Solar Cells Info

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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Masaaki Maruyama, Industry-University Collaboration Managing Office /
Source: TechOn /Mar 3, 2008
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080303/148336/

Feasibility test of wavelength conversion material for solar cells using Eu complex. Tests on durability, etc, are being conducted at Sanvic’s Hosoe Plant (photo courtesy of AIST)  Nanoarchitectonics Research Center of Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) developed a light wavelength conversion material for use in crystalline silicon solar cells. (more…)

Satoshi Ookubo, Nikkei Electronics /Feb 27, 2008
Source. TechOn.com
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080227/148136/

Peccell Technologies Inc prototyped a large-size solar cell module measuring 2.1 x 0.8m. The company developed a transparent conductive dye-sensitized solar cell using a plastic substrate in collaboration with Fujimori Kogyo Co Ltd and Showa Denko KK.

With the use of plastic substrate, the 0.5mm thick module is flexible and weighs only 800g/m2. According to Peccell, it is the lightest solar cell and the largest in the world for a dye-sensitized cell. The module conversion efficiency is expected to be approximately 3%. When installed indoors, the output voltage of the module exceeds 100V.  The module is on display at the 1st International Photovoltaic Power Generation Expo (PV EXPO 2008) from Feb 27-28, 2008. (more…)

New York, Mar. 5, 2008
Source: Associated Press/CNNMoney.com
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-23555617.htm

Makers of thin-film solar products are under pressure to increase efficiency levels if polysilicon costs fall as predicted in coming years.  Thin-film products have a leg up on silicon-based solar panels because they are relatively cheap. That’s because they are largely isolated from skyrocketing silicon costs, which have been propelled by surging demand in recent years.
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by Nuying Huang, Taipei; Esther Lam,
Source: DIGITIMES, 7 March 2008
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20080307PD215.html

Amid the planned volume production of thin-film solar cells in mid-2008, NexPower Technology announced that it has signed an gas supply contract with BOC Lien Hwa (BOCLH). Under a long-term agreement, BOCLH will provide NexPower with turnkey installations for special gas supply systems and ongoing delivery of the gases essential to making of thin-film solar cells. The gases include large volumes of silane and hydrogen gas, used to deposit silicon light absorber layers on large sheets of glass, and cleaning gases used to remove silicon deposits from the process chambers.
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By Emily Masamitsu /March 6, 2008
Source: Popular Mechanics.com
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/4253464.html
Konarka has developed its affordable Power Plastic film with several manufacturing techniques, from an early proprietary printing process to a new breakthrough with inkjet printers that should dramatically reduce costs, with applications including sensors and RFID. (more…)

Thin Film Solar Technology Company Receives Funding to Advance Nanostructured Materials Surfacing
West Sacromento, CA, Feb 28, 2008
Source: Bloo Solar press release /BusinessWire

Bloo Solar announced today that is has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.  “The NSF grant will enable Bloo to demonstrate a new technique that enables the creation of ultra smooth and ultra rough surfaces on tiny wires, one tenth the diameter of a red blood cell,” said Dr. Ruxandra Vidu, Bloo’s director of R&D. “Controlling how rough or smooth we want the surface of our materials with atomic-scale precision enables Bloo to apply materials to its advanced solar cell architecture reliably and precisely, while producing greater strength, straightness and stability.” (more…)

Proprietary Device to Power Vehicle Data Monitoring Technology
Los Angeles, CA, March 4, 2008
Source: Clear Skies Group press release /BusinessWire
http://www.clearskiesgroup.com/finance.htm

Clear Skies Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clear Skies Solar, Inc. (OTCBB:CSKH), today announced the delivery of 25 units of its new, proprietary Solar Power Supply (SPS) to a New Jersey-based vehicle monitoring company.  With a charging period of only two days of sunlight, the SPS will power sensitive electronic data monitoring devices for up to 14 days without sunshine. (more…)

Breakthrough Development of Manufactured Solar Cells by Inkjet Printing Positions Konarka as Emerging Leader in Printed Photovoltaics
Lowell, MA, March 4, 2008
Source Konarka Technologies Inc. press release /Business Wire
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/index.jsp?newsId=20080304005453

Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in development and commercialization of Power Plastic®, a material that converts light to energy, today announced the company successfully conducted the first-ever demonstration of manufacturing solar cells by highly efficient inkjet printing. The company discusses and analyzes the performance of highly efficient inkjet printed organic bulk heterojunction solar cells in a paper recently published in Advanced Materials, entitled, “High Photovoltaic Performance of Inkjet Printed Polymer:Fullerene Blends” by Dr. Stelios A. Choulis, Claudia N. Hoth, Dr. Pavel Schilinsky and Dr. Christoph J. Brabec, all of Konarka.
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Escalating oil prices are pushing operators to use alternative energies to power cellular base stations in remote areas of the world
by Jack Ewing, Europe /Feb. 20, 2008
Source: BusinessWeek.com
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/feb2008/gb20080220_277413.htm

Mobile phones long ago began conquering parts of the world that are far away from the nearest electrical substation. But the rising price of oil is exposing a problem with the networks that connect mobile handsets together.  In the far reaches of places like India or Africa, where companies such as Ericsson (ERIC) or Nokia Siemens Networks, a joint venture of Nokia (NOK) and Siemens (SI), are installing new cellular base stations at a furious pace, the facilities almost always get their power from diesel-powered generators. (more…)