Suntech just announced that they will be building a PV module manufacturing plant in the vicinity of Phoenix, Arizona. Once complete, the plant will have a 30 MW capacity. The plant should start production in late 2010, and will help Suntech provide better service to its US customers. It will also make Suntech’s production process more environmentally friendly, as it will reduce the carbon dioxide emitted from shipping product overseas to the US.
In a … Read the rest
Suntech just announced that it has begun construction on its 50 MW solar plant in Jiangsu, China. Suntech is working with Huadian New Energy Development Company to build the plant. The company will design the plant and install 37,000 of its own PV solar panels. Suntech will also own a minority stake in the plant once it is built.
The first, 10MW phase of the plant could be in operation later this year. … Read the rest
Suntech just announced that they will start shipping a larger solar power system suitable for utility-sized projects later on in the year. The system, called Reliathon, will be available starting next year, and can be used for projects greater than 10 MW in scope.
By reducing the number of bolts and the amount of wiring required for the Reliathon system, Suntech has managed to reduce its installation costs by 10%. Two years from now, the … Read the rest
Energy Conversion Devices just announced that it has been selected by Recurrent Energy to provide 4.8MW of its UNI-SOLAR photovoltaic (PV) laminates to be used on eight building rooftops at 2 business parks owned by Prologis in Spain. Energy Conversion Devices’ Solar Integrated subsidiary will provide development resources.
In a press release, Mark Morelli, Energy Conversion Device’s president and CEO, commented on the deal:
This new agreement is the first example of the benefits … Read the rest
Applied Materials just announced that it has been awarded a 5-year contract by ENN Solar Energy Co., Ltd. Under the contract, Applied Materials will provide maintenance, spare parts management, and analytical services for the Applied SunFab™ Thin Film Line at ENN’s solar plant in Langfang, China. Applied Material’s expertise will help ENN obtain optimum performance and the best possible output from the line.
In a press release, representatives from both companies commented on the … Read the rest
Yingli Green Energy just announced a cooperation and supply agreement with SiC Processing AG to recycle its silicon manufacturing waste. Under the agreement, SiC, which has a processing facility inside Yingli’s Baoding plant, will double its capacity to be able to handle Yingli’s exhausted siicon cutting slurries, from 15,000 tons to 30,000 tons. The expansion will be completed by next year, and SiC will supply the recycled silicon components exclusively to Yingli until 2020.
In … Read the rest
Together with its partner Jianwei Solar, Evergreen Solar held a groundbreaking ceremony today in Wuhan, China to mark the start of the construction of their 100 MW manufacturing plants. During the ceremony, leaders from both companies were joined by political leaders from Wuhan City and Hubei province. Construction on the plant began last month and is set to be completed by next spring.
In a press release, Evergreen Solar Chairman, President and CEO Richard … Read the rest
Yingli Green Energy just announced that it will supply its PV solar modules to SDIC Huajing. Yingli was selected by SDIC Huajing to supply the company with solar modules to power its 10 MW on-grid solar power plant project in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. The plant has already been given the green light by the province’s Development and Reform Commission.
In a company press release, executives from both companies commented on the agreement:
“We are … Read the rest
First Solar just announced that it expects to slash its manufacturing costs by a third over the next 5 years. The company expects to cut costs from 92 cents per watt to between 52 and 62 cents per watt. First Solar expects to achieve its cost per watt goals by improving the conversion efficiency of its cadmium telluride panels to somewhere between 16 and 18 percent.
In an article posted on Reuters, First Solar … Read the rest
Ascent Solar just announced that they have manufactured a flexible, lightweight monolithically interconnected CIGS solar module on a polyimide substrate that is 5 meters long. This is the longest monolithically interconnected CIGS module ever manufactured. It was created using equipment that is being tested for use in the 30MW manufacturing facility that Ascent Solar is currently constructing. When tested, it produced 123 watts of power at 9.1% aperture area efficiency.
In a press release, Ascent … Read the rest