The latest solar manufacturer to pare its financial outlook is Chinese multicrystalline wafer and polysilicon producer, LDK Solar. The company updated its numbers, estimating that revenues for the fourth quarter will be in the range of $415-$425 million, a slight drop from its previous guidance of $425-$435 million provided in early January, while the outlook for wafer shipments continues to hover between 245 and 255 MW. But an inventory-related writedown of $210-$220 million will help push LDK into the red, resulting in a negative gross margin and a resultant loss for the quarter of $135-$145 million.
"Because we know we can't power America's future on energy that's controlled by foreign dictators, we are taking a big step down the road to energy independence and laying the groundwork for a new green energy economy that can create countless well-paying jobs," said President Barack Obama after signing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act today in Denver. Two leading solar industry trade associations issued statements supporting the signing of the $787 billion package, citing several provisions in the stimulus program that will help the sector.
OTB Solar has ordered resonance ultrasonic vibrations crack detection equipment from RUV Systems for use with its automated turnkey solar-cell manufacturing production lines. The inspection gear will also be offered as an "extra-quality feature" of the integrated manufacturing systems.
CaliSolar has chosen Eyelit to provide its factory automation, manufacturing execution, quality, and asset management software suite to support the upgraded metallurgical-grade silicon (UMG-Si) solar cell company in its production ramp of a new, fully integrated facility in Sunnyvale, CA.
HelioVolt has made changes to its executive management team and is searching for a permanent CEO. Board member Ron Bernal has been appointed as interim CEO and Sanjeev Kumar, the former chief financial officer of Energy Conversion Devices, has joined the Austin-based thin-film PV company as CFO; founder B.J. "Billy" Stanbery will continue to play a key role as chief strategy officer and chairman of the board.
SEMI's PV Group has issued the "Global Photovoltaic Standards Roadmap Guidance Document," which identifies immediate opportunities for reducing cost and accelerating innovation in thin-film and crystalline silicon cell and module manufacturing through industry standards. The document--developed by a team of industry stakeholders including equipment and materials suppliers, cell and module manufacturers, safety experts, and others--offers a high-level assessment of existing SEMI standards and safety guidelines with respect to their applicability to PV manufacturing.
HelioVolt has made changes to its executive management team and is searching for a permanent CEO. Board member Ron Bernal has been appointed as interim CEO and Sanjeev Kumar, the former chief financial officer of Energy Conversion Devices, has joined the Austin-based thin-film PV company as CFO; founder B.J. "Billy" Stanbery will continue to play a key role as chief strategy officer and chairman of the board.
Howard Berke, executive chairman and cofounder of organic photovoltaics company Konarka, has joined the board of directors of the Solar Electric Industries Association (SEIA). The move comes after Berke completed a four-year stint on the board of the American Council on Renewable Energy.
The GP Solar unit of centrotherm photovolaics landed its first major order for its Inspect line of optical measurement systems designed for use in solar PV production. GP said the tools will be supplied to a gigawatt-scale factory being built in Southeast Asia by an unnamed major European solar-cell manufacturer.
Solyndra has opened its European headquarters in Holzkirchen, Germany, near Munich and tapped Clemens Jargon to head the thin-film PV company's sales and service operations in the region.
