Solar Cells Info

WACKER SCHOTT Solar will produce multicrystalline silicon wafers for solar cells
Jena, Oct 29, 2007
Source:SCHOTT Solar press release
http://www.schott.com/english/news/press.html

New production facility expected to reach a capacity of 100 megawatts already by the end of 2008.  Today, the two German companies SCHOTT AG (Mainz) and Wacker Chemie AG (Munich) officially laid the cornerstone for a new silicon solar wafer manufacturing facility of their joint venture WACKER SCHOTT Solar GmbH in Jena, Germany. By April 2008, both partners will be completing stage one of their joint wafer production facility in Jena with total capital expenditures of approx. €50 million. (more…)

75 million euro investment creates 180 new jobs –
Source: SCHOTT Solar press release / Nov. 6, 2007
http://www.schott.com/english/news/press.html

Today, SCHOTT, the technology group based in Mainz, Germany, inaugurated industrial mass production of thin-film solar modules in Jena by its subsidiary, SCHOTT Solar GmbH. By investing a total of 75 million euros towards a state-of-the art manufacturing facility with a module capacity of 33 megawatts (MW) per year, SCHOTT will be creating an additional 180 jobs at its Jena site.
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Source: AZoNano.com / Nov 11, 2007
http://www.merid.org/NDN/more.php?id=1208

German technology group SCHOTT has opened an thin film solar module production plant in Japan. Udo Ungeheue of SCHOTT said, “Thin-film technology effectively saves raw materials, because it requires far less silicon. Furthermore, as a result of the great flexibility with respect to shape and design, thin-film modules are perfectly suited for integration in buildings.

They offer architects interesting possibilities to create glazing applications for windows, roofs and facades in conjunction with environmentally-friendly power generation.” The article says that SCHOTT also has solar manufacturing facilities in Germany, the Czech Republic, and the U.S and plans to expand its production of wafer-based solar cells and modules to 450 megawatts per year by 2010.

Source: Ad-hoc-News.de / 15 nov. 2007
http://www.ad-hoc-news.de/CorporateNews/en/14189216/
The-China-Solar-Cell-Industry-Report-2006-2007-Is-Available

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c74234) has announced the addition of ?China Solar Cell Industry Report, 2006-2007? to their offering.  As the inexhaustible renewable energy as well as the clean energy, solar energy does not cause any environmental pollution. Among various effective applications of solar energy, the photoelectric utilization has been the most booming and vigorous research field in the past years, which enjoys enormous industrialization prospect.
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By Eva Kuehnen
Frankfurt, Nov 14, 2007
Source: Reuters UK
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL146013020071114

German solar cell maker Q-Cells raised its sales outlook for 2008 and 2009 and reported better-than-expected third-quarter results, standing out from its renewable energy sector peers on Wednesday.  Q-Cells shares surged 9.2 percent to 94.78 euros by 1144 GMT, leading gainers in Germany’s technology index (.TECDAX: Quote, Profile, Research), which was up 2.1 percent.
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Vittorio Hernandez – AHN News Writer
Tokyo, Nov. 13,2007
Source: AllHeadlineNews.com
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009148324

Japanese car manufacturer Honda Motor will add 120 more outlets in 2008 to its existing 80 independent stores retailing its solar panels. Honda also plans to venture into overseas sales to compete against Sharp and Kyocera.  The solar panels retail for $541 (60,000 yen). It measures 1.4 meters by 80 centimeters, and weighs 14.3 kilograms. It can be mounted on the roof or placed on open space free-standing to tap solar rays capable of generating 125 watts of electric power.
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November 14, 2007
Source: FuturePundit.com
http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/004791.html

A Japanese spherical solar cell design promises a big photovoltaic power price drop.  A company in Japan has developed a novel way of making solar cells that cuts production costs by as much as 50 percent. The photovoltaic (PV) cells are made up of arrays of thousands of tiny silicon spheres surrounded by hexagonal reflectors.
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November 14, 2007
Source: SolidstateTechnology
http://sst.pennnet.com/display_article/312149/5/
ARTCL/none/none/1/Report:-Solar-cell-firms-gunning-for-Japanese-marketshare/

Major overseas solar cell players including China’s Suntech and Germany’s Q-Cells are trying to establish footholds in Japan to challenge the “oligopoly” enjoyed by incumbent Sharp Corp., notes the Nikkei daily.  Following its acquisition of Tokyo-based solar cell maker MSK Corp., Suntech Power Holdings, the world’s No.4 solar cell maker, aims to begin production and sales in Japan as early as next spring out of a factory in Saku, Nagano Prefecture, using solar cells imported from China, the paper reports. Sales goals are the equivalent of 20MW/year, leveraging MSK’s contacts within the home construction sector.
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Sean Snyder, Associate Editor — Design News, October 30, 2007
Source: Design News
http://www.designnews.com/article/CA6495765.html

As the cost comes down and the technology becomes more efficient, solar voltaic cells are being used for a number of new applications. Once an exotic technology, solar voltaic cells are now widespread throughout cities and rural environments, independent from the grid, or even adding power back to it. Energy density, efficiency and style are major concerns for solar voltaic cell applications, especially since market demand depends on practicality and aesthetics.
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Sustainable — And Attainable:   D.R. Horton Breaks Green Barrier for Environmentally Friendly Homes With Provence in Natomas
Sacramento, CA. Nov. 7, 2007
Source: SunPower Corp. press release
http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=274606

Buying an environmentally friendly home once came with a unfriendly financial burden, but a new neighborhood planned for Natomas breaks the green barrier in both respects by introducing all-solar, sustainable homes priced within reach of most first-time home buyers.  Built by D.R. Horton, Provence will showcase how sustainable homes can also be attainable homes. The community will eventually build out to 187 homes offered in three different floor plans constructed with the latest solar and energy saving technology. D.R. Horton will also qualify as the first Sacramento-area production home builder to qualify for silver certification granted by LEED — the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design initiative by the U.S. Green Building Council.
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