Solar Cells Info

Source: DIGITIMES, Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, 17 March 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090317PD200.html

Four Taiwan-based makers of crystalline silicon solar cells, Motech Industries, E-Ton Solar Tech, Neo Solar Power and Solartech Energy, plan to expand their annual production capacities in 2009. But another maker Gintech Energy has no plans to expand its existing annual capacity of 660MWp but will focus on increasing shipments to hike its global market share in 2009. (more…)

Source: DIGITIMES, Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, 23 March 2009]
http://www.digitimes.com/print/a20090323PD200.html

Motech Industries, a Taiwan-based maker of crystalline silicon solar cells, is expanding its capacity of poly-Si wafer slicing from an annual level equivalent to 100MWp currently to 160MWp, with the expansion to be completed in mid-2009, according to the company. In order to secure supply of wafers for solar cell production, Motech has installed an annual capacity of 100MWp for ingot growing and slicing, the company indicated. For the additional annual wafer-slicing capacity of 60MWp, Motech will rely on outside supply of ingots, the company said. (more…)

Source: DIGITIMES, Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, 25 March 2009
Tsuo and Shi speeches at PV convention in Taipei, compiled by Digitimes, March 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090325PD202.html

Simon Tsuo, chairman of Taiwan-based Motech Industries, and his counterpart from China-based Suntech Power, Zhengrong Shi, both believe that there will not be any significant breakthrough in the development of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules in the near future. Tsuo and Shi, two important figures in the solar industry in Taiwan and China, expressed their views in their keynote speeches delivered at the first Taiwan-China PV industry convention taking place in Taipei during March 24-25. Motech is the largest crystalline silicon solar cell maker in Taiwan, while Suntech is the largest crystalline silicon PV module maker in China. (more…)

Source: DIGITIMES, Press release; Jessie Shen, 27 March 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090327PR201.html

The global photovoltaic (PV) market is set to contract for the first time in 2009 in terms of new installations, according to IMS Research.  IMS Research’s ongoing analysis shows that although the PV market doubled in 2008 in megawatt (MW) terms, a contraction in shipments is anticipated in 2009. The contraction will be caused by the sudden drop-off in demand from Spain, with its newly implemented 500MW cap. This is likely to result in a shortfall of some 1.5-2GW in 2009. Although this will in part be counter-balanced by growth in Italy and Eastern Europe, the dramatic decline of the Spanish market will lead to an overall drop in worldwide shipments. (more…)

Source: MOPS, Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES, 2 April 2009

E-Ton Solar Tech, a Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell maker, has released audited 2008 financial figures, recording unconsolidated revenues of NT$13.59 billion (US$414 million), gross margin of 13.47%, net profit of NT$1.21 billion and net earnings per share (EPS) of NT$12.07. E-Ton plans to expand its annual production capacity to 440MWp in 2009 from 320MWp in 2008, according to the company. E-Ton turned out 92MWp of solar cells in 2008 and expects to increase output to 300MWp in 2009.

Fremont, CA, March 31, 2009
Source: Solyndra Inc. press release
http://www.solyndra.com/News/Press-Release-033109

Solyndra Inc., a manufacturer of proprietary photovoltaic (PV) systems designed to optimize solar electricity production on commercial rooftops, announced the completion and full operation of a 132 kWp system by SPG Solar, Inc., on the rooftop of Cinema West’s Livermore Cinemas in Livermore, CA. This project is one of many major commercial installations that have been completed or are underway with Solyndra PV systems in the US and Europe.    (more…)

Fremont, CA, March 20, 2009
Source: Solyndra Inc press release
http://www.solyndra.com/News/

Solyndra, Inc. announced today that it is the first company to receive an offer for a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  Solyndra, a Fremont, California-based manufacturer of innovative cylindrical photovoltaic systems, will use the proceeds of a $535 million loan from the U.S. Treasury’s Federal Financing Bank to expand its solar panel manufacturing capacity in California. (more…)

* European Patent Office revokes Swiss university’s patent
* Applied Materials had been accused of violating patent
SAN FRANCISCO, March 3, 2009
Source: Reuters-UK
(Reporting by Clare Baldwin; Editing by Edwin Chan and John Wallace)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUKN3142574820090331

The European Patent Office on Tuesday revoked a solar patent issued to a Swiss university in an apparent victory for chip gear-maker Applied Materials Inc (AMAT.O). The solar photovoltaic technology patent was issued to the University of Neuchatel and licensed exclusively to Oerlikon Corp (OERL.VX), a Swiss technology group, Applied Materials said. Oerlikon had alleged the patent was being violated by Germany’s SunFilm AG, a key customer of Applied Materials. (more…)

The company is closing a panel assembly factory in the United States and one in Spain. BP also plans to outsource panel production to others. This cost-cutting move is becoming trendy.
by: Ucilia Wang, March 31, 2009
Source: GreentechMedia.com
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/bp-solar-plans-to-hire-others-to-make-panels-5981.html

Outsourcing is becoming vogue in the solar equipment business. BP Solar is shutting down some of its production lines in the United States and Spain, and it is looking for manufacturers to produce panels using BP’s components and bearing BP’s brand. The company announced on Tuesday plans to close its solar panel assembly center in Maryland and said it would lay off 140 people out of a 600-person workforce. It plans to continue to manufacture other crystalline silicon solar equipment components at the Maryland complex. (more…)