Solar Cells Info

Focus on growth through lower cost supplies and manufacturing will lead to phase out of module assembly at Frederick, MD, plant. Silicon casting, wafering, and cell manufacture to continue.
Frederick, MD, 31 March 2009
Source: BP Solar, press release
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9019567&contentId=7052169

BP Solar today announced plans to refocus its manufacturing activities globally, and to reduce its unit costs by 25 percent by the end of 2010. It will achieve this by accessing lower cost supplies, and by continuing to grow only its most competitive manufacturing worldwide.  “The decision is part of our long term strategy to grow our solar business by reducing the cost of solar power to that of conventional electricity delivered through a modern power grid, and in time without the need for government subsidy,” says Reyad Fezzani, CEO of BP Solar. (more…)

Lake Mary, Florida, 1 April 2009
Source: ASP press release/BusinessWire
http://www.pr-inside.com/advanced-solar-photonics-first-solar-r1157442.htm

Advanced Solar Photonics (ASP) is the cutting-edge developer of laser equipment for solar panel processing, thin-film solar cells, and commercial solar products for the solar industry. Our various technologies can increase production and efficiency, minimize waste, and in some cases, increase the overall efficiency of the PV cells. ASP is located in a 318,000 square foot headquarters in Lake Mary, Florida, employing an international team of technology driven professionals. (more…)

Innovative Solar Panels Feature Higher Module Output and Reduce Total Installation Costs
Dallas, TX — March 18, 2009
Source: SanYo Energy Corp. press release
http://us.sanyo.com/News/SANYO-Introduces-New-HIT-Power-N-Series-Solar-Panels

SANYO Energy (U.S.A.) Corporation, a subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO), a leading company for energy and environment, today introduces the HIT Power® N Series of solar panels featuring SANYO’s proprietary HIT® technology. The new series features the latest technological improvements including higher module output, lower voltage, space savings and lower installation costs that make the HIT Power® N Series the most efficient and competitive cost per kWh panels in the solar market today. The HIT Power® N Series solar panels will be available in North America from SANYO’s authorized representatives, including SunWize Technologies, Conergy and Focused Energy from April. (more…)

Source: DIGITIMES, Taipe, Michael McManus, 19 March 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20090319VL200.html

Although global solar panel production went up 48% worldwide to 5.6 gigawatts (GW) in 2008, market reserach firm The Information Network laments that the US is lagging in the market. In posing the question, “What’s worse, buying solar panels from Eurasia or oil from OPEC?” the market reserach firm noted that less than 14% of solar panel production – 750 megawatts (MW) – was produced in the US last year. (more…)

Fremont, CA, March 31, 2009
Source: Solyndra Inc. press release
http://www.solyndra.com/News/Press-Release-033109

Solyndra Inc., a manufacturer of proprietary photovoltaic (PV) systems designed to optimize solar electricity production on commercial rooftops, announced the completion and full operation of a 132 kWp system by SPG Solar, Inc., on the rooftop of Cinema West’s Livermore Cinemas in Livermore, CA. This project is one of many major commercial installations that have been completed or are underway with Solyndra PV systems in the US and Europe.    (more…)

Fremont, CA, March 20, 2009
Source: Solyndra Inc press release
http://www.solyndra.com/News/

Solyndra, Inc. announced today that it is the first company to receive an offer for a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  Solyndra, a Fremont, California-based manufacturer of innovative cylindrical photovoltaic systems, will use the proceeds of a $535 million loan from the U.S. Treasury’s Federal Financing Bank to expand its solar panel manufacturing capacity in California. (more…)

* European Patent Office revokes Swiss university’s patent
* Applied Materials had been accused of violating patent
SAN FRANCISCO, March 3, 2009
Source: Reuters-UK
(Reporting by Clare Baldwin; Editing by Edwin Chan and John Wallace)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUKN3142574820090331

The European Patent Office on Tuesday revoked a solar patent issued to a Swiss university in an apparent victory for chip gear-maker Applied Materials Inc (AMAT.O). The solar photovoltaic technology patent was issued to the University of Neuchatel and licensed exclusively to Oerlikon Corp (OERL.VX), a Swiss technology group, Applied Materials said. Oerlikon had alleged the patent was being violated by Germany’s SunFilm AG, a key customer of Applied Materials. (more…)

The company is closing a panel assembly factory in the United States and one in Spain. BP also plans to outsource panel production to others. This cost-cutting move is becoming trendy.
by: Ucilia Wang, March 31, 2009
Source: GreentechMedia.com
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/bp-solar-plans-to-hire-others-to-make-panels-5981.html

Outsourcing is becoming vogue in the solar equipment business. BP Solar is shutting down some of its production lines in the United States and Spain, and it is looking for manufacturers to produce panels using BP’s components and bearing BP’s brand. The company announced on Tuesday plans to close its solar panel assembly center in Maryland and said it would lay off 140 people out of a 600-person workforce. It plans to continue to manufacture other crystalline silicon solar equipment components at the Maryland complex. (more…)

by Solar Industry Mag Staff on Tuesday 24 March 2009
SOURCE: SANYO Energy Corp.
http://www.solarindustrymag.com/e107_plugins/
content/content_lt.php?content.2793

SANYO Energy (USA) Corp., a subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co. Ltd., has introduced the HIT Power N Series of solar panels featuring SANYO’s proprietary heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer (HIT) technology. The new series features the latest technological improvements, including higher module output, lower voltage, space savings and lower installation costs, the company says. The HIT Power N Series solar panels will be available in North America from SANYO’s authorized representatives, including SunWize Technologies, Conergy and Focused Energy, beginning in April. (more…)

Investment Could Lead to Thousands of New Jobs
Washington, DC – March 20, 2009
Source: US Dept of Energy, press release
http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7078.htm
Energy Secretary Steven Chu today offered a $535 million loan guarantee for Solyndra, Inc. to support the company’s construction of a commercial-scale manufacturing plant for its proprietary cylindrical solar photovoltaic panels. The company expects to create thousands of new jobs in the U.S. while deploying its solar panels across the U.S. and around the world. (more…)