Solar Cells Info

Source: ScienceDaily, Jan. 18, 2009
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090115164518.htm

Inexpensive solar cells, vastly improved medical imaging techniques and lighter and more flexible television screens are among the potential applications envisioned for organic electronics.  Recent experiments conducted by Greg Scholes and Elisabetta Collini of University of Toronto’s Department of Chemistry may bring these within closer reach thanks to new insights into the way molecules absorb and move energy. Their findings will be published in the journal Science on January 16. (more…)

Solar Photovoltaic Cell Market Report – 2008 Edition (Koncept Analytics)
Published Date: 01/12/2008

Summary: High oil and gas prices and improving regulatory support for solar power are driving solar photovoltaic (PV) cell market. Other drivers include increasing popularity of “green” energy, rising electricity costs and emergence of more efficient solar PV technologies. (more…)

Osaka, Kyodo, Jan 8, 2998
Source: JapanTimes.co.jp
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20090108a4.html

Sharp Corp. will begin operating its new solar battery plant by the end of this year, earlier than spring 2010 as originally planned, to meet fast-growing demand, company officials said Wednesday.  The ¥72 billion plant is now under construction in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, to produce thin-film solar batteries at an annual pace of 480 megawatts initially, they said. (more…)

Source: Aleo Solar AG Press Release/ 19 Dec 2008
http://www.aleo-solar.de/en-presse/
aleo-solar-has-already-signed-contracts-for-more-than-25-megawatts-for.html

Aleo Solar AG today announced that it has already signed contracts with a total volume of more than 25 megawatts in Europe. Agreements for the delivery of aleo modules were signed with a number of specialist dealers, installers and solar technology specialists in the European core markets. The customer base of aleo solar AG currently includes more than 400 specialist companies throughout Europe. (more…)

China Sunergy to Provide 22MW of Solar Cells to the German Module Manufacturer
NANJING, China, Dec. 10, 2008
Source: China Sunergy Co Ltd, press release

China Sunergy Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: CSUN), a specialized solar cell manufacturer based in Nanjing, China, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Solarwatt AG, a leading manufacturer of solar modules in Germany, to provide 22MW of solar cells over the course of 2009. (more…)

Source: China Sunergy Co. Ltd press release /Dec 18, 2008
http://www.chinasunergy.com/press/detail_eng.asp?nid=47

China Sunergy Co., Ltd., a specialized solar cell manufacturer based in Nanjing, held an opening ceremony for the 3rd stage production lines of China Sunergy at its Nanjing production base on December 18. Four high-efficiency SE solar cell production lines were officially put into production. So far, China Sunergy has a production capacity of up to 320 MW, and has ten solar cell production lines: five for high-efficiency SE solar cells, four for HP solar cells (upgraded from common P-type monocrystalline silicon solar cells), and one for common P-type multicrystalline silicon solar cells. (more…)

Signifying the Company’s first move into the Indian solar market
NANJING, China, Dec. 23, 2008
Source: China Sunergy Co. Ltd press release

China Sunergy Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: CSUN), a specialized solar cell manufacturer based in Nanjing, China, today announced that it has entered into a one-year agreement with Ajit Solar Pvt Ltd (“Ajit Solar”), a privately-owned module manufacturer based in Jaipur, India.  Under the terms of the agreement, China Sunergy will supply and deliver a total volume of 12MW of multi-crystalline solar cells. It is expected that China Sunergy will deliver 5MW to Ajit Solar in the first half of the year, and the remaining 7MW in the latter half. (more…)

by Martin LaMonica, Jan 5, 2009
Source: CNet News
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10131614-54.html

Toshiba, a company best known for making laptops and consumer electronics, on Monday said that it will enter the solar-photovoltaics business.  But don’t expect to see Toshiba-branded solar panels on a home rooftop any time soon. The company’s industrial and energy arm plans to build utility-scale solar power plants.  Toshiba’s photovoltaics business will be part of the conglomerate’s Transmission Distribution & Industrial Systems business, which makes equipment for natural-gas power plants. (more…)

The juwi group commissions the next section of the 40-MW project in Brandis near Leipzig.
Brandis/Bolanden, Germany, February 22nd, 2008.
Source: Juwi Group press release
http://international.juwi.de/information/press/
008PRGridConnectionpartIIofBrandis2008_02.pdf

