Your daily dose of photovoltaic technology developments and solar news

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings has announced its plans to enter into a joint venture and share subscription agreement with the Chinese wealth fund China Investment Corporation (CIC). The share subscription agreement is expected to raise around HK$5.5 billion, giving CIC a 20% share in GCL. The joint venture company will be set up in early 2010 to invest in and develop PV projects overseas.

Hainan China Aviation Special Glass Materials has tapped Praxair China for oxygen and high purity nitrogen for development of a 100% oxy-fuel float glass furnace. The furnace will be the first of its kind in China, and will be constructed by the Chinese company, a subsidiary of China Aviation Sanxin (CAS).

G-Energy and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Tsinghua University have entered into a contract with Dyesol to supply a BIPV dye solar cell (DSC) laboratory prototyping solution. The prototype solution will enable the collaboration partners to develop glass-based DSC product based on Dyesol technology and materials.

The 'All in Glass China 2009' event, running November 25-27, will promote the development of the glass industry, paying special attention to the domestic renewable energy industry by discussing and showcasing environmentally-friendly products, energy-saving glass products and deep processing technology through an interactive platform of exhibition running parallel with a conference. The theme for 2009 focuses specifically on, 'Solar Energy, BIPV, Energy saving and Environmental Protection.'

Industry sources in Taiwan have reported that three resident silicon cell manufacturers, Motech, E-Ton and Neo Solar have each signed a MOU with Canadian solar for 40MWp, 60MWp and 60MWp, respectively. 

China based monocrystalline silicon solar ingots and wafers manufacturer, Solargiga Energy Holdings' 300kW pilot BIPV project has commenced power generation successfully.

A strategic alliance has been signed for Shanghai Guangdian Electric Group (SGEG) to market Advanced Energy's (AE) line of Solaron grid-tie PV inverters in China.

Camstar Systems has extended its global reach with the acquisition of Singapore-based Technology Resources Group, a systems integrator for the solar and semiconductor industries. The company, which has offices in China and Malaysia, provides manufacturing execution equipment automation, manufacturing applications development and program management for enterprise solution deployments.

China's capital city, Beijing, is to see significant developments in the photovoltaic sector over the coming years. The capital's government has developed a solar promotion program that aims for 70MW of installed PV capacity, including BIPV technology by 2011.

Building on the companies’ successful collaboration on the recently announced 10MW Dunhuang City power plant, Enfinity and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC) have embarked on a joint venture agreement to promote and actively develop solar power projects in China, Europe and worldwide.

Satcon has signed a collaborative deal with Canadian Solar that will see the companies market their products to customers as a “best-in-class system solution”. Canadian Solar’s solar PV systems will be marketed with Satcon’s solar inverters, providing a single solution for rooftop solar energy generation. The agreement also complies with the Ontario government’s domestic content requirements in its recently announced feed-in-tariff program.

Suntech Power has completed grid connection of the first 10MW utility-scale solar power project in China, located in Shizuishan, Ningxia Autonomous Region. The project involves a 10MW ground mount solar system and is the first phase of a 50MW solar plant that is targeted to be completed by 2011 with China Energy Conservation Investment Corporation (CECIC), a Suntech partner.

Enfinity has been selected by the Chinese government to build China's first photovoltaic power station. The 10MW project will be located in Dunhuang City, capable of producing 16.37 million kWh annually.

Anwell Technologies has produced its first a-Si thin-film solar panel at its 40MW solar plant in Henan, China using in-house technology.

Trina Solar has obtained a five-year syndicated US$304 million loan facility to support its East Campus 500MW capacity expansion project, which is to be completed over the next three years.

LDK Solar has entered into an agreement with Yancheng City of Jiangsu Province for the development of PV power projects. This agreement states that LDK Solar will develop a number of PV power projects, including PV ground-power stations, and roof and building integration systems totaling up to 500MW over a period of five years.

Vertically integrated solar products manufacturer, ReneSola of China, has signed a letter of consent with the Taiyangshan Development Zone in Wuzhong city, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to develop a 150MW grid-connected solar power project.

Bakhu Holdings has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire all the assets and shares of Chinese solar maker Shenzhen Xinhonglian Solar Energy (SXSE), this is part of the company's plan to enter green energy business, reports RTT News.

Evolution Solar is moving its primary business office to China in a bid to cash in on the emerging solar market, including thin-film solar success, in that part of the world.

Though still in the draft stages, a new Indian energy policy is setting the goal of 20GW of solar power by 2020 to help the subcontinent close the gap between itself and countries like China.

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., a large crystalline silicon PV module manufacturer, is collaborating with Sydney Theatre Company (STC) to install a solar power system using Pluto technology at a capacity of 500kW. Upon completion in 2010, it will be one of the largest rooftop installations in Australia and will reduce STC’s power grid draw by 70%. 

Feed-in tariff (FiT) policies are now implemented in more than 40 countries around the world and are cited as the primary reason for the success of the German and Spanish renewable energy markets. As a result of that success, FiT policy proposals are starting to crop up in several other areas around the world including a number of US states.

The South Korean government has announced plans to invest $84.4 billion in improving renewable energy efficiency over a period of five years.

PV-Tech’s report on Enfinity’s winning a 10MW PV plant development project has been confirmed. Dubbed the Dunhuang PV Project, a new initiative to construct a 10MWp solar power plant in the Dunhuang region of China will see the investment of 200 million yuan (€27 million). Enfinity, as project leaders, will oversee the installation of PV tracker panels on the site and will confirm the contract once it has established the Dunhuang joint venture company.

Update July 2nd: Suntech's press office has confirmed the news of a planned 500MW project for Panzhihua, China. The deal is "a non-binding strategic agreement similar to our agreement with the Qinghai government," said our source, and could potentially lead to the Chinese PV market becoming much bigger than expected in the not-too-distant future.