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Sencera has announced that it has successfully demonstrated silicon solar cells with 7% sunlight to electricity conversion efficiencies using a repeatable fully automated process on its proprietary Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition manufacturing platform, The Viper. The findings were confirmed by The University of Delaware’s Institute of Energy Conversion.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), using Aerosol Jet printing equipment developed by Optomec, has achieved over 20% efficiency on solar cells when combined with Light Induced Plating (LIP) and Annealing. The results were presented at the Crystal Clear “Workshop on Metallization for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells” on 1 October 2008.
The Digitimes reports that E-Ton Solar Tech is anticipated to sign with an Italian PV module producer for a four-year contract to supply solar cells totaling 100MWp. E-Ton reportedly declined to comment on the deal, but did acknowledge that Europe is abundant with business opportunities, especially in countries like Italy, Greece and France.
The German subsidiary of Arise Technologies has signed a four-year contract to supply solar photovoltaic cells to Asola Advanced and Automotive Solar Systems for integration into solar modules. The contract, which runs through Dec. 31, 2012, calls on Arise to supply approximately 80 MW of PV cells to Asola on a take-or-pay basis based on industry-standard pricing established for the life of the deal. The value of the contract is approximately $200 million (Canadian).
At the Credit Suisse Technology Conference in Scottsdale, AZ, LDK Solar Co. Ltd. CFO Jack Lai commented to investors about the company’s capital expenditure plans and operating profit outlook for next year. LDK is targeted to increase manufacturing capacity to 1.1 GW by the end of 2008. The announcement by Lai confirms LDK’s commitment to achieving 2GW of production by the end of 2009, almost doubling its anticipated capacity at the end of this current year.Lai told investors “his assumptions of 1.5GW of output at an average of $2 per watt were neither aggressive nor conservative.”
Tokyo Electron’s U.S. investment arm, TEL Venture Capital, has invested an undisclosed sum in Unidym, the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) manufacturer. Accompanying this news was the announcement that Tokyo Electron and Unidym intend to enter into a program for the development of equipment used in the manufacture of Unidym’s carbon nanotube-based transparent, conductive films (TCFs), which are used in thin-film solar cells, as well as in other applications. The companies will also enter into an information-sharing agreement that will see them collaborate on Unidym’s printed electronics technology development and to work together to modify TEL’s existing equipment to support Unidym’s inks.
Solar-Fabrik AG has signed an agreement with JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. to supply 30MW of solar cells. Currently, the agreement calls for a one-year term, but both companies have shown interest that it be extended. This agreement also expands Solar-Fabrik’s market share and helps achieve its goal of increasing solar panel sales by 70% in fiscal 2009.
After a mere 10 months of building, Centrosolar Group AG has opened its Wismar, Germany, solar module facility, one of the largest in the area. Chairman Dr. Alexander Kirsch (pictured) was joined at the opening celebration by numerous guests that were part of the community and world political and economy scene. The investment volume of the factory totals around €23 million and has created 250 new jobs, making the fab one of the biggest employers in Wismar.
Steve Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Surfect Technologies, Inc., has given a general business update for the third quarter, which ended 30 September 2008. In his statement, he acknowledged the three new executives Surfect has appointed, David Pham, Terry Gafron and Richard Tung, whom he foresees as being a team that will help the company become a major player in the equipment and service sector of the solar industry.
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. has reached a company milestone today, announcing its achievement of greater than 9.5% efficiency for its flexible Copper, Indium, Gallium, Selenide (CIGS) monolithically integrated modules. The U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL independently verified that the modules measured as high as 9.64% in conversion efficiency. The modules tested are from Ascent’s 1.5MW pilot production line.
