Solar Cells Info

by Moumita Bakshi Chatterjee, New Delhi, June 3, 2008
Source: The Hindu BusinessLine
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/06/04/stories/2008060452420100.htm

At a time when crude prices are peaking, a reduction in solar power costs could brighten the energy scenario. The solar photovoltaic (PV) business, which incurs a generation cost of Rs 12-14 per unit, is looking at reducing it to Rs 4-6 a unit in the next three to five years.  The reduction would mainly be on the back of anticipated easing of global demand-supply imbalance of silicon, advances in thin-film PV, higher cell efficiency and other innovations. (more…)

HSBC’s Canary Wharf office tower is the tallest corporate headquarter building in Europe to feature solar panels
3 Jun 2008
Source; HSBC PRDomain press release
http://www.prdomain.com/companies/H/HSBC/newsreleases/20086457728.htm

HSBC’s Canary Wharf office tower is the tallest corporate headquarter building in Europe to feature solar panels. Covering 617 square metres of the roof of the building, it is also the largest installation of photovoltaic panels on a corporate office in London.  HSBC’s energy saving measure illustrates the bank’s latest commitment to reducing its impact on the environment since it became carbon neutral in 2005. At 213 metres (700 feet) high, building engineers developed fixing techniques for the 422 solar panels to withstand wind speeds of up to 140 mph. (more…)

May 28, 2008
Source: Menova Energy Inc, press release
http://www.power-spar.com/Power-Spar/press.php

The Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) and Wal-Mart Canada announced today that they are pursuing a project with Menova Energy that would provide up to $5.9 million to support the demonstration of the company’s world-leading Power-Spar solar concentrator technology. The intention is to test and install the technology on the roof of a Wal-Mart store in Ontario, yet to be selected or constructed. (more…)

Aachen/Germany, June 3, 2008
Source: Aixtron AG press release
http://www.aixtron.com/index.php?id=312

AIXTRON AG announced today an order from the Fraunhofer Institut für Solare Energiesysteme (Fraunhofer ISE) for a 300mm Close Coupled Showerhead CRIUS epitaxy reactor.  Fraunhofer ISE, located in Freiburg, Germany, will use the system for the research and development of GaAs-based multi-junction solar cells on Si.  “Within the scope of the BMBF project “III-V-Si” we will receive AIXTRON’s Close Coupled Showerhead system,” said Dr. Frank Dimroth, head of the III-V-Epitaxy and Solar Cells group.

(more…)

Singapore, June 4, 2008
Source: BAF Spectrum Pte Ltd press release/CompoundSemi Online
http://compoundsemi.com/documents/view/cldoc.php3?id=10263
Technology to Increase Solar Panel Efficiency by 20% Through Quantum Dot Nanotechnology

Singapore-based seed fund BAF Spectrum Pte Ltd today announced taking a 30 percent stake in Mentarix Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based solar photovoltaic component startup. The investment reflects BAF Spectrum’s strategy to invest in early-stage clean technology companies that provide new and innovative solutions.  By utilizing quantum dot nanotechnology and photonic technology, Mentarix plans to design and manufacture products that can increase solar photovoltaic cell operating efficiency by at least 20% from their relative baseline. The technology is applicable to both traditional crystalline silicon cells as well as thin film cells based on cadmium telluride/cadmium sulfide (CdTe/CdS), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) and amorphous silicon. (more…)

By Tom Vogt, The Columbian
Vancouver, WA, June 5, 2008
Source: SeattleTimes
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004458579_greenschools05m.html

The playground is an energy-enhanced spot, and not just because of the kids climbing on the play structure.  The answer is on the roof of the playground shelter, where a series of rectangles face the sun. They’re solar panels. They soak up power, then pipe it from the campus of the Washington State School for the Blind into the region’s electrical grid. The solar panels are part of Washington’s effort to get state institutions involved in renewable energy. Washington State School for the Blind received its grant a year ago.
(more…)

by Martin LaMonica,  June 4, 2008
Source: CNet News.com
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9959586-54.html

FTL Solar on Wednesday announced it has raised capital to make flexible solar cells for buildings that generate electricity.  The company envisions that its structures, called PowerMods, can be used as battery-charging stations, parking lot canopies, disaster relief shelters, remote medical stations, and for military bases. (more…)

by Kevin Swayze, RECORD STAFF /June 05, 2008
Source: The Record.com
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/361803

A gravel pit is a better place to build a solar electricity generating operation than a proposed farmland site along Highway 401, a township councillor says.  “It’s not using this land to its potential at all . . . it’s a shame to use it this way,” said Gord Taylor, a farmer who was uneasy with what he saw as loss of prime farmland.  Taylor was speaking at a township council meeting called to hear details of a proposal for an eventual $24 million array of solar panels on Tim Barrie’s farm on King’s Road near Highway 401.
(more…)

by Terry Parris, Jr.
Source: MetromodeMedia.com, 6/5/2008
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/annarborsolar0071.aspx

This summer, when you go to Ann Arbor’s Farmers Market, be sure to check out the roof. It’ll be covered in innovation and alternative energy. The 156 solar panels that will be placed on the roof of the market will be the most substantial solar installation to date for the city of Ann Arbor. (more…)

Santa Clara, CA, May 30, 2008
Source: Applied Materials, press release/BusinessWire
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=112059&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1152039

As part of its Masdar Initiative, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. is significantly expanding its investment in solar energy by contracting with Applied Materials to purchase three SunFab(TM) Thin Film Lines for producing solar modules. With an optional tandem junction upgrade, these SunFab lines are expected to annually produce modules with a targeted capacity of up to 210 megawatts (MW), or enough energy to power approximately 70,000 homes. (more…)