Solar Cells Info

Austin, Texas, April 17, 2008
Source: Environmental News Service
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2008/2008-04-17-091.asp

The state of Texas will invest $1 million in HelioVolt Corp. of Austin for the construction of a 125,000 square foot manufacturing facility and development space to test and produce the company’s thin-film solar power cells, which convert sunlight into electricity.  The company will manufacture a new type of seamlessly solarized building materials and architectural modules to cover structures with a solar skin. (more…)

by Alan Fischer, April 11, 2008
Source: Tucson Citizen
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/82278.php

High-tech potential has met with commercial success at Global Solar, a Tucson company that manufactures thin-film photovoltaic devices that harness the power of the sun.  Global Solar makes flexible, lightweight products that convert sunlight into electricity for hikers, campers, travelers and the military around the world, and provides its technology to manufacturers of rigid solar panels.  (more…)

Source: Printed Electronics World /2 April 2008
http://www.idtechex.com/printedelectronicsworld/articles/g24_innovations_appoints_leading_solar_technology_authority_00000868.asp

G24 Innovations Limited (G24i), the UK solar energy pioneer, has announced the appointment of leading international solar research scientist Shozo Yanagida to its advisory board. Mr Yanagida, the Emeritus Professor of Osaka University and a guest professor at the University’s Centre for Advanced Science and Innovation, is recognised as a world authority on solar technologies having spent over 35 years specialising in the subject. (more…)

by Jason Mick (Blog), April 13, 2008
Source: DailyTech.com
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=11459

While not very tasty, these balls are extra efficient
With gas prices going up, refining capacity stretched to its max, and the reality that fossil fuels will eventually be depleted settling in, interest in alternative energy solutions of various types is at an all time high.  Among these is renewed vigor in the solar power industry.  From building massive new plants to new ground breaking research, the rather old field of solar power, is adapting quickly to the latest tech. (more…)

Source: Printed Electronics World / April 16, 2008
http://www.idtechex.com/printedelectronicsworld/articles/electricity_from_sun_and_heat_printing_the_new_photovoltaics_00000892.asp

Solar cells are needed on everything from clothing to packaging, toys, spaceships, consumer goods, medical testers, skin patches and tools. Mostly, they must be thin and flexible, lightweight, environmental and low in cost – even disposable in many cases. (more…)

China Nuvo Solar Energy Announces Plans to Use Thin Film CIGS in Its Pilot Production Project
West Palm Beach, Fl, April 9, 2008
Source: China Nuo Solar Energy Inc. press release /BusinessWire
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080409005268&newsLang=en

China Nuvo Solar Energy, Inc. (the “Company” or “China Nuvo”) (OTCBB: CNUV) announced today that it will be developing a low-cost solar cell based on thin-film CIGS technology with its collaboration partner, Pioneer Materials, Inc. (“PMI”), at its pilot production facility in Chengdu, China. CIGS, which stands for copper indium gallium selenium, has achieved the highest efficiency for thin-film photovoltaics at 19.9%, which rivals the performance of crystalline based silicon solar cells. With thin-film manufacturing techniques, CIGS thin-film solar cells can be made with 1/100th of the materials used in crystalline based silicon solar cells. (more…)

Increasing Efficiencies For Thin Film Solar Cells: Different Approaches Researched By The US DOE

By Dr. Harry Zervos, IDTechEx /4 April 2008
Source. Photonics Online
http://www.photonicsonline.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID=%7BEEC11AEA-997C-4C5D-84CA-9BFDBAF936D5%7D&Bucket=Current+Headlines&VNETCOOKIE=NO

Recently, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced that they have moved closer to creating a thin-film solar cell that can compete with the efficiency of the more common silicon-based solar cell. The Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide(CIGS) thin-film solar cell recently reached 19.9% efficiency in testing at the lab, setting a new world record, as the NREL revealed on March 24 2008. (more…)

Solar Energy Company Sencera raises $3.6 Million to Build 1 Megawatt PV Manufacturing Platform
Charlotte, N.C., Apr 15, 2008
Source: Sencera International Corp./BusinessWire/TradingMarkets.com

Sencera International Corporation, a photovoltaic thin film module and systems developer, announced today that it has secured a $3.6 million equity investment. Funds will be used to accelerate increases in cell efficiency and to complete process integration of the Viper(TM) manufacturing platform. This process is projected to manufacture solar modules at a cost less than $1 per watt. The investment is led by The Quercus Trust. “The Quercus Trust has a long history of investing in the renewable energy sector,” stated Sencera CEO, Dr. Rusty Jewett. “We feel privileged to be part of their portfolio.” (more…)

April 17, 2008
Source: Money.CNN.com/Marketwire
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0387888.htm

Solar Thin Films, Inc. (OTCBB: SLTN) today announced that it has received an order from Grupo Unisolar, S.A. (“Grupo Unisolar”) to build a 5MW turn-key a-SI Module thin film photovoltaic manufacturing plant. The facility, which will be based in Spain, will be sold to Grupo Unisolar for an aggregate purchase price of $12,300,000. In connection with the sale of the plant, the Company also agreed to provide certain installation and testing services to Grupo Unisolar. Solar Thin Films CEO, Peter Lewis, stated, “We are delighted to be associated with Grupo Unisolar. Our thin film technology presents a solution that is both cost effective and environmentally friendly.” (more…)

Source: PVTech.Org News /15 April 2008
http://www.pv-tech.org/materials/article/fluor_given_epcm_services_contract_on_ldk_solars_1_billion_polysilicon_plan

LDK SolarFluor Corporation has officially stated that it has been awarded the contract for engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services by LDK Solar for its under-construction $1 billion, 15,000MT polysilicon plant in Xinyu City, Jiangxi, China.  “Fluor and LDK Solar are dedicated to bringing this fast-track project online to meet the increasing worldwide demand for polysilicon-based renewable energy sources,” said David Seaton, President of Fluor’s Energy & Chemicals Group. “With the increasing importance of the China market for Fluor’s energy & chemicals clients, we expect this world-class, state-of-the-art polysilicon facility to set the stage to meet this growing demand.” (more…)