Solar Cells Info

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…)

New Solar Electric System Using Kyocera Photovoltaic Modules Tests Above 100 Percent of Expected Projections
Scottsdaloe, AZ, July 15, 2008
Source: Kyocera Solar press release/BusinessWire

Kyocera Solar, Inc. and American Solar Electric, Inc. today announced that a recently unveiled 19.2 kilowatt solar electric power system has tested at 106 percent of expected projections. The new system — independently tested by Phoenix’s utility company, Salt River Project (SRP) — is installed at the Integrity Building Corp (IBC) headquarters in Mesa, Ariz., and has allowed the small business to save thousands of dollars on electricity. (more…)

New Funding Increases Access to Renewable Energy through CCEF’s Affordable Housing Initiative
Rocky Hill, Conn., July 9, 2008
Source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?cid=2950&id=53014

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) board today announced authorization for an additional $2.5 million for CCEF’s Affordable Housing Initiative.  The Affordable Housing Initiative is an incentive program that helps make solar photovoltaic (PV) installations an attractive, affordable option for developers of both small and large-scale affordable housing projects.  Lise Dondy, president of CCEF, said, “We are excited to be rolling out this program on a large scale after our successful pilot.  The additional funding will allow us to make the program incentives available to more developers across the state.”  Dondy added, “As a result, more developers and tenants will now be able to enjoy the benefits of solar PV installations.” (more…)

Ewing, N.J., July 14, 2008
Source: BusinessWire/MarketWatch.com
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/worldwater–solar-technologies-announces/
story.aspx?guid=%7B60E2AA61-A604-48B7-BE69-EDD16FBB3178%7D&dist=hppr

WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp., developer and marketer of proprietary high-power solar systems, today announced that it has begun work on several solar installations for Ocean City. The systems, consisting of roof mounts on the Cultural Arts and Community Center, the new Public Works Complex building, the Vehicle Maintenance Center, the Sports and Civic Center and the Firehouse, are anticipated to produce nearly 550,000 kilowatt-hours of energy in their first year. Project completion is expected by the fourth quarter of 2008. (more…)

by David R. Baker, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer, July 15, 2008
Source: SFGate.com
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/14/BUNL11OVEF.DTL

California has added enough solar power to its electrical grid this year to light a small town, according to an update released Monday on the state’s solar rebate program.  Those rebates, which go to businesses and homeowners who put solar panels on their roofs, have funded enough new installations this year to generate 59.4 megawatts of electricity, about enough to juice up 44,550 homes. All told, that’s more solar power than was installed in all of 2006, according to the update from the California Public Utilities Commission.
(more…)

by Matthew L. Wald, July 8, 2008
Source: International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/08/business/solar.php

A Michigan company, Energy Conversion Devices, planned to announce Tuesday that it would provide the solar electric system for what it says will be the world’s largest rooftop array, on a General Motors assembly plant in Zaragoza, Spain. The project will be 12 megawatts, a huge number in a field where most arrays are measured in kilowatts.  Solar cell arrays on houses are commonly a handful of kilowatts, or thousandths of a megawatt. On big commercial buildings, installations of one or two megawatts have become common. A one-megawatt installation will run about 1,000 window air-conditioners simultaneously, at least as long as the sun is shining. (more…)

Tracking Technology to Generate Solar Power at Shopping Centers, Landfills, Open Spaces
San Diego, CA, July 11, 2008
Source: MarketWatch.com
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/harnessing-sun-sdge-launches-largest/
story.aspx?guid=%7B2F5450D4-BB1A-468F-B813-3BECCCA20A60%7D&dist=hppr

Joined by state officials and local community leaders, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced plans for the largest solar power installation in San Diego. SDG&E’s program is aimed at increasing adoption of solar power among San Diego-area commercial customers, municipalities and institutions — a key sector that can support more substantial generating sites. SDG&E plans the largest concentration in San Diego of advanced, solar-tracking technology, with an initial target of developing 70 to 80 megawatts of solar electricity, about two-thirds of which would be utility-owned and, the remainder, customer- or third-party owned. Combined, the installations could be enough to power more than 50,000 homes. (more…)

Jiangsu, China, June 30, 2008
Source: Canadian Solar Inc, press release/PRNewswire
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196781&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1170437

Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: CSIQ) today announced it signed a ten-year supply contract with LDK Solar, a leading manufacturer of multi-crystalline and mono- crystalline solar wafers. LDK has been a key supplier to CSI since summer of 2006. This new ten-year supply contract is in addition to the three-year supply contract signed between CSI and LDK in October 2007. LDK expects to begin the ramp up of its in-house polysilicon manufacturing project in the second half of 2008. (more…)

Jiangsu, China, July 7,, 2008
Source: Canadian Solar Inc, press release/PRNewswire
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196781&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1172170

Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: CSIQ) today announced it signed five new sales agreements in Italy and the Czech Republic in the past three weeks. The customers covered under these agreements are WSW in the Czech Republic, and Arco Energy, AC Service, Ravano Green Power and Albatec of Italy.  The total volume of shipments for 2008 for the above mentioned new agreements totals 14.9 MW and reflects sales of CSI’s regular module products. The sales will be realized in the second half of 2008 and are in addition to existing shipments to customers in Germany, Spain, USA, Korea and China. (more…)

Source:
http://www.globalsolar.com/

Global Solar has developed a proprietary process for manufacturing (“roll-roll” manufacturing) thin-film Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) photovoltaic (PV) modules. Unlike traditional solar panels that are rigid, heavy and fragile, Global Solar’s thin-film solar modules are lightweight, flexible and durable. While other companies produce CIGS on glass, Global Solar is the only company with CIGS on flexible materials. (more…)