Solar Cells Info

Tokyo, May 24, 2009
Source: Jamaica-Gleaner.com
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090524/auto/auto6.html

Toyota Motor Corp is secretly developing a vehicle that will be powered solely by solar energy in an effort to turn around its struggling business with a futuristic ecological car, a top business daily reported Thursday.  The Nikkei newspaper, however, said it will be years before the planned vehicle will be available on the market. Toyota’s offices were closed Thursday and officials were not immediately available for comment. (more…)

by Nancy Cheng, Taipei; Adam Hwang
Source: DIGITIMES, 5 May 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090505PD201.html

Switzerland-based Oerlikon, in preparation for fast emerging orders for production equipment of amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules from the Asian market once the global economy recovers, will outsource the production of such equipment to Singapore-based EMS provider Flextronics International, with components supply from Taiwan-based makers, according to Oerlikon Taiwan. (more…)

by Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang
Source: DIGITIMES, 28 April 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090428PD200.html

Kinmac Solar (renamed from Lucky Power Technology), a Taiwan-based maker of BIPV (building-integrated photovoltaic) modules, has decided to establish a joint-venture assembly plant for making PV modules with Jinzhou Yangguang Energy, a maker of solar-grade monocrystalline silicon ingots/wafers in northeastern China. (more…)

by Dawn Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang
Source: DIGITIMES, 30 April 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090430PD204.html

Everphoton Energy has won an open bid held by Taiwan’s Institute of Nuclear Energy Research of the Cabinet-level Atomic Energy Council to set up a 200KWp high-concentration PV (HCPV) system in southern Taiwan, with completion scheduled for mid-August 2009, according to the company. In addition to the project, Everphoton will set up a demonstration CPV power-generating system using solar cells made from III-V compound semiconductors which it will complete by the end of September 2009, the company indicated. (more…)

by Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang
Source: DIGITIMES, 7 May 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090507PD201.html

The China government plans to sharply raise the 2020 goal for the total installation volume of photovoltaic (PV) power-generating systems around the country from 1.8GWp currently to 10GWp or even 20GWp, industry sources in Taiwan cited China-based media as reporting. (more…)

by Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang
Source: DIGITIMES, 20 May 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090520PD200.html

The China government has seen applicants asking for subsidies for BIPV (building-integrated photovoltaic) projects totaling 500MWp in the first round of applications under its solar subsidization program, according to industry sources in Taiwan.  The government is offering subsidies of 20 yuan (US$2.9)/W for projects with a minimum installation size of 50KW. (more…)

by Frost and Sullivan, London, 11 May 2009
http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/press-release.pag?docid=167428688

Increased competition and the global economic crisis have cast clouds upon the Western European solar energy market. Falling polysilicon and solar module prices have the potential to cement China’s role as a solar manufacturing hub. In terms of installed capacity, the United States is playing a greater role as more and more states are putting the renewable energy standards into existence. Despite these market developments and the current economic crisis, the future of Europe’s solar energy market continues to appear bright as new emerging markets within Europe may turn into strong performers. (more…)

by  Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang
Source: DIGITIMES, 15 May 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090515PD200.html

LDK Solar, the largest China-based producer of solar-grade polycrystalline silicon wafers, maintains a quarterly shipment level of at least 200MWp in equivalent, for all of its supply contracts are on long-term basis and not influenced by the current depressed market, according to company chairman and CEO Xiaofeng Peng.  However, a few clients have requested temporary delay in shipment of wafers due to insufficient funds and/or orders, Peng indicated while in Taipei. LDK’s annual capacity in 2009 will be equivalent to 1,500MWp, the same as in 2008, Peng said. (more…)

by Ingrid Lee, Taipei; Adam Hwang
by DIGITIMES, 22 May 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090522PD201.html

Unitech Printed Circuit Board has received two large orders for crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules and plans to begin shipments in late third-quarter 2009, according to the company. Unitech expects its revenues from the PV module segment to reach NT$400 million (US$12.1 million) in 2009, a significant increase compared with NT$100 million posted in 2008, the company indicated. (more…)

by Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang
Source: DIGITIMES, 26 May 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090526PD200.html

Taiwan-based Neo Solar Power on May 25 announced the successful trial production of Supercell, a polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) solar cell with an energy conversion rate of 16.8%. Volume production will begin soon, the company said. The energy conversion rate of Supercell is higher than those of ordinary poly-Si solar cells by 0.6-1 percentage point due to increased absorption of solar light and improved metal electrodes, Neo Solar said. Since the production of Supercell does not entail additional equipment, it will help increase Neo Solar’s overall gross margin, the company indicated. (more…)