Solar Cells Info

MIT research finds that many modern manufacturing techniques use more energy than traditional industries
Sourcer: BusinessGreen.com Staff, BusinessGreen, 31 Mar 2009
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2239473/manufacturing-study-questions

Many solar panels are made using “spectacularly inefficient” manufacturing techniques that could undermine their environmental benefits, according to new research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  The study, released last week, found that many of the cutting edge processes used to make computer chips, solar cells and nanomaterials use an “alarming” amount of energy compared to established manufacturing techniques. (more…)

Chinese solar companies got a huge boost in the markets after a massive government subsidy program was announced. But is the uptick justified? Analysts have differing views.
by: Jeff St. John, March 27, 2009
Source: GreenTechMedia.com
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/
china-pledges-huge-solar-subsidies-5964.html

The Chinese government on Thursday announced what some industry analysts called the most aggressive and generous solar power subsidy in the world, giving Chinese solar companies a big market boost amid a generally gloomy outlook for short-term growth.  China’s solar subsidy plan would offer 20 yuan (about $2.94) per watt for solar photovoltaic installations greater than 50 kilowatts. That would essentially cover half the cost of entire installations at today’s low solar panel prices, according to an RBC Capital Markets analyst note. (more…)

Projects to be located at Brookhaven National Laboratory would be largest installation in New York State
Source: BP Solar, press release 11 March 2009
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9019567&contentId=7051762

BP Solar confirmed today that the company has been selected to enter into negotiations with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) to provide nearly 37 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic solar power on the grounds of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL).  BP Solar’s proposal includes two large-scale commercial solar photovoltaic projects at the BNL site located in Upton, New York. Each project would be sized at just over 18 MW, making BNL home to the largest solar photovoltaic site in the State of New York. (more…)

Focus on growth through lower cost supplies and manufacturing will lead to phase out of module assembly at Frederick, MD, plant. Silicon casting, wafering, and cell manufacture to continue.
Frederick, MD, 31 March 2009
Source: BP Solar, press release
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9019567&contentId=7052169

BP Solar today announced plans to refocus its manufacturing activities globally, and to reduce its unit costs by 25 percent by the end of 2010. It will achieve this by accessing lower cost supplies, and by continuing to grow only its most competitive manufacturing worldwide.  “The decision is part of our long term strategy to grow our solar business by reducing the cost of solar power to that of conventional electricity delivered through a modern power grid, and in time without the need for government subsidy,” says Reyad Fezzani, CEO of BP Solar. (more…)

Device Simulation Enables Optimization of Solar Cells to Improve Efficiency and Reduce Cost
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 1, 2009
Source: Synopsys Inc, press release
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?
ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-01-2009/0004998801

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design and manufacturing, today announced that the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) has adopted Synopsys’ Sentaurus TCAD to support its solar cell research and development programs. SERIS is Singapore’s national institute for applied solar energy research and is jointly sponsored by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). The Sentaurus TCAD tools will initially be used to support SERIS’ silicon-based solar cell research. The tools simulate the fabrication steps and photovoltaic (PV) performance of solar cells, allowing SERIS researchers to investigate and optimize current and new cell designs aiming for higher PV efficiency and lower cost. (more…)

Lake Mary, Florida, 1 April 2009
Source: ASP press release/BusinessWire
http://www.pr-inside.com/advanced-solar-photonics-first-solar-r1157442.htm

Advanced Solar Photonics (ASP) is the cutting-edge developer of laser equipment for solar panel processing, thin-film solar cells, and commercial solar products for the solar industry. Our various technologies can increase production and efficiency, minimize waste, and in some cases, increase the overall efficiency of the PV cells. ASP is located in a 318,000 square foot headquarters in Lake Mary, Florida, employing an international team of technology driven professionals. (more…)

Innovative Solar Panels Feature Higher Module Output and Reduce Total Installation Costs
Dallas, TX — March 18, 2009
Source: SanYo Energy Corp. press release
http://us.sanyo.com/News/SANYO-Introduces-New-HIT-Power-N-Series-Solar-Panels

SANYO Energy (U.S.A.) Corporation, a subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO), a leading company for energy and environment, today introduces the HIT Power® N Series of solar panels featuring SANYO’s proprietary HIT® technology. The new series features the latest technological improvements including higher module output, lower voltage, space savings and lower installation costs that make the HIT Power® N Series the most efficient and competitive cost per kWh panels in the solar market today. The HIT Power® N Series solar panels will be available in North America from SANYO’s authorized representatives, including SunWize Technologies, Conergy and Focused Energy from April. (more…)

Meeting the actively growing market demand, with future potential increases possible
Tokyo, February 16, 2009
Source: Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd press release
http://www.sanyo.com/news/2009/02/16-1en.html

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) announces that it will increase production capacity for HIT solar cells by building new production facilities inside the grounds of the Nishikinohama Factory (Kaizuka City, Osaka), already a production base for SANYO’s proprietary HIT solar cells, to meet active demand for solar power generation equipment around the world.  The new building construction will begin on February 17, and is expected to reach completion by October 2009. While reviewing the market conditions, production is expected to start immediately to be better able to respond to market demands, and thereafter considered with a view to increase the facilities’ productivity as necessary. (more…)

Kerry A. Dolan, Forbes, April 02, 2009
Source: Rediff.com
http://business.rediff.com/report/2009/apr/02/forbes-solar-power-for-rs-90-a-day.htm

Imagine a solar panel as affordable as a fancy new bicycle. A panel designed so simply that you can install one (or more) yourself, just outside your windows, in the course of an afternoon.  That’s the concept behind Oakland, Calif.-based Veranda Solar, a start-up founded last year by Capra J’neva and Emilie Fetscher, recent graduates of the product design program at Stanford University. J’neva and Fetscher dreamed up attractive, flower-shaped solar panels as part of their master’s project at the design school. “We created a starter solar system that expands as your budget does,” J’neva says. (more…)

Source: DIGITIMES, Taipe, Michael McManus, 19 March 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20090319VL200.html

Although global solar panel production went up 48% worldwide to 5.6 gigawatts (GW) in 2008, market reserach firm The Information Network laments that the US is lagging in the market. In posing the question, “What’s worse, buying solar panels from Eurasia or oil from OPEC?” the market reserach firm noted that less than 14% of solar panel production – 750 megawatts (MW) – was produced in the US last year. (more…)