Solar Cells Info

Changzhou,  China, May 6 /PRNewswire
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?
c=206405&p=irolnewsArticle&ID=1284983

Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) (“Trina Solar” or the “Company”), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules, today announced that the Company has expanded its European sales and marketing team.  Due to the continued development of its business initiatives in Europe and the growing demand for Trina Solar’s quality products in over 18 countries, the Company has expanded its Sales and Marketing team to better serve the established markets of Germany, Italy, France, and Spain, as well as the emerging markets such as the Czech Republic, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, and Greece. The Company is pleased to announce two new appointments, who joined the Company’s strong sales team in April 2009. (more…)

by Tom Cheyney, 27 May 2009
Source: PVTech.org
http://www.pvtech.org/news/_a/
u.s._department_of_energy_to_allocate_another_117.6_million_to_expand_accel/

Some $117.6 million will be allocated to solar-related projects out of $467 million in funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act designated to expand and accelerate the development, deployment, and use of geothermal and solar energy throughout the U.S. President Barack Obama said that the funding represents a substantial downpayment that will help the two renewables industries overcome technical barriers, demonstrate new technologies, and provide support for clean energy jobs for years to come. (more…)

Source:
http://www.worldofphotovoltaics.com/vbnews.php?do=viewarticle&artid=396&

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) will build between 100 and 400 electricity-generating mini solar power plants throughout North Carolina over the next two years in one of the first large-scale initiatives of its kind in the U.S., CEO Jim Rogers said today. “Solar and wind are both going to be key parts of our strategy going forward,” Rogers told reporters following the company’s annual meeting. (more…)

Source: WorldofPhotovoltaics.com /30 May 2009
http://www.worldofphotovoltaics.com/vbnews.php?do=viewarticle&artid=413

Ascent Solar Technologies Inc said Wednesday it has agreed to provide its thin-film photovoltaic modules for an energy efficient unmanned aerial vehicle being developed by Bye Aerospace.  The solar firm, based in Thornburg, Colorado, said in a statement today that Bye Aerospace has no contract for the airplane but that initial meetings are being conducted with U.S. government entities, according to CNET. (more…)

by Patrick O’Grady, May 11, 2009
Source: Phoenix Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/05/11/daily6.html

REC, based in San Luis Obispo, Calif., opened its Phoenix office several weeks ago touting more affordable prices for residential and smaller commercial users via lease options. It is the latest addition to a market that already includes California-based SolarCity, which hit town with a buy-in from Tempe-based First Solar Inc., and Scottsdale’s American Solar Electric, which teamed with SunRun, a California solar financing company, to offer lower cost entry points. (more…)

Los Gatos, CA – May 26, 2009
Source: TigoEnergy.com press release/ PRNewswire
http://sev.prnewswire.com/null/20090526/SF2247626052009-1.html

Tigo Energy, (www.tigoenergy.com), the solar company whose unique technology significantly increases efficiency in photovoltaic solar installations, announced today that it has closed the second round of funding.  The $10 million round was led by ICV, and joined by all existing investors (Matrix Partners, OVP and Clal Energy). The series B financing represented a significant premium to Tigo Energy’s first venture round which was funded in May of 2008. Meir Ukeles of ICV has joined the Tigo Board of Directors following the round. (more…)

Albuquerque, NM, May 20, 2009
Source: Emcore Corp. press release
http://www.emcore.com/news_events/release?y=2009&news=222

EMCORE Corporation, a leading provider of compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the fiber optic and solar power markets, announced today that Space Systems Loral (SS/L) has awarded a long term supply agreement contract to EMCORE’s Photovoltaics Division to manufacture and deliver high-efficiency, multi-junction solar cells for Space Systems/Loral’s spacecraft programs. The period of performance for the contract is 2009 through 2014 and the solar cells will be produced at EMCORE’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. (more…)

by CCN Matthews, Ottawa, Ontario, May 21, 2009
Source: Solid State Technology.com
http://www.solid-state.com/display_news/178340/5/HOME/Cyrium_touts_%3E40_efficient_multi-junction_solar_cells

Cyrium Technologies Inc., a designer and manufacturer of high efficiency photovoltaic solar cells, announced today that multi-junction solar cells produced by the company now exceed the performance of all commercially manufactured solar cells.  “Cyrium is pleased to set new performance standards for the solar cell suppliers to the Concentrator PhotoVoltaic (CPV) industry,” said Dr. Simon Fafard, founder and CTO of Cyrium Technologies. “We believe the exceptional performance of our 10mm square cell will enhance CPV’s business case and is a key to moving the cost of renewable solar energy toward grid parity.” (more…)

by Frost and Sullivan, London, 11 May 2009
http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/press-release.pag?docid=167428688

Increased competition and the global economic crisis have cast clouds upon the Western European solar energy market. Falling polysilicon and solar module prices have the potential to cement China’s role as a solar manufacturing hub. In terms of installed capacity, the United States is playing a greater role as more and more states are putting the renewable energy standards into existence. Despite these market developments and the current economic crisis, the future of Europe’s solar energy market continues to appear bright as new emerging markets within Europe may turn into strong performers. (more…)

by Tom Cheyney, PVTech, 26 May 2009
http://www.pv-ech.org/chip_shots/_a/
exclusive_a_conversation_with_first_solars_bruce_sohn_part_ii–we_sell_elec/

Although First Solar has indeed ramped 23 module production lines across its three manufacturing sites (with the 24th soon to follow), the company remains notoriously guarded about the inner workings of its processes and manufacturing facilities as well as its R&D activities. Not coming close to taking the bait, Sohn won’t answer any specific questions about film thickness uniformities or process temperature ranges or whether the research team is working on next-generation tandem-junction CdTe or even its own version of copper-indium-gallium-(di)selenide (CIGS). Nevertheless, he does shed some light on the company’s overall approach. (more…)