NanoMarkets: CIGS PV market to grow nine-fold by 2018

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 17:42 (Solarserver)

On September 1st, NanoMarkets LLC (Glen Allen, Virginia, U.S.) released a new white paper stating that while copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has achieved the highest laboratory efficiencies of all thin-films, it is not yet competitive with crystalline silicon PV. However, the company states that capacity expansions and growing investment activity are signaling renewed interest, and that it expects CIGS revenues to increase nine-fold to USD 5.41 billion from 2011 to 2018. Read more

EU PVSEC: Neo Solar Power launches monocrystalline solar cell with 19% efficiency

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 15:10 (PV-Tech)

Taiwanese PV module-manufacturer Neo Solar Power (NSP) today announced the launch of its Black19 solar cell. The 6-inch monocrystalline cell can achieve an efficiency of over 19%, according to NSP, with 60 and 72 cells generating 260W and 310W respectively. Read more

Sanyo solar modules resist severe salt and humidity

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 13:38 (Solarpowerportal)

Sanyo announced Monday its popular brand of HIT N- and H-series solar modules has passed the IEC 61701 standard test for salt mist corrosion. Read more

DOE awards USD 145 million through SunShot initiative

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 13:16 (Solarserver)

On September 1st, 2011, The U.S. Department of Energy announced that it will award more than USD 145 million to 69 projects to lower costs and increase efficiencies of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems through its SunShot Initiative. The grants cover a range of technologies, processes and approaches. Grants include a USD 13 million award to Owens Corning (Toledo, Ohio, U.S.) and Solexel Inc. (Milpitas, California, U.S.) and a USD 12.8 million award to Dow Solar (Midland, Michigan, U.S.), both to advance their building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technologies. Read more

Sanyo solar cells graduate from salt mist corrosion test

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 13:14 (PV-Tech)

Sanyo?s range of HIT N- and H-series solar cells has achieved the highest stress rating for salt mist corrosion, the company announced Monday. Read more

Sanyo solar modules graduate from salt mist corrosion test

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 13:14 (PV-Tech)

Sanyo?s range of HIT N- and H-series solar modules has achieved the highest stress rating for salt mist corrosion, the company announced Monday. Read more

PV research and development: Solar cell metallization, long-term-stable copper metallization and industrially feasible processes enabled 21.4 % efficiency

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 13:14 (Solarserver)

Reductions in the electricity generation costs for photovoltaics (PV) can be reached through two mechanisms: improving the efficiency of solar cells and reducing their production costs. With advanced processes for metallization of solar cells, both effects can be reached at the same time. In the "ETAlab" at Fraunhofer ISE (Freiburg, Germany) ? the laboratory for new solar cell structures and processing steps ? the technology of producing solar cell contacts 100% from low-cost materials has been achieved. Read more

EU PVSEC: Power-One to unveil new utility-scale inverter concept

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 12:58 (PV-Tech)

Power-One will unveil new patent-pending inverter technology that promises to address the demands of the next generation of utility-scale commercial applications and solar parks at this year?s EU PVSEC in Hamburg. The company will also showcase the latest products from its Aurora family of inverters, designed for rooftop installations. Read more

EU PVSEC: Slew of new metallization pastes launched at EU PVSEC as it is time for pedal to the metal

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 12:15 (PV-Tech)

With PV solar cell manufacturing advances a cornerstone of the 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) in Hamburg, Germany this week as a number of materials providers are showcasing new products intended to push cell efficiencies higher and manufacturing cost lower. Front-side metallization paste materials in particular are a hotbed of development due to the rising cost of silver. However, competition in the sector would seem to be heating-up and a legal spat has erupted just days before EU PVSEC. Read more

EU PVSEC: Fraunhofer ISE highlights copper solar cell metallization

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 12:00 (PV-Tech)

Fraunhofer ISE is showcasing future cost reductions and higher cell efficiencies using industrially feasible galvanic processes, primarily copper at the 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition from 5-9 September in Hamburg (Hall A4, Stand C11). ISE has demonstrated 21.4 % efficiency cells (2x2 cm²) with long-term-stable copper metallization and is now working on migrating the results to industry standard wafer sizes. Read more

Owens Corning and Solexel receive $13 million from DOE for BIPV projects

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 11:46 (PV-Tech)

The US Department of Energy has granted Owens Corning and Solexel $13 million to develop building-integrated photovoltaic projects. The building materials-manufacturer and crystalline PV module-manufacturer hope to combine their respective technologies to produce new and affordable solar roofing systems. Read more

