S.A.G. Solarstrom will build a 13-MWp photovoltaic power plant at a former military site in St?íbro, Czech Republic--the company's first in the country and its largest project to date. The installation, said to be the biggest PV system planned in the republic, is scheduled to begin construction in July and be completed by the fall.
Solarwatt has ordered a new automated turnkey production system for manufacturing crystalline-silicon solar modules from Kuka Systems. The line, which will occupy a production area of 3,800 m² in Solarwatt's factory near Dresden, will increase the company's production capacity by 150 MW when it comes online in the first half of 2010.
Signet Solar has signed a deal with Moncada Energy Group to supply at least 7.7 MW of large-area Gen-8.5 amorphous-silicon thin-film photovoltaic modules this year for deployment in the Italian renewable energy company's wind farms.
Silex Systems has conditionally acquired the manufacturing assets and equipment of the Sydney Olympic Park (SOP) solar photovoltaic production facility from BP Solar, which operated the Australian fab until March. Silex has also signed a conditional lease for the building which houses the SOP plant, so once the transactions are completed, the manufacturing facility--including infrastructure and services--will be secured relatively intact, according to the company. Both transactions are expected to be completed before the end of June.
SPG Solar has named Thomas S. Rooney Jr. as its new CEO, succeeding company founder Dan Thompson, who will become chairman of the board. Rooney brings more than 25 years of experience managing large-scale and publicly traded companies to the solar development firm.
Air Liquide has signed several new contracts since January to supply gases and onsite services to solar wafer and cell manufacturers in five countries. The company says it plans to invest €13 million to meet the needs of those customers.
Two up-and-coming solar balance-of-system companies have achieved significant milestones in their business plans. Enphase Energy has signed up electronics manufacturing services firm Flextronics to produce its microinverters, while Tigo Energy closed a $10 million Series B round to help fund its PV system maximization offering.
Underwriters Laboratories said that it is expanding its existing photovoltaics testing lab in San Jose and will open new facilities in Germany and Japan in 2010. UL is also exploring new partnerships in Asia beyond its existing lab in Suzhou, China.
Skyline Solar has appointed Solon CTO Lars Podlowski to its board of directors. Podlowski was tapped by the high-gain solar/CPV company for his combination of extensive technical expertise in the implementation of large-scale solar products, systems, and plants as well as his intimate knowledge of European markets, which Skyline says will help it as the firm looks to expand globally.
GT Solar has received final acceptance for the design, installation, and commissioning of Solar Cells Hellas's integrated solar photovoltaic wafer and cell turnkey fabrication line in Patras, Greece--said to be the first PV manufacturing facility in the country. The multicrystalline-silicon production line has an annual capacity of 30 MW.
