Your daily dose of photovoltaic technology developments and solar news

BioSolar has announced plans for an extended line of BioBacksheets used to protect PV modules compatible with conventional c-Si PV modules. BioSolar bio-based backsheet materials are made from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of solar modules and eliminate the need for dangerous toxins found in petroleum based backsheets.

In a bid to offer the widest range of PV module encapsulant materials in the photovoltaics market, Solutia is acquiring ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant specialist Etimex Solar for €240 million in cash and additional debt. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2010. By combining EVA with its existing polyvinyl butyral (PVB) encapsulant capabilities, Solutia claims to be the world's only one-stop source for solar encapsulant solutions.

In an effort to secure ultra-low-cost polysilicon for future consumption and cost competiveness, SolarWorld has partnered in a new joint-venture polysilicon enterprise, Qatar Solar Technologies (QST), to be based in the Emirate of Qatar. Located close to chemical facilities in the Ras Laffan Industrial City in the northeast of Qatar, the new 3,600MT facility will be built by Centrotherm Photovoltaics and subsidiary SiTec at a cost of over €500 million. Production is planned to start in the third quarter of 2012 with full capacity reached in 2013.

Renewed wafer capacity expansion plans at some of the major Asia-based PV manufacturers have led directly to new orders for GT Solar’s ingot growth furnaces. The company noted that it has received new orders worth more than US$200 million for its ‘DSS450’ furnaces and ancillary equipment and services. One China based customer placed a follow-on order worth US$137 million. Other orders came from Tianwei New Energy, Phoenix Photovoltaic Technology, Yingli Green Energy, JA Solar, Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS), and one other unidentified customer.

Hitachi High-Technologies and XeroCoat have entered into a strategic partnership for the distribution of XeroCoat’s antireflective coating solutions for solar photovoltaic modules in Japan and China. The agreement gives HHT, through its energy and environmental solutions unit, the right to resell XeroCoat’s equipment systems and materials into the two key Asian markets. XeroCoat also told PV Tech that it has established a demonstration pilot line at an Asian glass manufacturer.

Silicon crystal-growing systems specialist PVA TePla saw plunging new orders in 2009, as customers reigned in capital spending and cut production in the first half of the year. The company reported consolidated sales revenues of €135 million in 2009, compared to €168.6 million in the previous year. Incoming orders decreased from €189.9 million in 2008, to only €69 million in 2009. Consolidated sales revenues were below the forecasted figure due to delivery extensions to 2010 requested by some customers.

Photovoltaic crystal growing furnace specialist, Kayex, a division of SPX has won multiple systems orders from two new customers in China. Kayex is to install approximately 100 advanced crystal grower systems for both 6-inch and 8-inch solar wafer applications in the first half of 2010. According to Kayex the new orders represent a growing trend in the Chinese solar manufacturing market. Both customers have chosen to utilize advanced turnkey production equipment, complete with thermal management systems. Kayex believes this is due to the need to gain an advantage in the increasingly competitive solar market.

China-based solar wafer start-up Jiangxi Sornid Hi-Tech has placed a follow-on order with GT Solar for its GT-DSS450 ingot growth furnaces and ancillary equipment and services. Its first furnaces were delivered in the first quarter of 2009. The new contract is worth more than US$20 million.

Long-term solar wafer contracts continue to cause trouble in the industry, even though many suppliers have accommodated price and quantity revisions as the sector has seen significant price reductions in polysilicon due to overcapacity. However, a new dispute has emerged between REC and India’s Moser Baer Photo Voltaic. According to a statement from REC, Moser Baer has terminated an 8-year contract with them, which was initially signed in mid-2007. REC has called upon bank guarantees and has US$36.5 million worth of receivables outstanding towards Moser Baer with the total bank guarantees amounting to US$85 million.

Calisolar has bought 6N Silicon, in a stock-for-stock transaction between the two privately held companies. In addition to the acquisition, $22.5 million in funding was raised from existing Calisolar and 6N investors, according to the companies. The new funds will be used to increase capacity at Calisolar's Sunnyvale, CA, UMG-grade silicon photovoltaic cell manufacturing facility and expand silicon purification operations in Vaughan, ON, where 6N will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the parent company.