EU PVSEC: Aurora Control Technologies to debut in-line emitter dopant measurement system

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 10:08 (PV-Tech)

Aurora Control Technologies is launching at the 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) in Hamburg, Germany for the first time a new in-line emitter dopant measurement system, dubbed ?Decima CI.? The system is claimed to be the industry?s first in-line, non-contact emitter dopant measurement system featuring whole-wafer mapping at full production throughput for 100% of manufactured cells. Read more

Aurora Control Technologies to debut in-line emitter dopant measurement system at EU PVSEC

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 10:08 (PV-Tech)

Aurora Control Technologies is launching at the 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) in Hamburg, Germany for the first time a new in-line emitter dopant measurement system, dubbed ?Decima CI.? The system is claimed to be the industry?s first in-line, non-contact emitter dopant measurement system featuring whole-wafer mapping at full production throughput for 100% of manufactured cells. Read more

EU PVSEC: DuPont and Taiflex Scientific offering new PV module backsheet options

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 9:40 (PV-Tech)

A recently signed a licensing agreement with see Taiflex Scientific offer its ?Solmate? backsheet, coupled to DuPont?s new ?TPNext? laminate, which is based on DuPont?s ?Tedlar? polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) backsheet film. DuPont Photovoltaic Fluoromaterials developed the new backsheet technology to enhance the quality and manufacturability of c-Si-based modules by improving adhesion to encapsulants, resistance to ultraviolet (UV) light and enabling faster throughput in the backsheet production process, an area receiving constant attention to help drive down manufacturing costs. Read more

New study by EPIA finds that solar PV could compete with grid electricity in Europe by 2020

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 23:51 (PV-Tech)

According to a new study by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), select European markets hold the potential to be competitive with grid electricity as early as 2013, with all the European markets reaching the same level by 2020. In its Solar Photovoltaics Competing in the Energy Sector report, EPIA found that over the past two decades, PV technology has had major price reductions, including a 20% decrease in the price of PV modules every time the cumulative solar volume of PV modules has doubled. Read more

EU PVSEC: Schott Solar promise future technology

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

The world record holder for monocrystalline screen-printed solar cell efficiency, Schott Solar, will unveil further new lightweight modules and efficient prototypes at this year?s EU PVSEC in Hamburg. Read more

EU PVSEC: Schott Solar promises future technology

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

The world record holder for monocrystalline screen-printed solar cell efficiency, Schott Solar, will unveil further new lightweight modules and efficient prototypes at this year?s EU PVSEC in Hamburg. Read more

Canadian solar supplies 70 MW of PV modules for Germany's largest project; built by EPC company GP JOULE

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 17:41 (Solarserver)

Canadian Solar Inc. on October 2nd, 2011 announced that the Company supplied its high quality solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for Germany's largest solar power plant. Built by GP JOULE GmbH the open-space solar power plant has a specified output of 70 MW and occupies a 152 hectare surface in the Southern Brandenburg region of Eastern Germany. Read more

Solar industry reaching out to German soccer fans; Germany Trade & Invest to share the latest market opportunities at EU PVSEC 2011

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 17:40 (Solarserver)

With German soccer season in full swing, international solar companies are aggressively marketing to the country's die-hard soccer fans. On jerseys and in soccer stadiums from Bayern München to Dortmund, fans are courted by the biggest names in the industry. This aims at confirming the ongoing importance of the German market and illustrates the emerging battle for brand recognition among end customers. Read more

Calisolar to build 16,000 MTY polysilicon plant in Mississippi

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 17:38 (Solarserver)

On September 2nd, 2011, Calisolar Inc. (Sunnyvale, California, U.S.) announced plans to build a new polysilicon production facility with an annual capacity of 16,000 metric tons in Lowndes County in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The new USD 600 million plant will produce silicon metal for internal consumption and solar silicon to be sold to Calisolar customers. Calisolar made the announcement the same day that the Mississippi legislature approved a USD 75 million incentive package for the plant. Read more

All signs point to savings for Oatridge

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 17:19 (Solarpowerportal)

In one of Scotland’s largest solar power projects, Oatridge College in West Lothian is set to save 60% on its National Grid energy demands as well as thousands of pounds a year on electricity and gas bills. Read more

EU PVSEC: Solliance and imec form thin-film alliance

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 16:38 (PV-Tech)

