Solar Cells Info

* ErSol sets the first machines in place in new thin film production
* Nominal capacity of 40 MWp planned as early as end of 2007

source: ErSol Solar Energy AG / press release 18 Dec 2006
http://www.ersol.de/en/pm.php?type=pm&id=125&year=2006

The first production machines were today brought into place at ErSol Thin Film GmbH, a subsidiary of the ErSol Group, at its new factory for amorphous thin film modules in Erfurt. This marks the start of the tool-move-in phase for production facilities following a five-month construction period. “The first machine to be installed will be the ‘Kai 1200’ type PECVD coating plant built by Swiss Oerlikon Solar, a global leader in thin film and vacuum technology. In future this will enable us to deposit the amorphous silicon layer on the glass substrate,” Dr. Lutz Mittelstädt, Managing Director of ErSol Thin Film GmbH, enthusiastically describes this first stage in the construction of the new facility at the Erfurt Freight Traffic Centre. Machines and systems are due to be set in place in a further five phases in the coming months. These include the so-called TCO (transparent conductive oxide) systems, laser cutting systems and related systems for the production of thin film solar modules.

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By Julie M. McKinnon, Toledo Blade Business writer /February 14, 2007
Source: Toledo Blade
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070214/BUSINESS03/702140390

Toledo-born First Solar Inc. was in the black for the first time in its two-decade history last year, with profits of $4 million, or 7 cents a share. The Phoenix solar panel manufacturer, which has its sole factory in Perrysburg Township, had sales of $135 million last year. That was an increase of 181 percent from 2005, when sales were $48.1 million and the firm had a loss of $6.5 million.

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World’s largest marine retailer selects superior products tailored for boaters

Source. ICP Solar /press release Feb 12 2007
http://www.icpsolar.com/4105/news_details.asp?news_id=20

Montreal, Canada, February 12, 2007 – ICP Solar Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: ICPR), a developer, manufacturer and marketer of solar cells and products, announced today that it has expanded its partnership with West Marine, the world’s largest specialty retailer of boating supplies and apparel, by enlarging the range of Sunsei™ Brand solar charger products available at West Marine stores.
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System Gains Global Attention from Taiwanese Delegation

Rocklin, CA. 08 February 2007 /
Press Release from SPG Solar, Inc.

The Rocklin Police Department in conjunction with the City of Rocklin announced the commissioning of its new 143kW AC dual solar energy system and carport structure for its state-of-the-art facility. The system gained international attention after a visit from the Magistrate of Tainan County, Taiwan, Su Huan-Chih, who was accompanied by a delegation of Tainan government officials, investors, and members of the Taiwan press. The Rocklin Police Department hosted a tour for the delegation on Monday that showcased its municipal application of renewable energy through its solar carport.
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Tucson/Berlin, January 25, 2007
source: Globar Solar/ press release

Global Solar Energy, Inc., has announced that it is to invest approximately € 30 million to set up a production facility for thin-film solar cells in Germany. The facility, which is to be built at the Berlin-Adlershof science and technology park, will have in two steps a production capacity of round about 30 megawatts. Production is scheduled to commence at the Berlin facility in the first half of 2008. The company also announced that capacity at its site in Tucson, Arizona, is to be expanded from its current level of 4 megawatts to 40 megawatts.

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By Yung Kim,
NEW YORK (Reuters) /Wednesday, February 07, 2007
source: Canada.com
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=70d2fa2a-60de-4959-a6cb-6eacc636c00d&k=82633

Stock of China’s JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. , a maker of solar cells, rose as much as 30 percent in its U.S. market debut on Wednesday, boosted by a sunny outlook for alternative energy, analysts said. The American Depository shares of JA Solar opened up 27 percent at $19.06 and rose as much as 30 percent to $19.50 on Nasdaq. Share prices slipped in late trading, closing at $17.80, a rise of 18.7 percent.
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Suntech  share price falls 5% on news of the issue, which is marketed with a conversion premium of up to 30%.

By Anette Jönsson /8 February 2007
Source: FinanceAsia.com
http://www.financeasia.com/article.aspx?CIaNID=45536
Suntech Power intends to raise $300 million from the sale of five-year convertible bonds which it will use partly to finance an expansion of its production lines and to repay a bridge loan obtained in connection with the August acquisition of Japan’s MSK Corp. Marketing of the bonds began after the close of New York trading on Tuesday and the pricing will be determined at the end of trading tonight (February 8). The bonds are convertible into Suntech’s Nasdaq-listed American Depositary Shares or into cash or a combination of cash and shares, at the option of the issuer, according to a company release.
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Source: Trina Solar press release /8 Feb 2007
http://www.trinasolar.com/front/en/news.php?newid=16

Changzhou, China – February 8th, 2007 — Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) (“Trina Solar” or the “Company”), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products based in Changzhou, China, announced today that it has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Q-Cells AG (“Q-Cells”), the largest independent solar cell manufacturer in the world.

Under this strategic cooperation agreement, Trina Solar will supply Q-Cells with at least 18MW of high-quality monocrystalline wafers which will be processed into high efficiency cells for Trina Solar’s module assembly facility.  The size of this contract is sufficient for Trina Solar to meet its current 2007 cell requirements while it ramps up its solar cell manufacturing lines.  Furthermore, Q-Cells will benefit from this strategic agreement by filling additional capacity in its rapidly expanding cell lines in Thalheim, Germany.  In addition to the commercial agreement, Q-Cells will provide technical assistance to Trina Solar during the ramp up of the Trina Solar cell lines.
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Source: Trina Solar press release Feb 1, 2007
http://www.trinasolar.com/front/en/news.php?newid=15

Changzhou, China – February 1, 2007 – Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) (“Trina Solar” or the “Company”), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products based in Changzhou, China, announced today that it has signed a long-term supply agreement for polysilicon with DC Chemical, one of the leading chemical companies in Korea “DCC”). DCC has agreed to supply polysilicon to Trina Solar over a seven-year period with a total contract value estimated at over US$120M and with shipments expected to begin in 2009.
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Source: Trina Solar press release /Jan 31, 2007
http://www.trinasolar.com/front/en/news.php?newid=14

Changzhou, China – January 31, 2007 — Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) (“Trina Solar” or “the Company”), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products based in Changzhou, China, announced today that it has entered into a long-term supply agreement with Wacker Polysilicon, the polysilicon division of Wacker Chemie AG (“WACKER”). Under this supply agreement, the polysilicon division of Wacker Chemie AG has agreed to supply Trina Solar with high purity polysilicon over a 6 year period beginning in 2009. The overall supply from this contract will allow Trina Solar to produce over 150MW of modules during this period. The financial details and the volumes of the agreement have not been disclosed.
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