Order Focus: centrotherm SiTec wins competitive bid to supply crystalline ingot furnaces to STSIC

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Having supplied and commissioned a turnkey polysilicon plant to Chinese state company Shaanxi Tianhong Silicon Industrial Corporation Co. Ltd. (STSIC) in 2009, centrotherm SiTec has now won a competitive bid to supply crystalline ingot furnaces to STSIC. The deal is in the single-digit million euro range, according to the company. Read more

RENA and Synova form selective emitter technology joint venture

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 11:15 (PV-Tech)

Having already received several orders for its selective emitter technology, RENA and Synova have entered into a joint venture agreement to further develop their Laser Chemical Processing technology (LCP) and equipment for high-volume cell production applications. The LCP technology was developed in cooperation with the Fraunhofer ISE Institute and is claimed to enable an absolute 1% increase in the efficiency of solar cells due to front-side contacts being 50% thinner than conventional cells, allowing greater surface area. Read more

Sharp closes acquisition deal with Recurrent Energy

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 2:07 (PV-Tech)

Recurrent Energy and Sharp have finalized a definitive agreement, which will see Sharp buy Recurrent Energy once the closing conditions and regulatory approvals are completed. The final closing date is expected to occur by the end of 2010, at which time Sharp will pay up to US$305 million in cash, contingent to balance sheet adjustments, in order to purchase 100% stake from Recurrent shareholders. Read more

Solarcentury sees sales grow and listed in Sunday Times Tech Track 100

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 16:41 (Solarpowerportal)

According to the latest Sunday Times Tech Track 100, UK-based solar systems integrator and distributor, Solarcentury has been noted for being the fastest growing private energy company in the UK. Read more

Project Focus: REC Solar installs 5,400 Kyocera modules at Castle Rock Vineyards

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

A total of 5,400 Kyocera 210 watt modules have been used by REC Solar to provide a 1.1MW solar system for Castle Rock Vineyards in Delano, California, which is expected to provide approximately 69% (1.7 MWh pa) of the power requirements for its cold storage facility. The project was financed by Rabobank, N.A., a community bank that provides solar financing to California farms, businesses and public organizations. Read more

Project Focus: SunPower modules to be used in 10MW power plant for White Oak Solar Energy

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Having completed project financing for its 10MW Dover SUN Park to be constructed in Dover, Delaware, White Oak Solar Energy has contracted with SunPower to provide its E19 modules and trackers. Site preparation activities will commence in the near term, with equipment installation expected to commence in January.  Commercial operation of the Dover SUN Park is scheduled for summer of 2011. Read more

DuPont ahead of US$1 billion solar sales target

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

With its plethora of products targeting PV manufacturing, DuPont had previously made a bold statement that it expected sales into the sector to have reached US$1.0 billion in 2011. However, with 2010 already becoming a record year for PV installations, DuPont believes it surpass the billion dollar target a full-year ahead of schedule.  Read more

Solargiga and Liaoning enter JV for 500MW multicrystalline silicon solar wafers and ingots project

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 2:04 (PV-Tech)

Solargiga Energy Holdings and Liaoning Oxiranchem have agreed on entering a joint venture for the production of 500MW capacity multicrystalline silicon solar ingots and wafers. Construction on the project, located in Longqiwan New Zone, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China, will be divided into two separate phases over a five year period. The first phase will hold a capacity of 200MW... Read more

Project Focus: enXco and Portland General Electric receive approval for 2.84MW installations

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 1:58 (PV-Tech)

The Yamhill County Planning Commission gave its final approval to enXco and Portland General Electric to construct two solar installations totaling 2.84MW in Willamette Valley near Salem, Oregon. The companies signed two power purchase agreements, which have enXco developing, building and owning the solar projects, while PGE purchases the generated electricity under a 25-year PPA. Read more

Project Focus: Mammoth Water District to collaborate with SPG Solar in building 1MW solar system

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 1:54 (PV-Tech)

The Mammoth Community Water District (MCWD) approved a step that will see the District’s wastewater and recycled water treatment plant and the pumps that deliver reclaimed water to Sierra Star being powered by a renewable energy source in the form of a 1.05MW solar installation. SPG Solar agreed to the project, which the District claims will be Mono County’s largest installed solar PV system. Over 2,000,000kWh of electricity are expected to be produced at the site per year. Read more

Project Focus: Colorado State University?s solar plant to get a 3.3MW upgrade

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 1:50 (PV-Tech)

Colorado State University will be expanding its 2MW solar power facility, which was completed in December 2009, with the help of Fotowatio Renewable Ventures. The 3.3MW expansion will be constructed next to the existing system on CSU’s Chrisman Field and be completed within four months. With the additional solar project installation, the University is set to have 5.3MW of solar power production on their campus, which they claim is the largest solar plant at a U.S. university. Read more

North Branch and Optimus Energy complete pilot testing; prepare for 5MW project

Thursday, 9.23.2010 - 2:02 (PV-Tech)

North Branch Holding (NBH) and Optimus Energy Systems (OES) completed pilot-production testing of the PV solar system at the NBH-OES Mexicali Proving Grounds in Sonora, Mexico. NBH advised that their production platform had exceeded its expected performance, which was predicted by NREL’s Solar Advisory Model. OES will now construct a 5MW project as the first phase of the SLRC site. Read more