The juwi group based in Bolanden in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate (southwest Germany) set yet another milestone in the development of the world’s biggest photovoltaic power station. Today another section of the Waldpolenz energy park was commissioned. Now
with more than 12.7 megawatts (MW) of production capacity connected to the electricity network, it is the biggest solar power station in Germany. Located in Brandis, east of Leipzig, the juwi group is building a 40-MW solar park based on the most sophisticated thin-film technology. The park is due for completion by the end of 2009. By now some 17,500 steel posts have been put into place and nearly 5,000 aluminum sub-structures constructed which support more than 215,000 solar modules facing south.

Upon completion the solar power station located in the Muldentalkreis
district in the eastern German state of Saxony will generate approximately 40 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, displacing about 25,000 tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) every year. “At a time when the whole world is discussing climate change we are demonstrating the capabilities of renewable energies,” says Matthias Willenbacher, co-head of the juwi group. “Solar electricity is not only good for the environment, it also builds independence from expensive energy imports and creates new jobs. Freestanding installations are an affordable segment of photovoltaics and contribute greatly to that success,” states Willenbacher.

As general contractor juwi is in charge of the planning, logistics and construction site management. The project is creating impetus for the regional and national labor market. During the construction phase up to 100 people, primarily from the region, are involved in the assembly of the Waldpolenz solar power park. Juwi employees are responsible for the operational management, service and maintenance of the park. Solar projects such as this one also create many jobs nationwide in related supplier sectors, such as the solar module, inverter and metal construction industries. Most of the 550,000 First Solar modules for this project, for instance, are being produced in Frankfurt (Oder) in eastern Germany. The inverters and sub-structures are also made in Germany.

Investment in the Waldpolenz solar park amounts to some !130 million. SachsenFonds GmbH has been offering owner’s equity of the project in the form of closed-end funds since late summer 2007. So inhabitants of the region also have the opportunity to participate in this unique project with investments starting at just  5,000. The juwi’s group philosophy is to produce solar electricity at competitive prices as quickly as possible. “With the Waldpolenz station we are demonstrating that there are no longer any limits to photovoltaics,” comments Willenbacher. The solar industry anticipates that in just 8 – 10 years solar electricity will have achieved grid parity, meaning that it will be equal in price or even cheaper than the regular
rates private consumers pay in their electricity bills. A key partner in this endeavor is world-leading thin-film technology company First Solar, which like juwi is actively pursuing speedy market penetration of solar electricity.

The innovativeness of this project is once again underscored by its selection as a designated site in 2008 in Germany’s “Land of Ideas” image campaign. “Germany – Land of Ideas” is an initiative co-sponsored by the German government and commerce and industry, represented by the Federation of German Industries (BDI). German President Horst Köhler is the patron of the initiative. Its mission is to convey positive arguments associated with Germany both at home and abroad and also to highlight the country’s strengths as a business location. The core message of all the campaign’s activities emphasizes “Germany’s leadership through inventiveness”. As part of the campaign juwi will host another open house at the Waldpolenz energy park on June 22nd, 2008. In all likelihood Germany’s Minister for Transport, Building and Urban Development, Wolfgang Tiefensee, will take part in the event.

The world’s largest solar power station at a glance:
Peak power:  ca. 40,000 kilowatts
Module area:  ca. 400,000 m²
c. 550,000 First Solar  thin-film modules
Annual production:  ca. 40 million kWh
(enough to serve more than 10,000 homes)
CO2 savings:  ca. 25,000 t/year
Investment sum: ca. EUR 130 million

The Top Ten solar power stations in the  world:
– Jumilla, Murcia,  Spain; 20 MW
– Beneixama, Andalusia,  Spain; 20 MW
– Nellis, Nevada,  USA; 14 MW
– Salamanca,  Spain; 13.8 MW
– Brandis, Saxony,  Germany; 12.7 MW*
– Lobosillo, Murcia,  Spain; 12.7 MW
– Arnstein, Bavaria,  Germany; 12 MW
– Serpa, Alentejo,  Portugal; 11 MW
– Pocking, Bavaria,  Germany; 10 MW
– Milagro,  Spain; 9.5 MW
Source:  www.pvresources.com
(*: under construction)

Bolanden (Germany), March 12th, 2008.
Source: Juwi Solar GmbH press release
http://international.juwi.de/information/press/
08-03-PMjuwiSolargoesInternational20080312.pdf

This month juwi solar GmbH based in Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany is taking great steps toward expanding its international activities.
Whereas the solar business of the juwi group have been predominantly in Germany so far, an increasing number of projects in southern Europe are now poised to be launched. For instance, building work is due to soon begin at a large-scale, free-standing power station near Lecce in the region of Apulia in southern Italy.

