After significant polysilicon and wafer price declines in 2009, MEMC executives have become more upbeat about demand and price stability entering the first quarter of 2010 and beyond. In a conference call to discuss fourth quarter results, the company noted that capacity utilization of silicon wafer production was at approximately 80%, with a demand recovery underway in the semiconductor industry, enabling a firming in prices to that sector. In solar, price declines were said to have moderated and the company was now shipping wafers to 10 of the top 25 PV manufacturers, compared to having made shipments to only 2 solar customers at the beginning of 2009.
Product Briefing Outline: Camstar Systems has released ‘Camstar Enterprise Platform’ Version 4.5 for general availability. Enhancements in version 4.5 - driven in collaboration with leading manufacturers using the Platform - include expanded enterprise-caliber capabilities for global enterprises with multiple manufacturing locations and outsourced operations. Version 4.5 augments the Platform’s configurability and usability to allow users to quickly adopt the solution with minimal training – even where complex manufacturing and quality processes span discrete, batch and hybrid operations.
An investigation by the European Commission that started in 2008, has led to the withdrawal of a €11.6 million EU grant for the construction of Sovello’s first ‘String Ribbon’ PV manufacturing plant in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The European Commission said that influence of the shareholder Q-Cells had been significantly greater than its 24.9 % share holding, which meant that the ‘SME Bonus’ given to small and medium size enterprises did not apply to Sovello, formerly EverQ.
The first Applied Materials ‘SunFab’ thin film customer to switch to tandem junction silicon cell structures, Sunfilm has also integrated three ‘Sensic’ in-line metrology tools from Basler Vision Technologies to provide required quality inspection throughout the process flow. Basler is best known for inspection systems used in the LCD industry. The systems have now been adapted and optimized for the thin-film industry.
A joint venture called T-SEP has been formed on a 50-50 basis by Global EcoPower and T-Solar to develop solar projects in France, equalling 120MW over the next three years. T-Solar began production of its Applied Materials supplied a-Si thin film ‘SunFab’ line nearly a year ago and has an annual capacity of 45MW or 700,000 m2 of modules per year. The move is in response to what the companies claimed were attractive feed-in-tariffs in the country, which were released on January 12. The power plants to be planned and built will be insured by the German Allianz company. The T-Solar Group operates 28 photovoltaic parks in Spain.
Product Briefing Outline: The Schmid Group has launched a new Tabber Stringer created in cooperation with the Wolf company. The system is designed to offer high precision performance combined with minimum handling and a soldering method that is claimed to reduce the risk of cell damage during processing and handling.
Product Briefing Outline: SunPower has introduced the next generation of its T20 Tracker, which it claims is the most powerful solar tracker on the market today, incorporating SunPower's high-efficiency 128-cell, 400-watt solar panels for maximum energy output.
Construction has started on a 24.5MW solar plant at a former military airport in the village of Schorfheide near Eberswalde, Germany, using 93,000 Suntech multicrystalline modules and inverters from SMA. General contractor for the €58 million project is solarhybrid and its partner, Enerparc. The project is expected to be completed by the end of April 2010.
Speciality metals refiner 5N Plus has signed an MOU supply agreement with Abound Solar to supply high-purity cadmium telluride and cadmium sulphide materials for the CdTe thin film start-up’s module manufacturing operations. First Solar, the leading thin film producer, is 5N Plus’ largest customer. Abound Solar has also signed a long-term module recycling contract with 5N Plus that includes manufacturing scrap that will also be fully recycled.
Privately held materials supply specialist Targray Technology International said it has seen a 128% increase in sales volume from its solar grade silicon, ingot, and off spec or scrap materials business during 2009. Although a difficult year for the industry, the company cited its global infrastructure and specialist staff for the business increase in 2009. Targray has been involved in the distribution of solar-grade silicon to wafer, cell and module manufacturers in the PV industry, only since 2006.
