Applied Materials just announced that the Tandem junction SunFab Thin Film production line installed in Sunfilm’s Grossroehrsdorf factory has been certified and has achieved factory acceptance. The production line, the first of its type in the world, passed certification tests to produce solar modules at up to 8% efficiency. This milestone is important because tandem junction thin-film panels use 1/50th the amount of silicon per watt of electricity than traditional panels do. Using this technology … Read the rest
Category Archives: Solar Energy
Trina Solar (TSL) Announces 42MW In New Germany Orders
Trina Solar (TSL) is announcing 3 new sales agreements with (yet unnamed with the exception of Bull Solar for 12MW) customers in Germany for delivery this year and totaling 42MW which is about 20% of what the company delivered all of last year so a decent sized order.
“We are pleased to see continued demand growth from traditional markets such as Germany,” said Arturo Herrero, Trina Solar’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “With our … Read the rest
Applied Material’s (AMAT) Sunfab Thin-Film Panels Certified By Green Energy Technologies
Applied Materials just announced that its Sunfab line of thin-film panels has been certified by Green Energy Technologies. Now that the certification process is complete, GET can begin using the panels in large-scale solar projects throughout Taiwan.
In an article posted on PVtech.org, GET’s president, Mr. Hurlon Lin, commented, “The key to success in the solar market is the ability to drive down manufacturing cost by employing outstanding technology and manufacturing expertise. This is … Read the rest
Evergreen Solar Panels (ESLR) To Be Used in German EV Charging Station
Evergreen Solar’s solar panels will provide the juice for a new electric vehicle recharging station in Frankfurt, Germany. The station, which provides power for small electric vehicles like electric scooters, is located conveniently close to a shopping center, so customers can re-charge their EVs while they shop.
According to SustainableBusiness.com, here’s what Peter Rusch, Evergreen Solar’s director of marketing and sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, had to say about the installation:… Read the rest
Yingli Green Energy (YGE) Also Gets More Financing
Yesterday LDK Solar (LDK) announced it was receiving more capital from China banks and this morning Yingli (YGE) is announcing additional financing with the renewal of credit lines of up to RMB 1 billion with the Export-Import Bank of China which is owned by China’s central government. I think it’s clear that China is going to do whatever it takes to become a leader in solar cell manufacturing just as it wants to dominate the … Read the rest
Canadian Solar (CSIQ) Sets Up Research Facility in China
Canadian Solar (CSIQ) just announced that it will open a new research center in China. The opening of the center will mark the start of a 4 year research program, with the goal of raising solar cell conversion efficiencies and reducing production costs, to help solar power compete with conventional power. The company has arranged research partnerships with Dupont, the University of Toronto and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Dr. Shawn Qu, Canadian Solar’s Chairman and … Read the rest
FPL Group, Inc. (FPL) To Set Up Solar-Powered City
Do you want to live in a carbon-neutral city? There’s no longer any need to move to Masdar City in Dubai to make that dream a reality. FPL Group, Inc, just announced that it will work together with Kitson & Partners, a real estate investment firm, to build a carbon-neutral, zero-waste city right here in the USA. The city, which will be called Babcock Ranch and located in Florida, will be powered by a 75-MW … Read the rest
Soleos and Suntech In 30MW Supply Deal
It’s a real busy day in solar land. Suntech Power (STP) and Soleos Solar have entered into an agreement which has Suntech supplying Germany’s Soleos with at least 6MW of crystalline silicon PV modules in the first half of 2009 with the possibility of up to 30 MW over the course of the year.
David Mabille, Soleos’ CEO, remarked, “We are very pleased to extend our relationship with Suntech, who has a well-earned reputation for … Read the rest
First Solar (FSLR) To Expand Sempra Generation Plant to 58MW
First Solar (FSLR) has an agreement to expand the existing AC ground mounted solar power plant for Sempra Generation from 10 MW which it built last year to 48MW. FSLR will design, engineer and construct the power plant beginning construction this year and finishing next year, culminating in the largest PV power plant North America. The agreement is conditioned upon Sempra finding customers for the electricity and meeting state and local regulatory approvals.
First … Read the rest
Symyx Technologies (SMMX) Gets DOE Solar Thermal Energy Grant
Symyx Technologies (SMMX) has been awarded a grant by the US Dept of Energy to conduct research and develop advanced heat transfer fluids for use in solar thermal power generation in order to lower the cost of solar thermal energy electricity.
Current solar thermal power facilities provide energy by capturing radiation from the sun with reflective mirrors which then heats oil based fluids in pipes which in turn produces steam to power electricity turbines. Current … Read the rest