Solar Cells Info

Vancouver, B.C., March 27, 2008
Source: Xantrex Technology Inc press release
http://www.xantrex.com/web/did/1800/readnews.asp

Xantrex Technology Inc. (TSX:XTX) announced today it has received a US$2 million order for grid-tie commercial solar inverters from Woojin Electric.  The order is for a combination of the Xantrex GT100 (100 kilowatt) and GT250 (250 kilowatt) three phase solar inverters which are targeted for eight solar projects in Korea.  Delivery of the Xantrex GT100 and GT250 grid-tie solar inverters will take place over the second quarter of 2008. (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.
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* 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: EMSNow.com /March 7, 2008
http://www.emsnow.com/npps/story.cfm?pg=story&id=32150

DEK has announced a complete metallization line for solar-cell production rated at 1200 wafers per hour, saving manufacturers the time and expense of commissioning and integrating equipment from multiple suppliers. The first showing of this new line will be at BTU’s Solar Lab Grand Opening, in Shanghai, 18-19 March 2008.
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By Chris Nuttall in San Francisco /March 5 2008
Source: Financial Times (ft.com)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/24e748fe-ea57-11dc-b3c9-0000779fd2ac.html

Applied Materials’ gamble on becoming a major supplier to the solar panel industry appeared to have paid off on Tuesday when it won a $1.9bn order, the biggest ever for its production equipment.  Analysts said the deal for the world’s largest supplier of equipment for the semiconductor industry was about five times bigger than any order it had ever received in its core business.
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Yukiko Kanoh, Nikkei Electronics /Feb 29, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080229/148271/

Sharp’s solar cell production (Source: Sharp’s estimates based on IEA PVPS Annual Report 2007). The amount through 1998 is a cumulative total.   Sharp Corp has announced its cumulative production of solar cells surpassed 2GW at the end of 2007. Sharp said it is the first solar cell manufacturer that has ever marked cumulative production of 2GW across the world.
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Tokyo,  Feb 27, 2008
Source: Reuters.com
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUST7784620080227

Japan’s Sharp Corp., which aims to become the world’s biggest maker of solar cells, is looking abroad to raise annual output of thin-film solar cells by sixfold to 6,000 megawatts after 2012 and beat silicon shortages.  Sharp aims to raise its annual thin-film solar cell production capacity “as soon as possible” after a planned new plant in Osaka, western Japan goes online by March 2010 with eventual output of 1,000 MW per year, Toshishige Hamano, corporate senior executive director, said on Wednesday.
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Alzenau / Alaquas (Valencia), February 26, 2008
Source. Schott Solar press release
http://www.schott.com/english/news/press.html?NID=2262
Cooperation with sales partner Saclima Solar Fotovoltaica expanded to more than 100 million euros on basis of long-term agreement

SCHOTT Solar has broadened its cooperation with sales partner Saclima Solar Fotovoltaica to expand the company’s presence on the Spanish market. Saclima has already been marketing SCHOTT Solar modules since 2005. Now the two partners have closed an agreement for the next five years with a volume of more than 100 million euros. Within the framework of this agreement, Saclima will add the SCHOTT Solar SCHOTT POLY 165 and SCHOTT POLY 220 modules to its sales program.
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Albequerque, NM, USA, 4 March 2008
Source. Schott Solar AG press release
http://www.schott.com/english/news/press.html?NID=2269

PV Modules and receivers for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Plants / Opening in 2009 with 350 jobs / Plans call for investment to grow to $500 million and workforce to expand to 1,500.

Executives from SCHOTT AG of Mainz, Germany, Governor Bill Richardson (D – NM) and local dignitaries ceremonially broke ground today for the company’s new manufacturing facility for SCHOTT Solar, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SCHOTT. The site, located in the Mesa del Sol region of Albuquerque, NM, will produce both photovoltaic (PV) modules and receivers for concentrated solar thermal power plants (CSP). Production is expected to begin as early as spring 2009.
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Large-scale solar panels expected to lower solar power’s cost
Murray Hill, NJ, March 04, 2008
Source: Business Wire
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/index.jsp?newsId=20080304006340

Solar energy is moving into a new phase in Taiwan with the start-up of the country’s first, large-scale thin film solar cell manufacturing plant. BOC Lien Hwa, Taiwan’s leading electronic gases supplier, has been selected to supply NexPower in Taichung, central Taiwan, with a wide range of high purity gases used in the manufacturing process.
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