Solar Cells Info

Source: Semiconductor Today, 9 April 2008
http://www.semiconductor-today.com/news_items/2008/APRIL/SUNOVIA_090408.htm

Renewable energy firm Sunovia Energy Technologies Inc of Sarasota, FL and EPIR Technologies Inc of Bolingbrook, IL, USA, which develops II-VI materials and devices for infrared (IR) sensor and imaging in applications including night-vision, missile tracking and space exploration, say they have developed new solar cell materials that they believe will rival the performance of the most efficient existing multi-junction solar cells, but at significantly lower cost. (more…)

Israeli energy startup Zenith Solar is pioneering a “concentrated solar power” method that is up to five times more efficient than standard technology
by Neal Sandler, Business Week Europe /March 26, 2008
Source: Businessweek.com
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/mar2008/
gb20080326_485582.htm?chan=globalbiz_europe+index+page_companies

Rooftops all over Israel look strikingly similar: More than 1 million households in the nation of 7.1 million people have solar panels that produce hot water—a relatively simple technology that gained popularity after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, when oil prices shot up sharply. As of the early 1990s, all new residential buildings were required by the government to install solar water-heating systems. (more…)

Vancouver, B.C., April 1, 2008
Source: Xantrex Technology Inc press release
http://www.xantrex.com/web/did/1802/readnews.asp

Xantrex Technology Inc. (TSX:XTX) announced today it has received an order valued at over US$5.5 million from a new customer, Nuevas Energias del Sureste S.A., for Xantrex’s GT3.8 kilowatt (kW) grid-tie solar inverters.  The Xantrex solar inverters will be installed at three sites in Spain: a four and three megawatt (MW) site in the region of Alhama and a three MW site in the region of Murcia, for a total of 10MW.  The delivery of the Xantrex GT3.8 kW grid-tie solar inverters will take place over the next six months. (more…)

Vancouver, B.C., March 18, 2008
Source: Xantrex Technologies Inc, press release
http://www.xantrex.com/web/did/1792/readnews.asp

Xantrex Technology Inc. (TSX:XTX) announced today it has received a US$2.4 million purchase order for grid-tie commercial solar inverters from a leading North American solar systems integrator.  The order is for a combination of the Xantrex GT100 (100 kW) and GT250 (250 kW) three phase solar inverters which will be installed at several commercial facilities.  The shipments will take place over the first and second quarter of 2008. (more…)

New Company Will Develop A Global Platform Of Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Projects
Arlington, VA, and New York, NY, March 25, 2008
Source: Riverstone Holdings press release
http://www.riverstonellc.com/news/index.asp?d_News_ID=88

The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) and Riverstone Holdings LLC today announced that they have committed up to $1 billion as part of a new joint venture to develop a global platform of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. Under terms of the agreement, AES, one of the world’s largest global power companies, and Riverstone, a New York-based energy and power-focused private equity firm, will each provide up to $500 million of capital over five years to invest in PV solar projects around the world. (more…)

Source: SemiconductorToday.com / 19 March 2008
http://www.semiconductor-today.com/news_items/2008/MARCH/SUNOVIA_190308.htm

Sunovia Energy Technologies Inc of Sarasota, FL, USA and infrared sensor and imaging firm EPIR Technologies Inc of Bolingbrook, IL, USA say that they are collaborating with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETH Zurich) on the further development of cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells.  The collaboration provides the firms with key experience and knowledge related to solar cell development and manufacturing, and should expedite product development efforts, specifically involving the development of CdTe thin-film solar cells including the use of flexible plastic substrates. (more…)

Motonobu Kawai, Nikkei Microdevices / Mar 21, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080321/149296/

Mitsubishi Electric Corp scored a world record conversion efficiency rate of 18.6% in a multicrystalline Si solar cell. The cell uses the company’s new technology called “honeycomb texture,” which was unveiled in February 2008. The efficiency rate was measured at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, a public standards agency in Japan. (more…)

Rosemead, CA, Mar 27, 2008
Source: Southern California Edison press release /BusinessWire
http://www.edison.com/investors/ir_news.asp?id=7003

Southern California Edison (SCE) today launched the nation’s largest solar cell installation, a project that will place 250 megawatts of advanced photovoltaic generating technology on 65 million square feet of roofs of Southern California commercial buildings – enough power to serve approximately 162,000 homes.  “These are the kinds of big ideas we need to meet California’s long-term energy and climate change goals,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “I urge others to follow in their footsteps. If commercial buildings statewide partnered with utilities to put this solar technology on their rooftops, it would set off a huge wave of renewable energy growth.” (more…)

Erfurt, 28 March 2008
Source: Ersol press release
http://www.ersol.de/en/newsmediarelations/pressreleases/pressrelease/
news/1206640093/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=35&cHash=c9d9e3dc6f

With the publication of its audited financial statements for 2007 ersol Solar Energy AG (ersol) today confirms its preliminary revenue figures (2007: € 160.2 million, previous year: € 127.8 million). The operating result (EBIT) grew by 10.1% to € 22.3 million (previous year: € 20.3 million). Notwithstanding substantial expansion activities, in 2007 the Company thus posted the highest turnover and best operating results in its 10-year history. The EBIT margin stood at 13.9%, compared to 15.9% in the previous year. Due to the strong increase in the negative financial result (€ -8.9 million) there was a decline in the profit after taxes compared to the previous year (2007: € 8.7 million, previous year: € 12.3 million). Earnings per share – diluted by the capital increase in summer 2007 and reduced by increased expenditure for interest and currency hedging transactions – were only € 0.85. In 2006 this figure was € 1.25 and thus 47.1 % higher. A significant increase is anticipated for 2008.
(more…)

* Major contract covering the supply of metallurgical silicon concluded
* Establishment of an in-house wafer production in Malaysia
* Group to start manufacturing ingots
* Further expansion of thin-film technology activities decided
* New business area: planning and development of large-scale PV facilities
* Forecasts for fiscal 2008 and 2009 revised upwards

Bitterfeld-Wolfen, 27 March 2008
Source: Q-Cells.com press release
http://www.qcells.de/cmadmin_2_542_0.html

Today, on 27 March 2008, Q-Cells AG the world’s largest manufacturer of solar cells, presented its annual report for fiscal 2007 at a balance sheet press conference in Frankfurt/Main. The Company has confirmed its provisional figures.
With a production volume of 389.2 MWp, Q-Cells became the world’s largest manufacturer of solar cells last year. Sales rose by 59 % to EUR 858.9 million (EUR 539.5 million). Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) grew by 52 % to EUR 197.0 million (EUR 129.4 million). The EBIT margin, at 23 %, was therefore maintained at the high level of the previous year. Net income without the income contribution from the stake in Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC) amounted to EUR 127.2 million (EUR 87.7 million). Total net income stood at EUR 148.4 million in 2007, which is an
increase of 69% on the figure for the previous year. (more…)