Your daily dose of photovoltaic technology developments and solar news

Inergia and 9REN have signed contracts for the turnkey construction of two ground-based photovoltaic systems in Puglia, Italy. One of the systems will be a fixed structure, while the other will be mobile.

Siliken, the Spanish renewable energy company, has entered into an agreement with Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) to set up a 9.8MW power solar photovoltaics plant in the Italian city of Fiumicino, Rome. Once complete this will be the largest PV installation in the region and one of the biggest in Italy.

Filmetrics has opened two film thickness measurement application labs in Tainan, Taiwan and Munich, Germany. Each lab is tied into the Filmetrics support network, which provides immediate internet and voice response to Filmetrics customers.

Mitsubishi Chemical has selected and successfully installed a sun simulator from Pasan, a division of Meyer Berger. This is the first sale to a Japanese customer for the company, which will use the equipment for testing of very large a-Si thin film solar modules and is part of MCC’s move into the BIPV market.

Sanyo Electric has completed the installation of two 'solar parking lots,' incorporating solar panels and lithium-ion battery systems, as well as providing 100 Sanyo developed electric hybrid bicycles named 'eneloop bike,' in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. The power generated by the solar panels installed on the roof is stored to recharge the 100 electric hybrid bicycle batteries and illuminate the parking lot using LEDs at night.

Suniva has commissioned its largest solar power installation with Titan Energy Systems, located in Karnataka, India. The 3MW, ground-mounted system is the largest grid-connected solar plant in India, covering approximately 12 acres.

Recently announced capacity expansion plans from the majority of major China-based PV manufacturers and polysilicon producers is having a knock-on effect in the supply chain with gases specialist Linde Group announcing a new round of long-term gas supply contracts in the country. Linde LienHwa (LLH) has secured multi-million US dollar contracts from companies including GS Solar, Parity Solar, CNPV Solar Power SA, General Solar Power and Argus Power.

Evergreen Solar's 5MW power plant in Apulia, Italy is now online. The project, which was designed and installed by project developer Greenvision, is the largest installation of Evergreen Solar panels to date.

The grand plan of the Desertec Industrial Initiative has a new member in the form of First Solar, the first solar photovoltaic manufacturer to join. First Solar said that it had become an ‘Associated Partner’ of Desertec for an initial period of three years and would contribute utility-scale PV expertise in working groups and prepare the ground for reference projects and a roll-out plan.

AES has closed its equity sale with a wholly owned investment subsidiary of the China Investment Corporation (CIC). The deal raises US$1.58 billion in new capital for the company. CIC acquired 125.5 million shares of AES stock for US$12.60/share in exchange for an approximate 15% stake in the company.