Solar Cells Info

Source:
http://www.globalsolar.com/

Global Solar has developed a proprietary process for manufacturing (“roll-roll” manufacturing) thin-film Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) photovoltaic (PV) modules. Unlike traditional solar panels that are rigid, heavy and fragile, Global Solar’s thin-film solar modules are lightweight, flexible and durable. While other companies produce CIGS on glass, Global Solar is the only company with CIGS on flexible materials. (more…)

Berlin/ Carmignano di Brenta , February 5, 2008
Source: SOLON press release
http://www.solonag.com/

SOLON S.p.A. (formerly S. E. Project s.r.l.), the recently renamed Italian subisidiary of SOLON AG, Berlin/ Germany, and the largest manufacturer of photovoltaic modules in Italy is strengthening its leading position in the fast growing Italian photovoltaic market by building a new production site for solar modules in Carmignano di Brenta, Province of Padova. The new factory will have an annual capacity of 120 Megawatts bringing up the total production capacity of the company to 150 Megawatts by the end of 2008. In the course of this expansion, 200 additional jobs will be created at the Carmignano site, raising the total number of employees to 300 by the end of 2008. The total investment for the expansion will amount to 25 Mio. Euro. (more…)

San Francisco, CA USA; Febuary 14, 2008
Source: Press Release from Kaco Solar /RenewableEnergyResources.com
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=51513

Carlos Babij and his wife Duffy were flown to beautiful Neckarsulm Germany. They were able to learn first hand how KACO Solar, Inc. is committed to the production of top of the line inverters. “KACO is an exemplary company. They really talk the talk AND walk the walk when it comes to energy efficiency and ensuring zero emissions manufacturing. It was great to see it in person.” Carlos Babij, SPG Solar

For many folks their Solar Power 2007 Expo in Long Beach agenda was packed with beautifully orchestrated parties. Most companies hosted an event that had been planned for months prior. KACO Solar was no different. In addition to hosting over 100 of their closest partners and potential clients on a pleasure cruise ship for a few relaxing hours taking in the beautiful views of the Long Beach coastline, KACO offered their guests the opportunity to participate in a raffle on board. The grand prize was a free trip for two to Neckarsulm, Germany; home to KACO headquarters and manufacturing facilities. After giving away a handful of great prizes including KACO products and gift certificates Carlos Babij of SPG Solar was chosen by Sue Kateley of CAL SEIA from a KACO cap as the lucky winner of the trip. Carlos was ecstatic and swore on board “I’ve never won anything like this before in my life!” (more…)

Tokyo, February 18, 2008
Source: Reuters
(Reporting by Mayumi Negishi and Nathan Layne; Editing by Eric Burroughs)

Japan’s Sharp Corp., fighting to remain the top maker of solar cells, will develop tools to make solar cells with Tokyo Electron Ltd <8035.T> amid growing demand for clean energy.  Sharp, which is building a 100 billion yen ($925 million) factory for thin-film solar cells, and rivals such as Germany’s Q-Cells are vying to boost the production capacity of solar cells as silicon supplies tighten.
(more…)

Sales Offices Strengthen Suntech’s European Network and Broaden Ability to Serve Local Customer Base
San Francisco, CA, Feb. 19, 2008
Source: Suntech Power Holdings Co., press release
http://www.suntech-power.com/News/tabid/99/Default.aspx?id=312&Module=597

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) one of the world’s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced the opening of sales offices in Germany and Spain to strengthen Suntech’s European sales network and broaden local customer service capabilities.  “We are very pleased to expand our sales and customer service capabilities in Europe with the opening of these two offices in Germany and Spain.  Our on the ground presence will help us to manage the exceptional demand for Suntech solar products that we are seeing in both Germany and Spain in 2008,” said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech’s Chairman and CEO.  “Establishing regional sales centers and localizing our sales staff is central to our commitment to deliver exceptional customer service and we are confident it will enable us to forge stronger customer relationships and improve our ability to respond to customer needs.”
(more…)

Tokyo, February 5, 2008
Source: Asahi Glass Co. press release
http://www.agc.co.jp/english/news/2008/0205e_3.pdf

Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. (Head office: Tokyo; President & CEO: Masahiro Kadomatsu) has decided to enhance glass production facilities for solar cells. Spending about 13 billion yen in total, Asahi Glass will establish a new furnace for the cover glass of solar cells (production capacity: 240 tons/day; 7 million m²/year) and an AR coating line at subsidiary AGC Flat Glass (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (Head office: Suzhou, Jiangsu, China), as well as
set up an additional TCO coating line (production capacity: 6 million m²/year) at the Aichi plant (Taketoyo-cho, Chita-gun, Aichi Prefecture). The cover glass production facility is expected to start mass production in the
second quarter 2009 and the TCO coating line in the fourth quarter 2008.
(more…)

Waterloo, ON, Jan. 7, 2008
Source. Arise Technologies Corp. press release
http://www.arisetech.com/content/view/169/98/

ARISE Technologies Corporation (“ARISE” or the “Company”) (TSX: APV) is pleased to announce that its Silicon Feedstock Mini Pilot Plant is now operational and that polysilicon has successfully been produced in the Silicon Refining Furnace (SiRF(TM: 104.64, +0.70, +0.67%)). The Mini Pilot Plant is located at the Company’s Waterloo facility.
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Nov 23, 2007
Source: EMSNow.com /source & copyright: CENS
http://www.emsnow.com/npps/story.cfm?id=30321&pg=story

Taiwanese insiders of the photovoltaic industry have recently reported that a leading European supplier of solar-cell manufacturing equipment is studying the feasibility of setting up its Asian research and development center in Taiwan or Singapore.  They say the investment will cost around 60 million Swiss franc (US$55 million at US$1:1.09 CHF) and will be finalized in December at the earliest.
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WACKER SCHOTT Solar will produce multicrystalline silicon wafers for solar cells
Jena, Oct 29, 2007
Source:SCHOTT Solar press release
http://www.schott.com/english/news/press.html

New production facility expected to reach a capacity of 100 megawatts already by the end of 2008.  Today, the two German companies SCHOTT AG (Mainz) and Wacker Chemie AG (Munich) officially laid the cornerstone for a new silicon solar wafer manufacturing facility of their joint venture WACKER SCHOTT Solar GmbH in Jena, Germany. By April 2008, both partners will be completing stage one of their joint wafer production facility in Jena with total capital expenditures of approx. €50 million. (more…)

75 million euro investment creates 180 new jobs –
Source: SCHOTT Solar press release / Nov. 6, 2007
http://www.schott.com/english/news/press.html

Today, SCHOTT, the technology group based in Mainz, Germany, inaugurated industrial mass production of thin-film solar modules in Jena by its subsidiary, SCHOTT Solar GmbH. By investing a total of 75 million euros towards a state-of-the art manufacturing facility with a module capacity of 33 megawatts (MW) per year, SCHOTT will be creating an additional 180 jobs at its Jena site.
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