Another free-standing project (1.7 megawatts) will go up near Vittoria, a town in the province of Ragusa, in the island region of Sicily. “Altogether we intend to install more than 20 megawatts in Italy this year,” says Bolzano branch manager Erwin Mayr. Due to the abundance of projects juwi solar GmbH will open two more branches in Verona and Bari.

The juwi group’s solar experts are also increasing their involvement in Spain. Construction of the Cortijo El Cura solar park in the municipality of Antequera in Andalusia has begun. This two-megawatt free-standing project in the Spanish province of Málaga was developed jointly with the Ansasol S.L. company and is due to go on line in summer 2008. Juwi solar has also founded a branch in Valencia to facilitate its presence on the Spanish market.

Juwi solar GmbH aims to install photovoltaic stations amounting to more than 2,000 megawatts of power production capacity by 2012 in Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Greece, the Czech Republic, the United States, Rwanda, South Korea and many other countries. Project development is underway and to support these sizable plans juwi is expanding its network of branches abroad. Juwi korea Co., Ltd. was recently founded in Seoul; juwi solar Hellas
is currently taking shape in Greece; and juwi S.A.R.L. has its center of solar activities for southern France in Aix-en-Provence.

“We are systematically conveying our quality and competence abroad. This entails many interesting vacancies to be filled at our headquarters in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and also at our foreign offices around the world,” says Lars Falck, managing director of juwi solar GmbH.

Background information
…on the renewable energies market
In recent years the proportion of cleanly produced power in the electricity supply has grown constantly. In Germany wind, hydro, solar and bio sources now generate nearly 15% of the national supply. The German federal government’s sustainability strategy aims at a 50% share of renewables in the middle of the century. In Germany the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) is the core instrument for implementing this strategy. It has become an essential building block for securing and creating jobs. The German renewable energies sector employs about 250,000 people.

…on solar energy
2007 was a record-breaking year for the German photovoltaic sector. According to the German Solar Industry Association (BSW), the number of solar power installations, predominantly on German rooftops, increased by around 130,000, bringing the total to 430,000 installations. Some 1,100 megawattspeak (MWp) of solar electricity capacity newly joined the grid last year in Germany, more than ever before in a single year. Benefiting from that are domestic manufacturers, suppliers and skilled workers. Sales figures of German photovoltaic makers increased last year by 23%, amounting to around EUR 5.5 billion. According to the BSW the total number of employed
in the sector is now 40,000.

The organization also says that there are now solar electricity installations totaling 3,800 megawatts of capacity installed in Germany. The three billion kilowatt-hours of electricity they produce is enough to power all the homes in Hamburg, the second biggest city in Germany. In 2005 and 2006 respectively, 850 MWp were newly installed; in 2007 some 1,100 megawatts of photovoltaic production capacity was installed, making Germany the world’s leading solar market.

…on the juwi group
The juwi group ranks among Germany’s leading renewable energy companies. In addition to photovoltaics and biomass, wind energy is its strongest mainstay. With about 250 staff juwi is involved in the entire value creation chain. By the end of 2007, PV stations installed by the company
numbered more than 650; their total capacity amounting to some 80,000 kilowatts – an investment value of approximately EUR 400 million. Some of last year’s showcase projects include several megawatt-scale rooftop installations and in South Tyrol one of the most powerful PV installations in Italy. In Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, juwi was commissioned by Stadtwerke Mainz AG (city of Mainz public utility company) to build a 250-kW plant, the largest PV installation in Africa.

At the end of April 2007 construction work began on the world’s largest PV installation in the Waldpolenz energy park. Located in Brandis, east of Leipzig, this 40-MW solar park is being built at a former military airbase. It is due for completion by the end of 2009. At the end of 2007 more than 13 MW were already in place.