by Vincent Chen, Taipei; Esther Lam
Source: DIGITIMES, 20 May 2008
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20080520PD214.html
By producing thin-film solar cells on equipment from EPV Solar, Taiwan-based Formosun Solar indicated that volume production has already started with shortage already observed. The company also stressed the advantage the large size of its solar cells has in comparison to conventional thin-film solar cells. (more…)
by Nuying Huang, Taipei; Esther Lam
Source: DIGITIMES, 20 May 2008
http://digitimes.com/print/a20080520PD212.html
With production equipment slated to be ready in late May, Kenmos PV, a joint venture of Kenmos Technology and NanoPV, said it plans for volume production of thin-film solar cells in the third quarter of 2008, with an initial annual capacity set at 10 peak megawatt (MWp). (more…)
by Nuying Huang, Tainan; Rodney Chan
Source: DIGITIMES, 28 May 2008
Solar cell maker Motech Industries expects its total capacity to reach 2GWp within three to five years, according to company chairman Simon Tsuo. In Taiwan, Motech’s Fab 1 will have its capacity raised to 180MWp from the current 160MWp. The company has also rented extra land near Fab 1 to build another plant. Fab 2, which currently has a capacity of 160MWp, can house a total of more than 300MWp, while Fab 5, which recently came online, also has an expected total capacity reaching 300MWp, he said. In total, Motech’s solar cell capacity in Taiwan will reach 1GWp, the chairman said. (more…)
by Nuying Huang, Taichung; Esther Lam
Source: DIGITIMES, 22 May 2008
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20080521PD213.html
NexPower Technology, a thin-film solar cell company co-established by Unimicron Technology and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), today (May 21) hosted the opening ceremony for its plant in central Taiwan. Company executives expressed confidence that the company will start to earn profits from 2009 as present capacity has already been fully booked.
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At a Greentech Media conference in Massachusetts, three venture capitalists selected the startup as the most promising of five presenting companies.
by: Ucilia Wang, May 28, 2008
Source: GreenTechMedia.com
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/1336-technologies-wins-solar-startup-competition-945.html
Three New England venture capitalists picked 1366 Technologies as the winner of a startup competition at a Greentech Media conference Wednesday. The panel, made up of Jeff Andrews of Atlas Ventures, Rob Day of @Ventures and Jay Fiske of Massachusetts Green Energy Fund, named 1366 as the most promising of five solar startups that presented their technologies and business plans at the conference. Aside from being named the top dog, the Lexington, Mass.-based startup also took home a hydrogen car. A toy version, that is.
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Source: Reuters / Boston Globe, May 28, 2008
http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2008/05/evergreen_solar_11.html
Evergreen Solar Inc., of Marlborough, expects to be profitable in the first quarter of 2009 and is considering expanding into Asia under a plan to dramatically boost capacity, its chief executive, Richard Feldt, said today. The company last month reported a first-quarter net loss of $25,000, or break-even on a per share basis, compared with a loss of $6.2 million, or 9 cents per share, a year earlier. (more…)
Source: AzoNano.com/ May 27, 2008
http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=6476
Signet Solar, a manufacturer of silicon thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules, today, announced the fabrication of the industry’s first ever Gen 8.5 (5.7 m2) silicon thin film solar PV module at its new factory near Dresden, Germany in a record setting ten months from the start of construction. After finishing construction of the 200,000 square foot production facility in only seven months, Signet Solar completed installation of equipment and started initial fabrication in less than three months. (more…)
Yukiko Kanou, Nikkei Electronics /May 27, 2008
Source: Tech-On
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080527/152443/
A Japanese institute and firms prototyped a foliage plant-like solar cell module by using organic thin-film solar cells. A leaf-like module featuring bright green solar cells was developed by National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Mitsubishi Corp and Tokki Corp. (more…)
by Motonobu Kawai, Nikkei Microdevices /May 30, 2008
Source: Tech-On
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080530/152672/
Sharp Corp exhibited a stand-alone photovoltaic power system composed of a solar-cell module and a storage battery at African Fair 2008, which is now taking place in Yokohama. Targeting the off-grid areas such as in Africa, the company aims to commercialize the system in 2010. In order to spread the use of the system, it is necessary to establish new business models such as leasing, unlike the current marketing style, which relies on sales of the product, the company said. (more…)
Plainview, New York USA, May 22, 2008
Source: Veeco Instruments Inc, press release
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111487&p=NewsArticle&id=1150087
Veeco Instruments Inc., announced that it has extended its thin film solar equipment product line with the acquisition of Mill Lane Engineering, a privately held manufacturer of web coating systems for flexible solar panels. Mill Lane is based in Lowell, MA and has approximately 20 employees. The purchase price was $11 million, paid at closing, plus potential additional payments based upon the satisfaction of specific future conditions, including certain order, sales and profit levels. Mill Lane has an existing multi-unit order for web coating systems from a leading manufacturer of thin film copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells. (more…)