Solar Cells Info

Littleton, CO, March 20, 2008
Source: United Press International (UPI)
http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Industry/Briefing/
2008/03/20/air_force_contracts_for_solar_cell_tech/2538/

The U.S. Air Force says it has selected Colorado-based Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. to develop highly efficient solar cell technology. Ascent Solar, a designer of thin-film photovoltaic modules for solar cells, has received a phase II contract from the Air Force to research a way to achieve a 20 percent efficiency rate in flexible thin-film tandem solar cells. The Air Force Small Business Innovative Research initiative under the Office of the Secretary of Defense announced the deal potentially worth approximately $750,000. (more…)

German company Concentrix Solar has won an innovation award for its photovoltaic concentrator technology.
Source: EnvironmentalResearchWeb, Mar 13, 2008
http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/futures/33333

Awarded by the Wirtschaftsclub Rhein-Main, an association of German companies, the prize recognizes the innovation of the company’s Flatcon technology. Concentrix claims the use of concentrator technology means cells achieve twice the efficiency when compared with conventional photovoltaics and gives cost savings of 10 to 20% for electric power production, depending on the location. (more…)

Source: SemiconductorToday.com / 19 March 2008
http://www.semiconductor-today.com/news_items/2008/MARCH/SUNOVIA_190308.htm

Sunovia Energy Technologies Inc of Sarasota, FL, USA and infrared sensor and imaging firm EPIR Technologies Inc of Bolingbrook, IL, USA say that they are collaborating with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETH Zurich) on the further development of cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells.  The collaboration provides the firms with key experience and knowledge related to solar cell development and manufacturing, and should expedite product development efforts, specifically involving the development of CdTe thin-film solar cells including the use of flexible plastic substrates. (more…)

Motonobu Kawai, Nikkei Microdevices / Mar 21, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080321/149296/

Mitsubishi Electric Corp scored a world record conversion efficiency rate of 18.6% in a multicrystalline Si solar cell. The cell uses the company’s new technology called “honeycomb texture,” which was unveiled in February 2008. The efficiency rate was measured at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, a public standards agency in Japan. (more…)

Rosemead, CA, Mar 27, 2008
Source: Southern California Edison press release /BusinessWire
http://www.edison.com/investors/ir_news.asp?id=7003

Southern California Edison (SCE) today launched the nation’s largest solar cell installation, a project that will place 250 megawatts of advanced photovoltaic generating technology on 65 million square feet of roofs of Southern California commercial buildings – enough power to serve approximately 162,000 homes.  “These are the kinds of big ideas we need to meet California’s long-term energy and climate change goals,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “I urge others to follow in their footsteps. If commercial buildings statewide partnered with utilities to put this solar technology on their rooftops, it would set off a huge wave of renewable energy growth.” (more…)

Erfurt, 28 March 2008
Source: Ersol press release
http://www.ersol.de/en/newsmediarelations/pressreleases/pressrelease/
news/1206640093/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=35&cHash=c9d9e3dc6f

With the publication of its audited financial statements for 2007 ersol Solar Energy AG (ersol) today confirms its preliminary revenue figures (2007: € 160.2 million, previous year: € 127.8 million). The operating result (EBIT) grew by 10.1% to € 22.3 million (previous year: € 20.3 million). Notwithstanding substantial expansion activities, in 2007 the Company thus posted the highest turnover and best operating results in its 10-year history. The EBIT margin stood at 13.9%, compared to 15.9% in the previous year. Due to the strong increase in the negative financial result (€ -8.9 million) there was a decline in the profit after taxes compared to the previous year (2007: € 8.7 million, previous year: € 12.3 million). Earnings per share – diluted by the capital increase in summer 2007 and reduced by increased expenditure for interest and currency hedging transactions – were only € 0.85. In 2006 this figure was € 1.25 and thus 47.1 % higher. A significant increase is anticipated for 2008.
(more…)

* Major contract covering the supply of metallurgical silicon concluded
* Establishment of an in-house wafer production in Malaysia
* Group to start manufacturing ingots
* Further expansion of thin-film technology activities decided
* New business area: planning and development of large-scale PV facilities
* Forecasts for fiscal 2008 and 2009 revised upwards

Bitterfeld-Wolfen, 27 March 2008
Source: Q-Cells.com press release
http://www.qcells.de/cmadmin_2_542_0.html

Today, on 27 March 2008, Q-Cells AG the world’s largest manufacturer of solar cells, presented its annual report for fiscal 2007 at a balance sheet press conference in Frankfurt/Main. The Company has confirmed its provisional figures.
With a production volume of 389.2 MWp, Q-Cells became the world’s largest manufacturer of solar cells last year. Sales rose by 59 % to EUR 858.9 million (EUR 539.5 million). Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) grew by 52 % to EUR 197.0 million (EUR 129.4 million). The EBIT margin, at 23 %, was therefore maintained at the high level of the previous year. Net income without the income contribution from the stake in Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC) amounted to EUR 127.2 million (EUR 87.7 million). Total net income stood at EUR 148.4 million in 2007, which is an
increase of 69% on the figure for the previous year. (more…)

Source: AzoOptics.com / March 26, 2008
http://azooptics.com/Details.asp?newsID=2220

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. today announced that its German solar partner, Asola Advanced and Automotive Solar Systems GmbH, has won a $20 million contract from Krannich Solar, for the supply of high-efficiency silicon photovoltaic solar modules. Krannich Solar, which is one of the largest solar system providers in Europe, will take delivery of Asola’s high quality products in 2008. (more…)

Horizontal Deployment of Thin-Film Technology for TFT LCDs – Annual Production Capacity on 1 GW Scale
Tokyo, Japan, Mar 27, 2008
Source:Sharp Corporation / press release
http://sharp-world.com/corporate/news/080327.html

Sharp Corporation has made a total capital investment of approximately 72 billion yen to build a thin-film solar cell plant in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture that is capable of boosting annual production up to a scale of 1 GW per year.  Production will begin by March 2010 with a 480 MW initial production capacity for solar cells. Combined with the 160 MW capacity of the Katsuragi Plant (Nara Prefecture), this will expand Sharp’s global total production capacity for thin-film solar cells to 1 GW in April 2010. (more…)

Bedford, MA, March 28, 2008
Source: Spire Corp. press release / BusinessWire /
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=76421&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1122993

Spire Corporation, (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules worldwide, today announced it will participate in the 2008 Photon Photovoltaic Technology Show in Munich, Germany from April 2 to April 4, 2008. Spire Corporation’s Chairman and CEO, Roger Little, along with senior members of Spire’s management team, will attend the conference.
(more…)