Solar Cells Info

by Peter Lorenz, Thomas Seitz , Dickon Pinner
Source: PrimeSolar.com
http://www.primesolar.com/en/notizia.asp?idNotizia=33

Solar energy is becoming more economically attractive as technologies improve and the cost of electricity generated by fossil fuels rises. By 2020, hundreds of billions of dollars of investment capital will probably boost global solar-generating capacity 20 to 40 times higher than its current level.  New era for solar power is approaching. Long derided as uneconomic, it is gaining power as technologies improve and cost of traditional energy sources rises. Within three to seven years, unsubsidised solar power could cost no more to end customers in many markets, such as California or Italy, than electricity generated by fossil fuels or by renewable alternatives to solar. Solar power faces challenges that are common in emerging sectors. Several technologies are competing to win the lowest-cost laurels, and it’s not yet clear which is going to win. (more…)

Dawn Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES, 18 June 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090618PD203.html

LED packaging house Taiwan Oasis Technology has revealed that it will cooperate with China-based solar wafer maker Solargiga Energy to develop LED streetlamps powered by photovoltaic (PV) batteries. The Taiwan-based company also said it will tap the China market through investment in Solargiga.  Solargiga in early June 2009 signed a cross-investment deal with Kinmac Solar, a Taiwan Oasis affiliate that makes PV modules. Solargiga will acquire a 78.93% stake in Kinmac, which in turn will obtain a 4.44% stake in the China company, according to Taiwan Oasis. Taiwan Oasis said it will sell all of its 16.29% stake in Kinmac to Solargiga and acquire a stake in Solargiga.

Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES, 25 June 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090625PD202.html

Taiwan-based Auria Solar announced on June 24 that it has obtained certification from Germany-based TUV Rheinland for micromorphous silicon (micro-Si) tandem-junction thin-film PV modules and has kicked off volume production. Its micro-Si tandem-junction thin-film PV module has an energy conversion rate of 9% to generate 120 watts currently and the conversion rate is expected to rise to 10% to generate 130 watts by the end of 2009, according to company chairman and CEO CY Tsai. The conversion rate is expected to further increase to 11% in the first half of 2010, Tsai indicated. (more…)

Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES, 26 June 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090626PD200.html

Neo Solar Power, a Taiwan-based maker of crystalline silicon solar cells, will issue 30 million new shares to raise around NT$800 million (US$24.6 million) specifically for expanding its annual production capacity by 150MWp to 360MWp in the second half of 2009, according to the company.  Neo Solar’s board of directors approved the fund-raising plan at a meeting on June 25, the company indicated. According to industry sources, Neo Solar has been talking with potential clients in Japan via Daiwa Securities, its main shareholder. Neo Solar said it could not deny the reports

Motonobu Kawai, Nikkei Microdevices, May 13, 2009
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090512/169931/

Aeon Co Ltd, a leading retailer in Japan, and Kyocera Corp formed a business alliance for the marketing of solar cells.  “We have focused on door-to-door sales thus far. The alliance with Aeon will change our business model,” Kyocera President Tetsuo Kuba said, indicating the company’s aim to boost its solar cell sales by making the most of Aeon’s outlets, at which more than 10 million people shop every year.  Meanwhile, Aeon President Motoya Okada said, “We are aiming to enhance our reform business. In that process, solar cells will be a key product.” (more…)

Motonobu Kawai, Nikkei Microdevices, May 19, 2009
Souce: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090519/170318/

Polycrystalline Si solar cells manufactured by Kyocera Corp are used for the solar panel that comes as an option for the new Prius, which Toyota Motor Corp announced May 18, 2009, in Japan.  The solar panel is composed of a total of 36 cells arranged in six rows and six columns. Each cell is half the size of the standard 15 x 15cm cell. With a cell conversion efficiency of 16.5%, the maximum output of the entire panel reaches fifty-odd watts. The portions where three bus bars are believed to exist were covered with a black component. (more…)

Nikkei Electronics Asia, May 29, 2009
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090529/170990/

Sharp Corp has developed what it claims is the industry’s thinnest solar module, the LR0GC02. The module achieves a thickness of just 0.8mm by effective use of compact semiconductor packaging technology.  The solar cells that make up the module are based on polycrystalline silicon and deliver a maximum power of 300mW, and as an auxiliary power source for mobile devices, will contribute to saving energy. In addition, the electrode pattern on the cell surface can be formed to meet the requirements of device manufacturers, leading to increased design flexibility for mobile devices. The product will be introduced to the global market. Mass production is expected to start in July this year.

Motonobu Kawai, Nikkei Microdevices, Jun 3, 2009
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090603/171170/

Michael R. Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials Inc (AMAT), discussed the prospects of the solar cell production equipment market at a press conference.  According to him, the market will start to pick up in early 2010 thanks to economic stimulus programs introduced in the US and China and other factors though it is experiencing a sharp downturn in 2009. But he also said that it is difficult to predict when the market will recover to the 2008 level.  Regarding the development of production equipment for new types of solar cells including CIGS solar cells, Splinter commented as follows. (more…)

Nikkei Electronics Asia, Jun 17, 2009
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090617/171858/

LG Display Co Ltd has announced plans to focus its R&D capabilities on a thin-film type solar cell and nurture it as a future growth driver. With an investment of 50 billion won, the company plans to build a pilot line within its Paju display complex in Korea later this year and build an outdoor test power generation facility. (more…)

Nikkei Electronics Asia, Jun 19, 2009
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090619/171971/

Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd, a crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer based in China, has opened what it says is China’s first PV module testing laboratory to be awarded the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Witness Testing Data Program (WTDP) certificate.  The PV module testing facility is said to be the largest in China, with 1400m2 of indoor testing space and 7000m2 of outdoor testing space. Located at Suntech’s headquarters in Wuxi, the PV module testing facility features test equipment includes pulse and continuous solar simulators, walk-in climate chambers, mechanical load and hail testers, electroluminescence testers, and high precision infrared cameras to evaluate all aspects of module quality and performance. All the equipment and testing procedures accord with the stringent standards of UL1703, IEC61215 and IEC61730-2. (more…)