Solar Cells Info

Source: Azomaterials.com, Dec 18, 2008
http://www.azom.com/news.asp?newsID=14993

Dow Corning Corporation announced today several billion dollars of investment to provide critical materials to the fast-growing solar technology industry. “Dow Corning and our Hemlock Semiconductor joint ventures hope to create a viable solar industry that produces new, high paying jobs, clean power technologies and a revitalized economy,” said Stephanie A. Burns, Dow Corning’s chairman, president and CEO. “We’re committing our resources, know-how and technology because we are confident that solar technology represents a tremendous opportunity for both clean energy and economic growth.” (more…)

Source: TradingMarkets.com, December 21, 2008
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2095252/

Nippon Yusen KK (TSE:9101) and Nippon Oil Corp. (TSE:5001) held a ceremony Friday to flip the switch on an oceangoing car carrier powered in part by solar cells.  The ship can transport as many as 6,200 cars, and its maiden voyage will be to the Middle East hauling cars made by Toyota Motor Corp. (TSE:7203). The deck of the carrier is fitted with 328 large solar modules which together can supply as much as 40kw of power. Nippon Oil developed the solar power system. This is the world’s first large ship to use solar cells as an integral power source. (more…)

Taipei, Taiwan,Oct 25, 2008 (Reuters)
Source: Auriasolar.com

Taiwan’s E-Ton Solar has joined with Lite-On Technology Corp, Hermes-Epitek Corp. and MiTAC-SYNNEX Group to establish a firm to make thin-film solar cells, the company said late on Thursday. E-Ton and photovoltaic parts maker Lite-On will be the largest shareholders with 23.9 percent each in the company,which will have an initial capacity of up to 60 megawatts (MW) and have the manufacturing facilities fully installed by theend of 2008, the company said in an e-mail statement. (more…)

Santa Fe, NM, Dec 16, 2008
Source: Signet Solar press release
http://www.signetsolar.com/pdf/Signet_Solar_Dec_16_2008_eng.pdf

Governor Bill Richardson today announced Signet Solar will build the company’s first North American solar panel production facility in Belen. The first phase of the plant will bring 200 high-wage jobs to the state and is scheduled to begin operations in 2010. Signet’s long-term plans call for expansion and the creation of a total of 600 jobs.  “As Governor, I’ve been dedicated to making New Mexico a national leader of renewable energy and the creation of green jobs,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “At a time of economic uncertainty, this project will create hundreds of jobs and reaffirm New Mexico as a clean energy state and major player in our nation’s effort build a new clean energy economy.” (more…)

Company Files International Patent for BioBacksheet™
Santa Clarita, CA – December 8, 2008
Source: BioSolar Inc press release
http://www.biosolar.com/view_news.php?id=40

BioSolar, Inc. (OTC BB: BSRC), the developer of a breakthrough technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar cells, announced today that it has filed for worldwide patent protection of its proprietary BioBacksheet™. BioBacksheet is the world’s first solar cell backsheet made from renewable plant based materials, rather than expensive and environmentally unfriendly petroleum-based alternatives currently in use. (more…)

Three recent projects complete BP Solar’s portion of pilot project portfolio
Frederick, MD, 18 December 2008
Source: BP Solar USA press release
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9019567&contentId=7049862

BP Solar today announced the completion of its solar power construction program for Wal-Mart. The company recently completed construction of three sites in California, including the 493.7 kilowatt (kW) solar power system at the Sam’s Club in La Habra, California, as well as systems at Wal-Mart Super Centers in Palm Springs (605.9 kW) and Beaumont (675.2 kW). The three systems totalling over 1.7 MW mark the final installations of BP Solar’s 4.1 MW commitment to Wal-Mart as part of the retailer’s solar pilot project. (more…)

San Francisco, US,  December 22, 2008
Source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54364

Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. announced that it has won a bid to supply, design and install building integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV) with a total capacity of 3 megawatts (MW) on the China and Theme Pavilions at the World Expo Shanghai 2010. The projects, which will be the largest BIPV installations in China, are scheduled to be completed by September 2009. Our selection underscores Suntech’s position as a global brand and world leader in the solar industry as well as our leading system integration capability in China.” — Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Chairman and CEO, Suntech. (more…)

Company Poised to Address a Market Opportunity for Its Innovative BioBacksheetTM Product
Santa Clarita, CA,   December 22, 2008
Source: BioSolar Inc, press release
http://www.biosolar.com/view_news.php?id=41&PHPSESSID=c1d6b530faada0ae10cf49d3f6298402

BioSolar, Inc. “is ushering in the inherent benefits of biomass by leading a pioneering effort to reduce the costs of solar modules by replacing petroleum-based solar panel components with durable biomass-based materials,” according to a web exclusive article posted December 10, 2008 on the website of BioMass Magazine. The article features BioSolar’s BioBacksheetTM, a protective covering for photovoltaic solar cells made from renewable plant sources, rather than the expensive petroleum-based film currently in use. This protective covering is needed in virtually all solar panels. (more…)

by Energy Matters, Australia
Source:
http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=255

A recent report from the European Union’s Joint Research Center Institute for Energy  shows continued massive increases in the annual growth rate of global solar cell production. Growth in production averaged 40% over five years ; peaking at 60% in 2007 when solar cell production reached 4 GWp. The solar panel sector has become an AUD $28.5 billion a year business and is expect to grow to AUD $85.5 billion in 2010, while still seeing price drops on solar panels for end consumers.  Sharp Corporation is now the number one solar cell manufacturer followed by Q-cells and Suntech. The market share of the ten largest solar cell manufacturers has eroded from 80% in 2004 to 57% in 2007 due to an increasing number of companies entering the solar cell production market, predominantly in China and Taiwan. (more…)

by Tyler Hamilton, Dec 22, 2008
Source: Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/557162

Most homeowners, it’s safe to assume, would seriously consider putting solar panels on their rooftops if it was economical and didn’t involve a massive upfront payment. As the kids might say on the drive to the cottage, are we there yet? Not quite – but we’re heading in the right direction. Ontario refunds the provincial sales tax on solar photovoltaic, or PV, equipment and under its standard offer program will pay 42 cents per kilowatt-hour if you want to feed your home-generated solar power into the grid. (more…)