In keeping with its 20% increase in turnover for 2011 and to boost its international presence, DEGERenergie has recruited Florian Falk Naumann as county manager for Australia. DEGERenergie is expecting its MLD technology to flourish in the Australian climate under the government's “Clean Energy Future” scheme.
PowerGuard's unique PowerClip extended warranty protection has been adopted by module manufacturer China Sunergy. This year alone Lightway Green New Energy, SunEdison, Talesun and Long Energy, to name but a few, have joined the scheme.
A new research program to bring ‘Black Silicon’ antireflective layer process and materials to commercialization has been signed between Natcore Technology and material inventor, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) with funding of US$150,000.
The first roll-to-roll flexible OPV thin film plant using vacuum deposition of oligomers has been officially opened by Heliatek. The €14 million facility in Dresden, Germany has 1 pilot/production line initially with the expectation to launch commercial product offerings in around the third quarter of 2012. The first key market Heliatek is addressing is BIPV and has plans to raise a further €50 million for a full-scale production line. An opening ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Saxony, Stanislaw Tillich.
China-based solar grade silicon producer, JACO has claimed it has achieved several key milestones in its ability to supply SoG for wafer production. Having entered production of its Gen 1 process in 2011, JACO said that it reached a key cost target of US$15/kg that also equated to a CapEx cost of US$15/kg and an electricity consumption cost of 15kwh/kg.
Diversification in both business segments and on a regional basis proved successful for Portugal-based Martifer Solar which said its revenue increased 33% to €293.2 million in 2011. Unlike some of its rivals, the company also posted positive EBITDA of €20.1 million and a net profit of €9.5 million. The company noted that was the fourth consecutive year of positive financial results.
As energy prices continue to climb and solar rebates continue to attract a steady stream of customers, Antaris Solar has hired Robert McNamara as its new general manager for the United States in order to manage the regions increasing customer base. McNamara brings solar sales and management experience to his new role, coming from Solar Wholesale Products, which he led as president.
ESA Renewables is taking solar guarantees one step further with the launch of their Solar Power Production Guarantee program, which promises specific monthly energy production for solar energy systems under an ESA O&M agreement. If the system fails to meet ESA’s annual guaranteed power production levels, the company will compensate the solar project’s owners for the difference between guaranteed and actual energy generated.
According to a report by Arabian Business, the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) will issue the initial bids for the first 10MW of a US$3.3 billion solar park this September. The 1,000MW solar park has a target date for completion in 2030.
Taiwan-based PV wafer and cell producers are already seeing the benefits from the US anti-dumping duty case, for which the US Department of Commerce has yet to make its final determination on possible countervailing import duties against Chinese PV module producers. According to Jefferies investment bank, sales at Taiwanese solar cell producers have rebounded 29% since the beginning of the year, after sales plummeted as overcapacity and subsequent weak demand resulted in many posting their lowest sales for more than two years.
