Solar Cells Info

Source: DIGITIMES, Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, 23 March 2009]
http://www.digitimes.com/print/a20090323PD200.html

Motech Industries, a Taiwan-based maker of crystalline silicon solar cells, is expanding its capacity of poly-Si wafer slicing from an annual level equivalent to 100MWp currently to 160MWp, with the expansion to be completed in mid-2009, according to the company. In order to secure supply of wafers for solar cell production, Motech has installed an annual capacity of 100MWp for ingot growing and slicing, the company indicated. For the additional annual wafer-slicing capacity of 60MWp, Motech will rely on outside supply of ingots, the company said. (more…)

Source: MOPS, Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES, 2 April 2009

E-Ton Solar Tech, a Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell maker, has released audited 2008 financial figures, recording unconsolidated revenues of NT$13.59 billion (US$414 million), gross margin of 13.47%, net profit of NT$1.21 billion and net earnings per share (EPS) of NT$12.07. E-Ton plans to expand its annual production capacity to 440MWp in 2009 from 320MWp in 2008, according to the company. E-Ton turned out 92MWp of solar cells in 2008 and expects to increase output to 300MWp in 2009.

by Hiroshi Idegawa, Nikkei Monozukuri /Mar 24, 2009
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090324/167611/

Toray Industries Inc developed a new polymer donor material, a main material for organic thin-film solar cells, and realized an organic thin-film solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 5.5%. The conversion efficiency is higher than the 5.15%, the highest efficiency that has so far been announced in academic conferences. The company plans to further improve the material performance, aiming to commercialize an organic thin-film solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 7% until 2015. (more…)

Asia’s dominance in producing solar cells and panels is expected to grow as more European and American companies set up factories while Asian companies do the same, says a new solar report from Greentech Media.
by: Ucilia Wang, February 12, 2009
Source: GreenTechMedia.com
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/go-east-solar-companies-5679.html

Asia already has more solar equipment manufacturing capacity than other regions in the world. That dominance will likely grow.  By 2012, Asia (including Japan) could produce 82 percent of the world’s crystalline silicon solar cells, up from 71 percent in 2008, according to a new GTM Research report, “PV Technology, Production and Cost, 2009 Forecast: The Anatomy of a Shakeout.”  The news might not be embraced by those in the United States hoping to ensure that federal legislation is in place to help solar companies make their products in the U.S. instead of abroad. (more…)

Suntech’s Shi Zhengrong built one of the world’s biggest solar-power companies. Now, with economies slowing, he faces the challenge of a lifetime.
By Bill Powell, senior writer, February 11, 2009:
Source: CNNMoney.com/FORTUNE
http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/11/news/international/powell_shi.fortune/

On a chilly Saturday afternoon in mid-January, Shi Zhengrong, casually dressed and smiling as if he didn’t have a care in the world, walked into the stunning new building that is now the headquarters of Suntech Power Holdings, the company he founded and built from scratch just eight years ago.  (more…)

Tokyo, 10 Feb 2009
Source: AFP/Google News
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/
ALeqM5iMqIODD8BGFa6g9cW_KIaf6qT7Qw

Sanyo Electric Co. said Tuesday it plans to build a new solar cell plant in Japan, as it aims to double its production of the technology to meet growing demand for clean energy.  Japanese companies are continuing to invest in the development of environmentally friendly products, vying for a share of a market they hope will buck the recession. (more…)

Tokyo, January 23, 2009
Source: Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd press release
http://www.sanyo.com/news/2009/01/23-1en.html

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. and Nippon Oil Corporation today announced that they have decided to launch a joint company for the production and sale of thin-film solar panels, to be named SANYO ENEOS Solar Co., Ltd. (more…)

Shanghai, Feb 12, 2009
Source: JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd press release
http://investors.jasolar.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=208005&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1256176&highlight=

JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: JASO), a leading manufacturer of high-performance solar products, today announced that it has signed a supply contract with BP Solar International, Inc., pursuant to the broader strategic cooperation agreement signed with BP Alternative Energy Holdings Limited, announced last November.  Under this new agreement, JA Solar will supply monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cells to BP Solar in 2009, with an initial volume of 175 MW and with the potential to expand to 360 MW. JA Solar is already delivering product under its existing supply agreement with BP. (more…)

Tokyo, Jan 23, 2009, AFP/Google
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/
ALeqM5jt9WDoiC4m5dFViatAcn7z5zntkA

Japan’s Sanyo Electric Co. and Nippon Oil Corp. said Friday they would collaborate to produce thin-film solar cells for large-scale power generation.  The 50-50 joint venture will spend roughly 20 billion yen (226 million dollars) to build a factory in Japan that can annually produce enough solar cells to produce electricity worth 80 megawatts. The venture should have capacity of one gigawatt by March 2016 and two gigawatts by March 2021, when the companies estimate the solar cell market will be worth 10 trillion yen. (more…)

•  To buy up to 60 Megawatts of solar cells
•  ‘A true strategic relationship with strong mutual benefit’
Roseville, January 5, 2009
Source: CentralValleyBusinessTimes.com
http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=10774

Roseville-based Solar Power Inc. (OTCBB: SOPW) says it has signed a contract with JA Solar Holding Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) for up to 60 Megawatts of polycrystalline photovoltaic cells.  Solar Power says it needs the cells to meet increased customer demand in Europe, Asia, and for turnkey systems in the United States. The cells will go into SPI’s solar modules.  Based in Hebei, China, JA Solar is one of the world’s largest producers of high-performance solar cells. (more…)