Your daily dose of Photovoltaic Technology Developments and Solar News

Following on from the unprecedented number of trade visitors at Intersolar 2008 in Messe Munich, SEMI and Intersolar are preparing themselves for a busy show at Intersolar North America in the Moscone Center, San Francisco from July 15-17. Read more >>

Last week at the PV Industry Forum, CEOs from Suntech, Q-Cells, ersol, E-Concern and Applied Materials came together to discuss key issues facing the PV industry. Anton Millner, CEO of Q-Cells, mentioned the €1.3 billion turnover of his company in 2008 as a milestone already achieved and was quick to note that in 2009, €2 billion in turnover was the new target. Read more >>

A new study by clean-tech research publisher Clean Edge and Co-op America, a non-profit green-economy organization, has suggested that the U.S. could attain production of 10% of its electricity requirements via solar power by the year 2025. The Utility Solar Assessment (USA) study provides a roadmap for use by utilities and regulators, as well as solar power companies, which outlines the necessity for involvement of utilities in scaling solar power in order to reach the 10% goal. Read more >>

SEMI, the global industry association for equipment, materials and services companies in the semiconductor and photovoltaics industries, has announced that it is to collaborate with Intersolar at next year’s exhibition. The partnership will see SEMI manage all aspects of the PV manufacturing equipment and materials segment of the global solar energy exhibition, which, like Intersolar 2008, will take place next year in the New Messe Munich... Read more >>

Manz Automation, the automation component specialist, has announced its receipt of an increase in capital, which was today approved by the Supervisory Board. In total, 896,011 new shares were issued with a subscription ratio of 4:1 from June 13th to 27th, 2008. The company has also been added to Frankfurt Stock Exchange’s Prime Standard Market. Read more >>

Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed a power purchase agreement with eSolar to build a total of 245MW of concentrating solar plants in the Antelope Valley area of Southern California. A series of fully operational plants is expected to begin production in 2011. Read more >>

Tigo Energy, a solar energy installation technology provider, has raised $6 million in a round of financing. The round was co-led by Matrix Partners and OVP Venture Partners, and the resulting funds will aid Tigo to increase its output and decrease cost of ownership on solar installations, and provide a more favourable return on investment for the company’s customers. Read more >>

Robert Bosch GmbH has acquired an initial 50.45 percent share holding in ersol Solar Energy AG, in a deal costing €546.4 million in cash. The sale was organized by Ventizz Capital, a major investor in ersol since 2004. Bosch is said to be submitting a public offer for the remaining ersol shares. The acquisition of ersol by Bosch is to enable the company to continue its activities in the renewable energy sector. “The Ventizz II fund has supported ersol during the set-up and rapid expansion stages. After becoming a major and profitable solar producer over the past four years... Read more >>

In an effort to provide greater transparency to the photovoltaics manufacturing industry, PHOTON Consulting has launched a paid subscription-based service, tracking high-purity silicon prices, both spot and contract, dubbed the PHOTON Consulting Silicon Price Index (PCSPI). Read more >>

On June 12th in Munich, 1,000 companies will be exhibiting products and services for the solar industry. More companies than ever before will be presenting their solar products and services on an exhibition area of 76,000sqm – an increase of 120% on last year. Exhibitors will be directed into the areas of solar thermal technology, photovoltaics and solar architecture. Read more >>