News > Cell Processing

  • “IMS Research has estimated that there is between 2.5 and 4GW of existing manufacturing capacity that requires upgrade in 2012, and this figure will steadily ramp-up over the coming few years,” noted Tim Dawson, Senior Research Director IMS Research.

    IMS Research: PV manufacturing equipment replacement cycle a US$25 billion revenue opportunity

    10 February 2012, 12:49

    IMS Research believes a PV manufacturing equipment replacement cycle could be the only bright spot in the near-term as suppliers face a lean capital investment year due to overcapacity and industry consolidation. The market research firm said that over the next four years it had identified a 20GW sized and US$25 billion sales opportunity for the upgrade or replacement of existing manufacturing capacity to remain competitive.

  • Only 12 companies will remain within the Group, down from the current 26. In Germany, the complexity of the group structure is to be further reduced by merging companies.

    Roth & Rau posts 2011 revenue of €208 million; plans faster restructuring and job losses

    06 February 2012, 17:38

    A significant decline in sales and new orders, coupled to higher annual losses in 2011, compared to 2010 have forced Roth & Rau to implement further company-wide restructuring and reduce its global headcount. Preliminary sales for 2011 reached €208 million, down from €285 million in 2010.

  • Neo Solar Power (NSP) said in early January it would allocate resources to establish a systems business unit focused on commercial and utility-scale PV markets.

    NSP’s solar cell sales up in January

    03 February 2012, 15:41

    Taiwan-based crystalline solar cell producer, Neo Solar Power (NSP) reported January 2012 monthly sales of approximately US$22 million (NT $850 million), up from NT $663 million in December.

  • All equipment and components were said to be available for sale by private negotiation.

    REC Group selling off wafer and cell equipment from closed facilities in Norway

    02 February 2012, 17:52

    As part of REC Group’s previously announced closure of certain wafer and cell production plants in Norway, a sale of the equipment from three plants is to be organized by surplus asset management firm, GoIndustry Dovebid. All equipment and components were said to available for sale by private negotiation.

  • Fraunhofer ISE developed MWT/PERC solar cell used special Heraeus metallization paste.

    Fraunhofer ISE develops MWT/PERC solar cell using special Heraeus metallization paste

    02 February 2012, 13:28

    Work undertaken on a conventional but advanced solar cell employing ‘Metal Wrap Through (MWT) and ‘Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) technology exceeded 20% efficiencies that were supported by a specially developed and formulated metallization paste from Heraeus metallization paste, according to the company. In 2011, Heraeus introduced a new series of pastes for low temperature processing.

  • Singulus said that it would be supplying its own technology for the texturing step, the anti-reflective coating and wet-chemical phosphorous glass cleaning steps as well as the automated wafer handling systems.

    Order Focus: Singulus to provide turnkey c-Si cell line to Lithuanian firm

    02 February 2012, 08:37

    Lithuania-based CD and DVD disc manufacturer BOD Group is entering the c-Si solar cell manufacturing market, using a complete line of equipment being provided by Singulus Technologies. Singulus has been a supplier of CD and DVD processing equipment to the Lithuanian firm. The delivery of the line is scheduled to take place in early 2013.

  • A debt-to-equity swap deal between Q-Cells and its bondholders has in principle been agreed which would result in the company being majority owned (95%) by the bondholders.

    Bondholders of Q-Cells to take 95% ownership of the company

    01 February 2012, 13:38

    A debt-to-equity swap deal between Q-Cells and its bondholders has been agreed in principle, a situation that will result in the company’s being majority owned (95%) by the bondholders. In return, Q-Cells would be virtually debt-free and retain the €304 million of liquidity the company had at the end of 2011 to continue to restructure and continue operations. Q-Cells will also sell further non-core assets that could raise €200 million, which would be given back to the 2012, 2014 and 2015 bondholders on an equal basis.

  • The Indian government has decided to establish a new solar company with an initial capital of US$405.6 million.

    Report: India’s government establishing new solar company

    30 January 2012, 23:22

    According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the Indian government has decided to establish a new solar company with an initial capital of US$405.6 million, which will go towards the development of federal solar projects in order to reach the country’s 20GW solar energy capacity target by 2022.

  • Emcore has approved a one for four reverse stock split.

    Emcore to action one-for-four reverse stock split

    30 January 2012, 11:08

    Loss-making CPV solar cell manufacturer Emcore has approved a one-for-four reverse stock split. The move, expected to take action February 15, 2012, means that the number of issued and outstanding shares in the company would be reduced by approximately 94 million to approximately 23.5 million. The market value of the total number of shares would remain the same.

  • Embedding charged quantum dots into solar cells can improve electrical output by enabling the cells to harvest infrared light and thereby increasing the lifetime of photoelectrons, claim researchers.

    Researchers use nanomaterials-based technology to increase PV cell efficiency up to 45%

    24 January 2012, 12:29

    Researchers from the University at Buffalo, Army Research Laboratory and Air Force Office of Scientific Research have developed a new, nanomaterials-based technology that has the potential to increase the efficiency of PV cells up to 45%. The researchers have also teamed up to found OPtoElectronic Nanodevices to commercialize this technology and are now seeking funding from private investors and federal programs. Through UB’s office of science, technology transfer and economic outreach (STOR), the team has filed provisional patent applications to protect their technology.

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