Solar Cells Info

by Mami Akasaka, Tech-On!, April 15, 2009
Source: Tech-On English
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090417/168926/?ST=english_PRINT

The Japan Patent Office announced the results of its survey on trends in solar cell-related patent applications. According to the results, Japanese applicants took the lead in the area of silicon solar cells, while European applicants outpaced the others in the area of organic semiconductor solar cells.  About 7,970 solar cell-related patents were filed around the world during the period between 2000 and 2006. By nationality, Japanese applications accounted for 68.4%, far more than European (15.3%) and US (10.6%) applications. (more…)

Source: Electronics Newsweekly, April 22, 2009 /News from LexisNexis
http://www.controleng.com/articleXml/LN956741194.html

Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Spire Semiconductor, LLC, has been awarded an 18-month, $3,706,359 program by the Department of Energy s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), consisting of $2,960,850 in government funding and a $745,509 cost share. Under the contract, Spire  Semiconductor will develop next-generation manufacturing technology to produce 42% efficient III-V three junction tandem concentrator solar cells. (more…)

Shanghai, Apr 16, 2009
Source: Asiaport Daily News, April 16, 2009 /SolidState International
http://www.solid-state.com/display_news/176824/5/HOME/
Report:_China%27s_Qiangsheng_PV_making_5G_silicon_solar_cells

Qiangsheng Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd., a leading amorphous silicon solar cell producer of China, recently announced in Shanghai that it had started the mass production of the fifth-generation large amorphous thin-film silicon solar cells.  Within the two and a half years, the cost of its cell modules is expected to fall to USD 0.5 per watt . It means that the cost of on-grid electricity generated by solar power stations will step down to CNY 0.65 per kilowatt-hours (KWH), on par with that of on-grid electricity generated by wind farms. (more…)

The economic turmoil of the PV market in 2009 could actually turn into a more mature and orderly supply chain for the worldwide solar industry when growth returns, iSuppli predicts.
by Staff — Semiconductor International, 17 April 2009
http://www.semiconductor.net/article/CA6652492.html

What does not kill me makes me stronger. Although 19th century German philosopher Nietzsche probably did not have our global photovoltaics (PV) market in mind when he penned those words, they are nonetheless applicable, according to the latest report from iSuppli Corp. (El Segundo, Calif.). The economic turmoil of the PV market in 2009 could actually turn into a more mature and orderly supply chain for the worldwide solar industry when growth returns, the market researcher said today. (more…)

by Rick Merritt, EE Times, SAN JOSE, Ca, 17 April 2009
http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=216600243

A steep drop in sales for solar photovoltaic systems this year will create a shakeout, pruning back an overbuilt industry, according to one market research company. Reductions in government subsidies in Spain–a big market driver last year–are a primary cause of the downturn, but the company projects a return to strong growth in 2011.  Worldwide installations of solar photovoltaic systems will decline to 3.5 gigawatts in 2009, down 32 percent from 5.2 GW in 2008, according to iSuppli (El Segundo, Calif.). In addition, average selling prices per solar watt will decline by 12 percent, leading to a 40.2 percent plunge to $18.2 billion in global revenues for PV installations in 2009, down from $30.5 billion in 2008. (more…)

By Chris Gaylord, 14 April 2009
Source: Christian Science Monitor
http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/04/14/solar-power-captured-in-space-beamed-to-earth/

West Coast energy giant PG&E unveiled a plan this week to put solar panels in orbit and wirelessly beam energy down to Earth by 2016.  Satellite solar cells would capture the sun’s rays 24 hours a day, without fear of cloudy mornings or dark nights. The orbiters then convert this solar power to radio-frequencies that transmit to ground stations in Fresno County, Calif. Once received, the radio energy would change into electricity and flow into the grid. (more…)

By Justin Smith, 14 April 2009
Source: EnergyCurrent.com
http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=3&storyid=17374

When talking about solar cells, the key figures that are repeatedly brought up are cost and the efficiency of any particular cell. While the cost of a cell is, on the surface at least, fairly straightforward, efficiency can be a bit harder to pin down at first.  Basically, the efficiency of a solar cell is measured by how much electricity is converted from the sunlight that hits it; the energy conversion efficiency of a solar cell is the percentage of sunlight converted by the cell into electricity. In traditional monocrystalline, multicrystalline and thin film cells, most of the light is not converted into electricity, but is either reflected, turned into heat or passes right through the cell. (more…)

JUNO BEACH, Fla., Mar 31, 2009
Source: http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/energy/
fpl-equip-florida-schools-generation-solar-education-stations-teach-students/

Florida Power & Light Company will install cutting-edge solar power arrays at six schools in its service territory to help teach future generations about the benefits of renewable energy. Each school receiving a ‘Next Generation Solar Education Station’ will be able to generate emissions-free electricity and provide students with a hands-on tool to learn how solar power works. (more…)

MIT research finds that many modern manufacturing techniques use more energy than traditional industries
Sourcer: BusinessGreen.com Staff, BusinessGreen, 31 Mar 2009
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2239473/manufacturing-study-questions

Many solar panels are made using “spectacularly inefficient” manufacturing techniques that could undermine their environmental benefits, according to new research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  The study, released last week, found that many of the cutting edge processes used to make computer chips, solar cells and nanomaterials use an “alarming” amount of energy compared to established manufacturing techniques. (more…)

Chinese solar companies got a huge boost in the markets after a massive government subsidy program was announced. But is the uptick justified? Analysts have differing views.
by: Jeff St. John, March 27, 2009
Source: GreenTechMedia.com
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/
china-pledges-huge-solar-subsidies-5964.html

The Chinese government on Thursday announced what some industry analysts called the most aggressive and generous solar power subsidy in the world, giving Chinese solar companies a big market boost amid a generally gloomy outlook for short-term growth.  China’s solar subsidy plan would offer 20 yuan (about $2.94) per watt for solar photovoltaic installations greater than 50 kilowatts. That would essentially cover half the cost of entire installations at today’s low solar panel prices, according to an RBC Capital Markets analyst note. (more…)