TetraSun has disclosed that its monocrystalline Czochralski (Cz) silicon is now production-ready through the successful completion of its SunShot Initiative PV Incubator grant from the US Department of Energy (DoE). Alongside the DoE grant, since its founding in 2009, TetraSun has raised US$12 million from equity and strategic customer investors. TetraSun's technology turns monocrystalline Cz wafers into high-efficiency cells, in what the company claims as innovative and cost-effective, by making a surface passivation and replacing silver by copper.
Sunways’ management board approved the conclusion of, and entered into, an agreement with Deutsche Solar in order to resolve the early termination of two long-term contracts, originally concluded in 2006 and 2007, that provide for the supply of PV wafers by Deutsche Solar.
Regen SW recently published its “Renewable Energy Progress Report”, which, among other findings, demonstrates that renewable capacity in the South West of the UK has more than doubled over the past year. The renewable electricity capacity grew by 142% from 217MW in 2010/2011 to 525MW in 2011/2012. Solar Power Portal noted that the region’s growth was propelled by solar PV, which accounted for 237MW of all new renewable capacity during the 2011/2012 year.
Global Solar Energy is getting help from new local Japanese partners as it expands its presence in the country. CBC, Eco Holdings and OG have partnered with Global Solar and will help the company in its offering of its new design of the PowerFLEX BIPV system, which was adapted for specific use on rooftops in Japan.
While talks continue with potential buyers of insolvent PV manufacturer, Q-Cells, Insolvency administrator Henning Schorisch will also potentially conduct a full restructuring of the company under administration. Q-Cells reported that its creditors met in Dessau-Rosslau to hear about the insolvency proceedings.
Effective August 27, 2012, the revised Italian feed-in tariff programme Conto Energia V has made the registration of all PV systems compulsory. EuPD Research claims this will induce an artificial limitation to the market as well as incur a supplementary cost of €3/kWh.
Canadian solar developer CarbonFree Technology has installed a 543kW PV system on the roof of Canada’s largest apple grower Algoma Orchards, the company has announced. The system, which is operated by BrightRoof Solar, a collaboration between CarbonFree and Connor Clark and Lunn Infrastructure, is installed on the roof of one of Algoma Orchards processing facilities.
It appears concerns over market consolidation and the changing incentive landscape affected Intersolar North America more than many had hoped. Around 22,000 visitors and 850 exhibitors were expected at this month’s exhibition in San Francisco. However, the reality was closer to 18,000 visitors and 757 exhibitors, compared to last year’s 20,000 visitors and 839 exhibiting solar companies which was a 30% growth from 2010. On a more positive note, Intersolar claims that approximately two thirds of the exhibition space has already been booked for the 2013 exhibition and conference.
Ethiopia will receive solar systems to connect rural areas to the grid, according to 2merkato reports. Chinese and British solar companies have signed agreements with the Ethiopian government to develop PV arrays ranging from 8kW to 130kW to power rural villages.
Infigen has been chosen to construct a 1MW PV plant with integrated storage, the company has announced. The Capital East solar farm will be built in New South Wales (NSW) and it will be the first in Australia to be registered with the National Electricity Market (NEM) as well as Infigen’s first PV project in operation.
