GCL-Poly has updated its solar wafer capacity expansion plans, highlighting that it expects to reach 2GW by the end of October 2010. Previously, GCL-Poly had said this figure would be reached by the end of the year. The company also noted that wafer capacity has reached 1.2GW.
Product Briefing Outline: Intertronics has introduced the ‘BlueWave’ 200 UV curing spot lamp that is designed to provide the highest intensity and the most user-friendly operation. A new, patent pending Intensity Adjustment feature also allows simple, manual intensity adjustment during initial UV process validation and production.
Continued capacity ramp at OCI could see the Korean-based polysilicon manufacturer become the world’s second largest producer on the back of another 5,000 metric ton (MT) expansion. The construction will begin in June 2010, with completion expected by October 2011 at a total cost of KRW 220 billion. The new expansion at its existing facility Gunsan, Jeollabukdo, Korea would result in a capacity of 32,000MT per annum with one of the lowest manufacturing costs.
During its Annual General Meeting (AGM) Sunways executives noted that they expect the company to double PV module sales in 2010, compared to the previous year. Demand in Germany has remained strong while overseas sales are also expected to continue to increase. However, shortages in inverter components would limit sales growth of its solar inverter range in 2010.
eSolar, Inc. responds to my CSP (Concentrating Solar Power) site survey and answers a few questions. The Sierra SunTowers were offline for five (5) days because of a “planned outage” followed by another day due to high winds. Not long after the cross post of eSolar Sierra SunTower Project offline to the PV-tech.org Editor’s Blog, I got a response from eSolar to my questions from the previous week.
Hedging its bets in its move into the solar industry, leading semiconductor foundry TSMC will start producing CIGSS thin-film modules after taking a stake in Stion and a technology license. VentureTech Alliance, a TSMC affiliate, will invest US$50 million to take a 21% stake in Stion.
At Intersolar Europe 2010, a powerhouse of the semiconductor industry exhibited for the first time but based on their manufacturing strategy will be attending this and many other major events for years to come. As is typical of the Korean-based memory manufacturer, little has actually been revealed about their solar manufacturing strategy, especially capacity and capital spending plans. However, PV-Tech was granted an exclusive video interview with the head of its new Solar Energy division, Changsik Choi, Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics.
Adding to its PV module manufacturing footprint, Kyocera has officially opened its latest 30MW plant in San Diego, California. The company first set up operations in California in 1971 and was the first Japan-based corporation with manufacturing operations in the State. The modules are intended for the U.S. market. Initial production includes solar modules ranging from 210 watts to the company's latest 235-watt modules.
Partner blogger Ed Gunther from Gunther Portfolio has provided this blog. A tale of two Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Towers generating no electricity? A funny thing happened on the way to Victorville for the Victor Valley College Solar Power Plant Celebration. I decided to stop in Lancaster, California, to benchmark the eSolar, Inc. CSP project I highlighted earlier this year. As can be seen in my photos over two days, one of the Sierra SunTowers is missing the thermal receiver enclosure nacelle, ample or not, and is out of operation. The second tower has an anemic amount of sunlight focused onto the thermal receiver by the heliostat field although it was late in the day.
Product Briefing Outline: Reis Robotics has launched a new High Speed Module Taping System that handles tape application by a single robot. This newly developed system could substantially increase the process stability compared to the former systems available on the market.
