Emma Hughes

SiC transistor technology manufacturer SemiSouth Laboratories’ diodes and JFETs have been selected by Vincotech for its latest range of flowSOL0-SiC modules, which are now available for sampling.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK has partnered with British Gas for a 4.6MW installation in Derbyshire, England. Costing a total of £10 million, the ground-mounted system will feature 17,000 Sharp 245W monocrystalline panels covering an area of 90,000m2 at Toyota’s UK-based vehicle plant.

After losing out to the tune of US$6.1 million or US$1.61 per share in the first quarter of 2010, DayStar Technologies has reported more positive financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011. Recording net loss of US$0.4 million or US$0.05 per share, the company says it is now well positioned to capitalize on the increasing market opportunities within the renewable energy industry.

The Californian City of Coachella is now home to a 420kW concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) system, which will provide solar energy to the Coachella Water Reclamation Plant. Developed by Johnson Controls and Solar Power Partners (SPP) using 55 SolFocus SF-1100S tracking CPV systems, the project is now connected to the regional electrical grid, serviced by the Imperial Irrigation District (IID).

In a bid to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia, Yingli Green Energy has established its regional headquarters in Singapore. Setting up the subsidiary Yingli Green Energy Singapore, the company will drive sales and further business development from the new office, which is located on Battery Road.

Trina Solar subsidiary Changzhou Trina Solar Energy has extended its national distribution agreement with RF Industries (RFI). Initially signed in January 2010, the ~40MW deal, which recognizes RFI as Trina’s exclusive distributor in Australia, will now run until December 31, 2012.

Together with Annex Power, the Bangkok-based systems integrator, Conergy will build what will be its third solar power plant on Thai soil in the space of a year. The 12.4MW solar park in Nakhon Pathom province, which will cover an area of 268,500m2, follows on from the recently-completed 3MW Ayutthaya solar park, constructed for the investors Yanhee Solar and Ratchaburi Electricity, which have entered into a joint venture agreement to develop solar energy parks in Thailand.

Expanding its global team of solar technology experts, Amtech Systems has appointed semiconductor and solar industry veterans Dr. James Hwang and Dr. SooKap Hahn as chief technology officer and member of the board, respectively.

Solyndra and Interservice Uzunovi solar division have signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement for a 1MWp installation on the rooftops of Biomet, the Bulgarian logistics company located in Sevlievo.

Total has signed an agreement with EDF ENR to acquire all of Tenesol’s operations outside of France’s overseas departments and territories, of which it already owns 50%. Tenesol’s operations in the French overseas departments and territories would continue to be equally owned by the Total Group and EDF ENR.