 6, 2008
Source: Verivox press release
http://www.verivox.de/News/ArticleDetails.asp?aid=85175&pm=1

On the verge of talks on the proposal of the « Grenelle law », the European Photovoltaic Industry Association and the actors of the French market, are organising a national photovoltaic symposium entitled « Towards a sustainable development of the photovoltaic sector in France », on 27 June in Aix les Bains, France. On this occasion over 900 participants from France and Europe are awaited to discuss possible ways to diminish the gap the French PV market is experiencing in relation to some of its European neighbours such as Germany or Spain. (more…)

· Clean-tech revolution in country without oil or gas
· Project also includes wave and wind power
by John Vidal, Lisbon, June 6 2008
Source: Guardian UK
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/06/renewableenergy.alternativeenergy

From a distance the bizarre structures sprouting from the high Alentejo plain in eastern Portugal resemble a field of mechanical sunflowers. Each of the 2,520 giant solar panels is the size of a house and they are as technically sophisticated as a car. Their reflective heads tilt to the sky at a permanent 45 degrees as they track the sun through 240 degrees every day.

The world’s largest solar photovoltaic farm, generating electricity straight from sunlight, is taking shape near Moura, a small town in a thinly populated and impoverished region which boasts the most sunshine per square metre a year in Europe. When fully commissioned later this year, the £250m farm set on abandoned state-owned land will be twice the size of any other similar project in the world, covering an area nearly twice the size of London’s Hyde park. It is expected to supply 45MW of electricity each year, enough to power 30,000 homes. (more…)

by Moumita Bakshi Chatterjee, New Delhi, June 3, 2008
Source: The Hindu BusinessLine
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/06/04/stories/2008060452420100.htm

At a time when crude prices are peaking, a reduction in solar power costs could brighten the energy scenario. The solar photovoltaic (PV) business, which incurs a generation cost of Rs 12-14 per unit, is looking at reducing it to Rs 4-6 a unit in the next three to five years.  The reduction would mainly be on the back of anticipated easing of global demand-supply imbalance of silicon, advances in thin-film PV, higher cell efficiency and other innovations. (more…)

May 28, 2008
Source: Menova Energy Inc, press release
http://www.power-spar.com/Power-Spar/press.php

The Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) and Wal-Mart Canada announced today that they are pursuing a project with Menova Energy that would provide up to $5.9 million to support the demonstration of the company’s world-leading Power-Spar solar concentrator technology. The intention is to test and install the technology on the roof of a Wal-Mart store in Ontario, yet to be selected or constructed. (more…)

Singapore, June 4, 2008
Source: BAF Spectrum Pte Ltd press release/CompoundSemi Online
http://compoundsemi.com/documents/view/cldoc.php3?id=10263
Technology to Increase Solar Panel Efficiency by 20% Through Quantum Dot Nanotechnology

Singapore-based seed fund BAF Spectrum Pte Ltd today announced taking a 30 percent stake in Mentarix Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based solar photovoltaic component startup. The investment reflects BAF Spectrum’s strategy to invest in early-stage clean technology companies that provide new and innovative solutions.  By utilizing quantum dot nanotechnology and photonic technology, Mentarix plans to design and manufacture products that can increase solar photovoltaic cell operating efficiency by at least 20% from their relative baseline. The technology is applicable to both traditional crystalline silicon cells as well as thin film cells based on cadmium telluride/cadmium sulfide (CdTe/CdS), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) and amorphous silicon. (more…)

By Tom Vogt, The Columbian
Vancouver, WA, June 5, 2008
Source: SeattleTimes
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004458579_greenschools05m.html

The playground is an energy-enhanced spot, and not just because of the kids climbing on the play structure.  The answer is on the roof of the playground shelter, where a series of rectangles face the sun. They’re solar panels. They soak up power, then pipe it from the campus of the Washington State School for the Blind into the region’s electrical grid. The solar panels are part of Washington’s effort to get state institutions involved in renewable energy. Washington State School for the Blind received its grant a year ago.
(more…)

by Kevin Swayze, RECORD STAFF /June 05, 2008
Source: The Record.com
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/361803

A gravel pit is a better place to build a solar electricity generating operation than a proposed farmland site along Highway 401, a township councillor says.  “It’s not using this land to its potential at all . . . it’s a shame to use it this way,” said Gord Taylor, a farmer who was uneasy with what he saw as loss of prime farmland.  Taylor was speaking at a township council meeting called to hear details of a proposal for an eventual $24 million array of solar panels on Tim Barrie’s farm on King’s Road near Highway 401.
(more…)

Santa Clara, CA, May 30, 2008
Source: Applied Materials, press release/BusinessWire
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=112059&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1152039

As part of its Masdar Initiative, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. is significantly expanding its investment in solar energy by contracting with Applied Materials to purchase three SunFab(TM) Thin Film Lines for producing solar modules. With an optional tandem junction upgrade, these SunFab lines are expected to annually produce modules with a targeted capacity of up to 210 megawatts (MW), or enough energy to power approximately 70,000 homes. (more…)