Solar Cells Info

Focus on improving Solar Cell Manufacturers costs and efficiencies
Albuqerque, N.M. /August 3, 2007
Source: Surfect.com press release
http://www.surfect.com/Download/Solar_PR.pdf

Surfect Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: SUFH.OB), announced today that its subsidiary, Surfect Technologies, Inc., a design and manufacturing company offering an innovative single-cell electroplating tool and process for the semiconductor industry has announced a new development program for addressing the requirements of the growing solar cell plating and module packaging industry. Surfect is targeting solar cell suppliers to develop advanced, lower cost interconnect and module packaging technologies leveraging their semiconductor high volume manufacturing experience. Surfect’s solar program will immediately address technology and tools for improving the efficiency and costs for producing solar cells. Surfect’s experience with thin wafer and wafer scale packaging technology should enable more innovative and cost-effective solar products.
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Bangalore, 1 Aug, 2007
Source: The Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2247968.cms

BANGALORE: India may set up a 2,500 tonne polysilicon complex, estimated to cost more than Rs 1,000 crore, to give an impetus to the solar energy sector, a key Government official said.  Bangalore-headquartered Bharat Electronics Limited is expected to be the major player in promoting the facility, Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India, Dr R Chidambaram said. (more…)

Source: photonics.com /August 2007
http://www.photonics.com/content/spectra/2007/August/news/88445.aspx

Organic solar cells that convert 6.5 percent of incoming light into usable power have been created with a design approach that incorporates two multilayered parts that act together to boost output.  Although organic solar cells have been around for years, their relatively low conversion efficiencies — in the neighborhood of 5 percent — have been an obstacle to widespread commercial use.
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Tim Hayes, Optics.org / Jul 24, 2007
Source:
http://optics.org/cws/article/research/30632

Linking two organic solar cells with different absorption characteristics allows a wider range of the spectrum to be used.   A US-Korea research team has developed organic solar cells with a power-conversion efficiency of 6.5% at illuminations of 200 milliwatts/cm2, compared with the 5% or less they claim to have previously been attained by polymer cell structures (Science, 317, 222). (more…)

New 70 Megawatt Devans plant will help fill orders
By Martin Luttrell TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
Marlboro, July 26, 2007
source: telegram.com
http://www.telegram.com/article/20070726/NEWS/707260389/1002/BUSINESS

As Evergreen Solar Inc. ramps up manufacturing capacity for production of its solar cells, its chief executive officer said the additional orders will put the company on the path to profitability.  Speaking yesterday to about a dozen shareholders at the company’s annual meeting at the Marriott Courtyard hotel, CEO and President Richard M. Feldt said that groundbreaking for a 70-megawatt Devens plant will occur next month, and if work can continue inside the building over the winter, production will begin there next summer.  “In the next year we could break even, and even make money in the following year,” he said.
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SAN JOSE, Calif., July 18, 2007
Source: SunPower Corp. press release
http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=254750

SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR) today announced that it has signed a 10-year silicon supply agreement with Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation with deliveries beginning in 2010. The silicon supplied by this agreement is expected to support more than two gigawatts of solar cell production by SunPower at planned silicon utilization rates over that period.
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1.9 Kilowatt SunPower Solar Electric Systems Included as Standard Feature
SANTA ROSA, Calif., July 25, 2007
Source: SunPower Corp. press release
http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=256300

Homebuilder Hugh Futrell Corporation and SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR), a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today announced the opening of Bridge Trail at The North Village, Sonoma County’s first solar-electric new home community.  Each of the 43 homes at Bridge Trail features a 1.9 kilowatt SunPower rooftop solar panel system, which is expected to save homeowners 50 percent to 75 percent on their monthly electric bills. Additionally, the solar electric power systems qualify homebuyers for a one-time federal tax credit of up to $2,000. Over 30 years, each Bridge Trail home will offset the production of 39,500 pounds of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to planting 30 acres of trees or not driving 49,000 miles on California’s highways.
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Philippines President Macapagal Arroyo to Inaugurate New, Green Building Design
SAN JOSE, Calif., July 27, 2007
Source: SunPower Corp. press release
http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=256947

SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR), a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today announced the inauguration of its second solar cell fabrication facility, known as cell Fab 2, in the Philippines. The dedication of cell Fab 2 will take place on July 30, 2007 at the new plant, located in Batangas, south of Manila. President Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines and The Honorable Raphael P. M. Lotilla, secretary of energy, will be on hand to help inaugurate the facility which has been recognized by the International Energy Agency for its superior energy-efficient design.
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Frankfurt, July 23, 2007
Source: Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/mergersNews/idUSL2339494520070723

Q-Cells (QCEG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) will ramp up its investment in U.S. solar firm Solaria, hiking its stake to 33 percent, to strengthen its position in the fast-growing U.S. solar market, the German solar cell maker said on Monday.  The two companies also agreed on a cell supply contract worth about 2.5 billion euros ($3.46 billion) at today’s prices, with an overall capacity of up to 1.35 gigawatt over the next ten years, the world’s second-largest maker of solar cells said. (more…)

Leslie D’Monte in Mumbai, July 30, 2007
Source: Rediff.com
http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2007/jul/30sol.htm

India is becoming an attractive solar market and firms such as Moser Baer and US-based Signet Solar are confident of the growth in this market. The recent semiconductor policy sops that cover solar cells and photovoltaics (PVs) and the government policy for “off-grid” electrification are added incentives. Moser Baer’s $880 million (around Rs 3,500 crore (Rs 35 billion)) eight-year sourcing tie-up with Norway-based REC Group, for instance, simply furthers this line of thinking. The deal could get Moser Baer Photo Voltaic around $1 billion in revenues over the period of the contract. A company spokesperson, however, declined to put any figure to the deal.
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