Nanoelectronics company imec today announced that it is to become a full partner of Dutch solar research group Solliance. imec is to share its thin-film R&D with the group, whose partners include energy research centre ECN, scientific research organization TNO, the Eindhoven-based Holst Centre and the Eindhoven University of Technology. Read more

SCHOTT Solar polycrystalline efficiency record confirmed; joins new PV CYCLE agreement

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 15:36 (Solarserver)

On September 2nd, 2011, SCHOTT Solar AG (Mainz, Germany) announced that the European Solar Test Installation (Ispra, Italy) has confirmed its record 18.2% aperture area efficiency with polycrystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. Also on September 2nd, 2011, the company announced that it has signed PV CYCLE's new and more stringent voluntary agreement on the collection and treatment of end-of-life PV modules. Read more

Bright day for Sunways as solar inverters certified

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 15:18 (Solarpowerportal)

German photovoltaic company Sunways has made a step towards achieving its vision of supplying the world with solar inverters following the latest certification of its roof-mounted units. Read more

Sunways AT, NT and PT solar inverters certified in overseas markets

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 15:07 (PV-Tech)

Sunways has cleared a major hurdle to supplying international markets following the latest certification of its roof-mounted solar inverter system. Read more

EU PVSEC: New 260-watt PV module announced by aleo solar

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 14:44 (PV-Tech)

PV module-manufacturer aleo solar AG today announced the launch of its new module, the aleo S_19. Using 60 of Bosch?s monocrystalline cells, the S_19 module achieves a nominal output of 260 watt, with more than 150 watt per square metre. The module will be made available in 2012. Read more

PV in Italy: S.A.G. Solarstrom completes 48 MW Serenissima plant by August 31st FIT deadline

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 13:10 (Solarserver)

S.A.G. Solarstrom (Freiburg, Germany, U.S.) has announced that it has commissioned the 48 MW Serenissima solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Italy by an August 31st deadline for feed-in tariff (FIT) rates and conditions. The plant is S.A.G. Solarstrom's largest to date, occupying 150 hectares near Venice, Italy, and has its own transformer substation. Thanks to its rapid completion the plant is eligible to receive a FIT rate of EUR 0.256/kWh (USD 0.364/kWh). Read more

SolarWorld consolidates manufacturing in U.S., Germany; Wage cost share in the group below 10 percent

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 13:07 (Solarserver)

In the last few months, SolarWorld AG (Bonn, Germany) has massively expanded and modernized its production capacities along the entire value chain at its locations in the U.S. and in Germany. Older parts of the production facilities are now consistently taken out of service by the group to strengthen its competitiveness. Read more

EU PVSEC: Oerlikon announces new thin-film module with 10.8% efficiency

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 10:58 (PV-Tech)

Oerlikon Solar is to launch a new thin-film PV module with an efficiency of 10.8% and an output of 154 peak watts, the company announced today. Described by Oerlikon as ?record-breaking?, the module achieves an 8% increase over its modules? previous peak value. Read more

Calisolar to build proprietary low-cost silicon solar wafers at US$600 million US plant

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 10:53 (PV-Tech)

Calisolar is making its move to become high-volume low-cost silicon solar wafer producer with plans to build a 16,000MT silicon production facility in Lowndes County, Mississippi at an estimated cost of US$600 million. A pioneer of enhanced UMG-based wafers, Calisolar is bring silicon material production in-house to significantly lower costs and have greater control over material quality. When fully operational, the plant is said to employ 951 full-time workers. Read more

Hunan Gongchuang taps Air Products to supply speciality gases for its new Chinese facility

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 23:17 (PV-Tech)

Hunan Gongchuang Photovoltaics Science & Technology has signed a supply contract with Air Products, which will see the company supply Hunan Gongchuang?s new silicon and thin-film PV manufacturing facility in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, China with bulk and specialty gases. The contract includes delivery of hydrogen, nitrogen, silane, nitrogen trifluoride, dopant mixtures and other products. Read more

Farmers embrace renewable energy to add income to their stock

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 17:25 (Solarpowerportal)

Across the UK, more than a third of farmers are thought to be considering investing in renewable energy schemes to help ease the affect of falling commodity prices. Read more

Schüco TF signs long-term onsite flourine supply contract with Linde Gases

Monday, 9.5.2011 - 10:00 (PV-Tech)

Following the successful implementation of fluorine technology at Schüco TF?s 40MW Osterweddingen site, the company has signed a significant long-term supply contract with Linde Gases for the delivery of onsite fluorine (F2) to its new thin-film module mass production site in Großröhrsdorf, eastern Germany. Read more