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Having stopped all production at various plants to preserve cash and help draw down inventory, Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) posted a net loss from continuing operations of US$57.5 million, which includes a non-cash impairment charge of US$34.3 million for its financial Q1 results. Revenue was reported at US$22.0 million, which compares to US$65.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, and US$70.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011. ECD previously cancelled its conference call and refrained from providing information on whether a call would be organised.
In another sign of trouble in the US domestic PV manufacturing sector, flexible thin-film silicon laminate maker Energy Conversion Devices has taken several restructuring actions, including the suspension of all manufacturing operations in what the company calls “an inventory control measure.” Other moves taken by the Auburn Hills, MI-based firm include various cost reduction efforts, continued R&D on next-generation technologies, and the expansion of addressable markets. In addition, ECD management has started discussions with representatives of certain holders of the company’s outstanding Senior Convertible Notes due 2013. As a result of the actions, it has postponed the quarterly financial conference call until further notice.
Next Energy, the independent EWE Research Centre for Energy Technology has asked Leybold Optics to provide its Phoebus lab tool by the beginning of 2012 for Next Energy’s R&D purposes involving thin-film solar cells. As Next Energy is concerned with silicon thin-film technology, its scientists are looking to increase the efficiency of the cells, which they state would then lead to a reduction in the cost of the technology.
Astronergy, a unit of Chint Group, advised that Munich RE had selected its thin-film amorphous microcrystalline silicon PV panels for a 1.65MW solar project in Thailand. The plant was commissioned on October 28 with Astronergy noting that various Chint subsidiary components were being used for including inverters and BOS system elements.
The T-Solar Group, which has 230MW of solar projects under construction in Spain, Italy, India and Peru, advised that it is continuing its international development with the addition of 61MW of solar power in Peru and India. The company recently brought its 5MW PV power plant in India online, which uses thin-film amorphous silicon panels that were fabricated at its Galicia, Spain factory.
Thin-film technologies are a favoured manufacturing alternative to conventional crystalline solar modules in the US. The R&D history goes way back and of course the US is home to First Solar, which stamped thin-film technology firmly on the PV industry map. That said, announcements at Solar Power International 2011 relating to thin-film technologies have been rather thin on the ground these first few days of the show.
Indicating that business may be tough but demand for a-Si thin-film modules hasn’t waned, Taiwan-based NexPower Technology Corp said it had almost surpassed last year’s shipment levels of 74.10MW by the end of this year’s third quarter. Topping 72.51MW in module shipments so far this year, NexPower has seen first-half year shipment growth of 24%, compared with the same period a year ago. On a 3Q basis only, the company claims a 64% increase in shipments compared to last year.
What is being called one of the largest landfill solar energy cap systems and the first of its kind in Georgia, has been dedicated near Atlanta. The 1MW system featuring Uni-Solar thin-film PV laminates, installed by Republic Services over the closed Hickory Ridge landfill, accounts for 10 acres of the 45-acre closure system.
Xunlight’s flexible thin-film silicon modules will be the first thin-film groSolar will offer to its independent dealers in North America. The companies signed a distribution deal, which will make Xunlight’s flexible thin-film solar modules available to groSolar’s 1,500 independent dealers and solar contractors throughout Canada and the US. Financial details about the agreement were not released.
Specialty gas supplier Air Liquide has announced that over the course of the past few weeks, it has signed long-term gas supply contracts worth in the region of US$15 million. The company credits the reduction in manufacturing costs and the subsequent move by smaller companies to move into high growth markets as having contributed to the significant increase in orders experienced by the company.
