Ongoing overcapacity and capital spending constraints within the PV industry continued to impact revenue at BTU International. The equipment supplier reported fourth quarter net sales of US$14.9 million, down 11.8% compared to US$16.9 million in the prior quarter. Net loss for the fourth quarter was US$2.3 million. BTU also posted net sales for 2011 of US$76.1 million, down 6.7% compared to US$81.6 million for the year 2010. Net loss for 2011 was US$2.7 million.
Neo Solar Power is launching a new quasi-mono-based solar cell, said to have a conversion efficiency reaching 18.5% and an average efficiency over 18%. This is the first product NSP has produced using quasi-mono wafers, which is set for rapid adoption across the industry as PV manufacturers focus on efficiency of cells and modules rather than capacity expansions.
Solar Fields, the owner of CdTe thin-film module manufacturer Calyxo, will continue to financially support the company through 2012 thanks to Calyxo's new aperture area efficiencies of 13.4%, as confirmed by SGS Germany. The latest improved module performance is said to be the cornerstone of its next-generation module series and potentially improves their market competitiveness in the future.
As expected by solar industry observers and trade groups, Germany’s cabinet of Chancellor, Angela Merkel has approved plans proposed by Economy Minister Philipp Roesler and Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen to drastically curtail the feed-in tariff in an attempt to limit future PV installations, after a record 7.5GW was installed in 2011.
The Plastics Electronics Conference, co-located with SEMICON Europa since 2010, has been acquired by trade group, SEMI. The conference the committee has organized includes industry and academic leaders in the field of organic and inorganic large area electronics (OLAE will serve as a plastic electronics special interest group, guiding SEMI activities and services worldwide). SEMI said the conference and exhibition format would be extended to other regions in the future.
Citing an expected strong Japanese market, PV inverter market leader, SMA Solar Technology has officially opened its new sales and service subsidiary in Japan, which will initially support small-scale PV system installations. The company noted that support for larger-scale system installations would come later, without providing timelines.
Billed as one of the largest PV power plants so far built in Thailand, a 7.5MW project, know as the Nakhon Ratchasima Solar Farm in Khorat region, northeastern Thailand has been completed by project developer Sonnedix using First Solar’s CdTe thin-film modules. The project is also the first in Thailand undertaken by Sonnedix with support of Assyce Fotovoltaica and Ch. Karnchang Group.
Cell efficiencies of higher than 18% using quasi-mono wafers have been claimed by Taiwan-based cell producer, Gintech Energy. To be displayed at PV EXPO 2012 in Japan in March, Gintech also said its optimized pattern design and process recipe has achieved cell efficiencies of 19% for its Douro Series monocrystalline solar cells and more than17% for its multicrystalline solar cells.
The Bankruptcy Court overseeing Solyndra's insolvency has assigned Jones Lang LaSalle to undertake the sale of its manufacturing plant in Fremont, California. The 450,000-square-foot manufacturing facility was said to be designed to exceed California seismic standards and can be operating immediately following a seismic event, though not at the levels created by the current solar industry shakeout.
Exelon and First Solar have extended their deadline for initial funding of the DOE loan for the 230MW Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One (AVSR) project, in northern Los Angeles County, California. A revised construction permit has been approved but the delay could have meant First Solar repurchase the project from customer, Exelon today, February 24, 2012 as federal loan and loan guarantee would not be released in time of contract clauses kicking-in.
