Solar Cells Info

By Gerry Shih, February 19, 2008
Source: The Statesman.com
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/washington/washington/
entries/2008/02/19/officials_highl.html

By all accounts, the 2007 Solar Decathlon resembled a modern auto show – the hype around energy efficiency, the glimpses of future technology, the deja vu as German engineering upstages the American effort.   But while their automobile counterparts fret, American green tech engineers believe there are fortunes to be made in everything ranging from low-energy heating and cooling appliances to heat-efficient materials to whole modular homes that are starting to hit the market. On Tuesday, the director of the decathlon recapped some highlights of the competition, where twenty universities one-upped each other with fascinating feats of innovation.
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San Francisco, CA, Jan. 24, 2008
Source: Suntech Power Holdings press release
http://www.suntech-power.com/News/tabid/99/Default.aspx?id=309&Module=597

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) one of the world’s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced Suntech’s participation in a solar-energy system constructed for the roof of the town hall in Genk, Belgium.  The project was engineered by Netherlands-based Oskomera Solar Power Solutions (OSPS) in collaboration with Belgium-based ENECO Energie.  The system consists of approximately 1,260 Suntech solar modules with a capacity of 239kW. Project engineering, delivery and installation was executed within a short, three-month time frame. (more…)

New Office to Accelerate Business Development in South Korea and Expand Customer Service Capabilities
San Francisco, CA, Feb. 13, 2008
Source: Suntech Power Holdings Co. press release
http://www.suntech-power.com/News/tabid/99/Default.aspx?id=311&Module=597

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) one of the world’s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced the opening of a sales office in South Korea to accelerate Suntech’s business development and broaden local customer service capabilities. Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech’s Chairman and CEO, said: “The South Korean market for solar energy has quickly developed into one of the key drivers for solar demand in Asia and we are very pleased to have established a base there. In a short time frame, we have put together a strong team consisting of four people with over 15 years of combined experience in the PV industry.  Our team will focus on building strong customer relationships and delivering exceptional pre and post sales service.  This office is integral to Suntech’s plan of developing and maintaining key customers in diverse markets with long term growth potential.”
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Sales Offices Strengthen Suntech’s European Network and Broaden Ability to Serve Local Customer Base
San Francisco, CA, Feb. 19, 2008
Source: Suntech Power Holdings Co., press release
http://www.suntech-power.com/News/tabid/99/Default.aspx?id=312&Module=597

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) one of the world’s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced the opening of sales offices in Germany and Spain to strengthen Suntech’s European sales network and broaden local customer service capabilities.  “We are very pleased to expand our sales and customer service capabilities in Europe with the opening of these two offices in Germany and Spain.  Our on the ground presence will help us to manage the exceptional demand for Suntech solar products that we are seeing in both Germany and Spain in 2008,” said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech’s Chairman and CEO.  “Establishing regional sales centers and localizing our sales staff is central to our commitment to deliver exceptional customer service and we are confident it will enable us to forge stronger customer relationships and improve our ability to respond to customer needs.”
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Source: English.eastday.com / Feb. 20, 2008
http://english.eastday.com/eastday/englishedition/business/userobject1ai3416119.html

German solar cell producer Q- Cells AG has announced plans to invest in a production plant in Malaysia next year, local media reported today.  The company plans to build a major manufacturing complex for photovoltaic products in Malaysia, its first in Asia, Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz said at a media briefing in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

“The setting up of such a solar cell and modules plant will contribute towards the government’s initiatives in the creation of a solar industry cluster in the country,” the New Straits Times quoted Rafidah as saying.   Q-Cells was expected to invest more than 1 billion ringgit (310. US$56 million) between 2009 and 2010 in the first phase of the manufacturing complex, Malaysian Industrial Development Authority director-general R. Karunakaran said. However, the exact location has not been confirmed.

“Negotiations have been held over the past six months and we have been competing with others in the region. We are extremely pleased they chose us. We hope this will spur other companies and service providers to look to Malaysia, too,” the New Straits Times quoted Karunakaran as saying.  Q-Cells’ facility will be the second major photovoltaic-related investment in Malaysia, the first being that of the US-based thin-film module manufacturer, First Solar, at the Kulim High-Tech Park in northern Kedah state.

New York, Feb. 18,2007
Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report related to the Renewable energies industry is available in its catalogue.

Solar Photovoltaic Market Report 2007
To order this report:
www.reportlinker.com/p076238/2008/02/Solar-Photovoltaic-Market-Report-2007.html

The solar PV market continued to grow in 2007, both in installed capacity and production although it was held back by a worldwide shortage of solar grade silicon. Opinions differ within the industry as to the future duration of this shortage and these are discussed in the report. 2006 and 2007 have been significant, with the entry of an important new player in the global market, China. Chinese solar PV companies have developed very fast and a number have conducted IPOs in China and other countries. A mushrooming production capacity for solar cells and modules has been accompanied by growing production and re-cycling of silicon. Domestic demand in China has not kept pace and it is an export oriented industry to date. Germany, followed by Japan and the USA still remains the global leader, but new countries are entering the market and the industry is spreading beyond its historical areas. These developments have been accompanied by some uncertainty because of a breakdown in the statistical recording system in Germany, the largest market, with half the world’s installed capacity.
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by Deepshikha Monga, TNN /New Delhi, 11 Feb, 2008,
Source: Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Energy/
Moser_Baer_to_invest_15_bn_in_solar_power/articleshow/2771966.cms

Betting big on power generation through solar energy, Moser Baer India is investing about $1.5 billion in increasing its thin-film photovoltaic capacity to 600 mega watt (MW) over the next two years from the existing project capacity of 40 MW.  As part of the expansion plans, a Moser Baer wholly-owned subsidiary, PV Technologies India, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a leading US-based equipment supplier to secure supply of critical equipment.
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Sufia Tippu, EE Times Europe
Bengaluru, India, Feb 18, 2008
Souce: EETimes Online
http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206800125

The Indian government has approved an additional five companies to take part in projects in Fab City, a proposed semiconductor manufacturing location near Hyderabad. This would take the total investment in Fab City to $7 billion, Minister of State for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh said here Monday (Feb. 18), speaking at the two-day India Semiconductor Association summit. The focus of the latest investments is on solar energy conversion he said but added that the Indian government has many further projects either with in-principle approval or under considerations which could bring further investments to Fab City. (more…)

Statesman News Service /New Delhi, Feb. 3, 2008
Source: The Statesman
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=2&id=215587

In a special initiative, India will undertake solar electrification of selected villages in other Saarc countries as part of its developmental programmes.  The programme, to be launched soon, will involve providing electrification to homes and streets in villages to be specifically identified for the purpose. The work will entail supply of power and maintenance by companies under the supervision of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), sources said. The MEA has invited tenders from companies for undertaking the task. (more…)

Statesman News Service, Kolkata, Feb. 10, 2008
Source: The Statesman
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=12&id=216956

West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency will set up a solar energy park in Purulia district which will generate about 30 mw to 40 mw of solar power in the next two years. The said park is expected to attract investments in between Rs 600 and Rs 800 crore over the next two years, Dr SP Gon Chowdhury, managing director of WBREDA said.
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