Despite current weakness in solar related equipment spending, due to weak demand for PV modules in the first half of the year and a longer than expected inventory build, GT Solar posted first quarter financial year revenue of US$231.1 million, compared to US$271.6 million last quarter and up 71% from the US$135.2 million of revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. Record order backlog stood at US$2.3 billion.
Phoenix Solar Singapore has placed an order with Schott Solar for 67,000 PV modules, equivalent to approximately 16MW for two projects being developed near Bangkok, Thailand since June, 2011. The contract on supplying these modules was said to have been negotiated at this year’s Intersolar Europe. The two installations are expected to go into operation by the end of the year.
India-based, Mahindra EPC Services is using SunPower solar panels and T0 Tracker technology for multiple grid-connected solar power plants in India in the Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat regions, planned for this year. In total, SunPower is supply 15MW of modules and trackers and is the first partnership SunPower has had with the EPC contractor in India.
Not be outdone by rivals such as Yingli Green in the utility-scale PV power plant business in China, Trina Solar has secured a 30MW module supply agreement with Huanghe Hydropower Development Co. Huanghe Hydropower is planning two ground-mounted solar projects in China's Qinghai Province, of which delivery is expected to start from August and continue through October of this year.
A US$50 million fund is up for grabs by the US Department of Energy to domestic PV manufacturers wanting to take solar technology from the lab to the fab to help restore the United States as being at the forefront of solar manufacturing. The funding program is the second solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing Initiative (PVMI) initiative, dubbed SUNPATH, which stands for Scaling Up Nascent PV At Home.
Engineered Conductive Materials (ECM) has introduced two new ‘Conductive Stringer Attach Adhesives that reduce costs. The DB-1541-S3 adhesive employs a material formulation that has been optimized for improved conductivity and stability on molybdenum substrates while reducing the silver content to reduce cost. The DB-1538-2 adhesive is available as a one- or two-part adhesive, allowing costs to be saved on dry ice shipments and -40°C storage of one-part systems. Both materials can be used for thin-film, organic and thinned silicon solar modules.
Having cited weaker-than-expected financial results for the first quarter of 2011, due in part to the halt in PV installations in the key Italian market, Trina Solar has revised its second-quarter guidance, which points to the demand issues in Italy for the company's lower sales expectations.
Meyer Burger Technology has received antitrust clearance from the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, concerning the acquisition of equipment supplier, Roth & Rau. The settlement of the tender offer and the payment of the offer price are expected to take place on 9 August 2011.
Despite reports that Solar Frontier’s 900MW, CIS thin film production plant in Miyazaki, Japan has reached full capacity the company has said nothing of the sort. What Solar Frontier has said is that all production lines are now commercially operational having started its production ramp earlier this year. The Kunitomi Plant was said to be ‘on track to reach its targeted annual capacity of 900MW as average module output continues to increase, without giving a timeline. The Kunitomi Plant is said to be Japan’s largest solar module production facility, as well as the largest CIS factory in the world.
The ongoing wafer supply deal dispute between China Sunergy and REC Wafer entered a new phase with a Norwegian court ruling in favour of China Sunergy. REC Wafer is said to appeal the decision made by the Norwegian Court of Appeal.
