German manufacturer aleo solar has already signed 25 MW worth of solar PV module contracts with a number of European customers for 2009. The company says it has deals with specialist dealers, installers, and solar technology specialists in core markets throughout the continent.
BP Solar says it has completed the final three photovoltaic systems specified under the terms of its solar power construction program agreement with Wal-Mart. The company recently finished building a 493.7-KW system at the Sam's Club in La Habra, a 605.9-KW array at the Wal-Mart Super Center in Palm Springs, and a 675.2-KW system at the Beaumont Super Center.
Solar Fabrik has named semiconductor industy veteran Günter Weinberger to replace Christoph Paradeis as the company's CEO, effective Dec. 31. Weinberger comes to the solar module and systems manufacturer from Sandbridge Technologies, where he was president/CEO.
REC has updated the status of its polysilicon expansion at Plant III, saying it has formally accepted and taken control over the entire fluidized bed reactor (FBR) area and all related equipment at the new factory under construction in Moses Lake, WA. However, quality control problems with certain carbon steel pipe welds have delayed start-up of silane production until late January 2009.
Concentrix Solar officially inaugurated its production line for concentrator solar photovoltaic modules during ceremonies held Friday at its Freiburg, Germany, location. The fully automated 25-MW capacity facility, which can be expanded to 100 MW, has been running since September and shipping product since October. The factory is one of the few industrial-scale CPV manufacturing lines in operation.
The European Investment Bank will lend €40 million to Thin Film Solar Technologies to support the construction of a 30-MWp production facility for CIGSSe photovoltaic modules in Paarl, located in the Western Cape region of South Africa.The plant will hire up 150 employees, who will receive training and specialist skills development.
SolarWorld and South Korean joint-venture partner SolarPark Engineering have commissioned their first solar photovoltaic module-manufacturing factory in Asia. The plant, located in Jeonju, has a 150-MW capacity and can be expanded to 1 GW, the companies said. The companies also announced a new joint venture, SolarPark Manufacturing Equipment.
Open Energy Corp. and Suntech Power Holdings have signed an exclusive agreement licensing the worldwide manufacture, distribution, and marketing of Open Energy's building-integrated solar roof-tile product to Suntech. Open Energy has granted Suntech an exclusive license of the intellectual property incorporated into its SolarSave line of 50-W, 4-foot solar roof tile and any similar or new-generation tile roof products.
SmartSpark Energy Systems has added two fresh faces to its executive management team and reassigned a familiar one to new duties. The solar power electronics company has named Noel Foley as VP of engineering and Joseph Scarci as VP of marketing, while Frederick Krein, former president/CEO, will continue in the newly created role of VP of finance and administration.
The solar photovoltaic manufacturer formerly known as EverQ has changed its name, plans to operate independently of its parent companies, and will delay its initial public offering until financial conditions improve, according to reports in CleanTech and various German media outlets. The newly branded company, Sovello, says it will cut its ties with Evergreen Solar, Q-Cells, and REC as sales more than double and its third manufacturing line nears production readiness.
