Solar Cells Info

by Max Jarman – Dec. 13, 2008
Source; The Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/
articles/2008/12/13/20081213biz-amtech1213.html

Substantial growth in sales of its solar-cell production equipment led to a much improved revenue and profit picture reported Wednesday by Amtech Systems Inc.  The Tempe-based producer of equipment used to make semiconductors and solar power cells said its revenue more than doubled to $26.8 million in its fourth quarter that ended Sept. 30. (more…)

Source: Azomaterials.com, Dec 18, 2008
http://www.azom.com/news.asp?newsID=14993

Dow Corning Corporation announced today several billion dollars of investment to provide critical materials to the fast-growing solar technology industry. “Dow Corning and our Hemlock Semiconductor joint ventures hope to create a viable solar industry that produces new, high paying jobs, clean power technologies and a revitalized economy,” said Stephanie A. Burns, Dow Corning’s chairman, president and CEO. “We’re committing our resources, know-how and technology because we are confident that solar technology represents a tremendous opportunity for both clean energy and economic growth.” (more…)

Source: TradingMarkets.com, December 21, 2008
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2095252/

Nippon Yusen KK (TSE:9101) and Nippon Oil Corp. (TSE:5001) held a ceremony Friday to flip the switch on an oceangoing car carrier powered in part by solar cells.  The ship can transport as many as 6,200 cars, and its maiden voyage will be to the Middle East hauling cars made by Toyota Motor Corp. (TSE:7203). The deck of the carrier is fitted with 328 large solar modules which together can supply as much as 40kw of power. Nippon Oil developed the solar power system. This is the world’s first large ship to use solar cells as an integral power source. (more…)

Taipei, Taiwan,Oct 25, 2008 (Reuters)
Source: Auriasolar.com

Taiwan’s E-Ton Solar has joined with Lite-On Technology Corp, Hermes-Epitek Corp. and MiTAC-SYNNEX Group to establish a firm to make thin-film solar cells, the company said late on Thursday. E-Ton and photovoltaic parts maker Lite-On will be the largest shareholders with 23.9 percent each in the company,which will have an initial capacity of up to 60 megawatts (MW) and have the manufacturing facilities fully installed by theend of 2008, the company said in an e-mail statement. (more…)

Santa Fe, NM, Dec 16, 2008
Source: Signet Solar press release
http://www.signetsolar.com/pdf/Signet_Solar_Dec_16_2008_eng.pdf

Governor Bill Richardson today announced Signet Solar will build the company’s first North American solar panel production facility in Belen. The first phase of the plant will bring 200 high-wage jobs to the state and is scheduled to begin operations in 2010. Signet’s long-term plans call for expansion and the creation of a total of 600 jobs.  “As Governor, I’ve been dedicated to making New Mexico a national leader of renewable energy and the creation of green jobs,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “At a time of economic uncertainty, this project will create hundreds of jobs and reaffirm New Mexico as a clean energy state and major player in our nation’s effort build a new clean energy economy.” (more…)

Three recent projects complete BP Solar’s portion of pilot project portfolio
Frederick, MD, 18 December 2008
Source: BP Solar USA press release
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9019567&contentId=7049862

BP Solar today announced the completion of its solar power construction program for Wal-Mart. The company recently completed construction of three sites in California, including the 493.7 kilowatt (kW) solar power system at the Sam’s Club in La Habra, California, as well as systems at Wal-Mart Super Centers in Palm Springs (605.9 kW) and Beaumont (675.2 kW). The three systems totalling over 1.7 MW mark the final installations of BP Solar’s 4.1 MW commitment to Wal-Mart as part of the retailer’s solar pilot project. (more…)

San Francisco, US,  December 22, 2008
Source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54364

Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. announced that it has won a bid to supply, design and install building integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV) with a total capacity of 3 megawatts (MW) on the China and Theme Pavilions at the World Expo Shanghai 2010. The projects, which will be the largest BIPV installations in China, are scheduled to be completed by September 2009. Our selection underscores Suntech’s position as a global brand and world leader in the solar industry as well as our leading system integration capability in China.” — Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Chairman and CEO, Suntech. (more…)

TOKYO, Dec 21, 2008
Source: Reuters.com
Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Tomasz Janowski
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUST26351220081221

Japan’s Kaneka Corp (4118.T) plans to spend more than $1.1 billion by 2015 to boost its solar cell production capacity 14-fold to meet growing demand, the Nikkei business daily said on Sunday. As part of the expansion plan, the chemicals maker will build a $224-million solar cell plant in Europe by 2011, the newspaper said. (more…)

Largest CPV Deal in EU with Generation Capacity to Power City of 40,000 Residents
Mountain View, CA, November 3, 2008
Source: SolFocus.com press release
http://www.solfocus.com/news_file/20081103144613_solfocus-and-empe-solar-sign-deal.pdf

SolFocus, a provider of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar energy solutions, today announced the signing of a $103 million (€80M) agreement with EMPE Solar to install over 10 megawatts (MW) of CPV solar energy projects in several sites across southern Spain by the end of 2010. SolFocus’ CPV systems use a proven combination of high‐efficiency PV cells and advanced optics to provide high solar energy yields at competitive costs for commercial, industrial, and utility applications. This project will be the largest deployment of CPV technology in Europe, and will be capable of meeting the domestic energy requirements for a city of approximately 40,000 residents. (more…)

SolFocus 1100S slated for medium- to utility-scale installations
Mountain View, Calif., November 13, 2008
Source: SolFocus.com press release
http://www.solfocus.com/news_file/20081113075827_sf-pr-sf1100-fin-111108.pdf

SolFocus today announced its latest Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) solution – the SolFocus 1100S. This new CPV system achieves panel efficiencies of 25% resulting in systems which produce the highest energy density and highest energy yield of photovoltaic systems available today. SolFocus customer EMPE Solar will deploy the SolFocus 1100S in its recently announced 10 megawatt utility-scale project, expected to be the largest deployment of CPV technology in Europe. (more…)