SunPower has now completed the acquisition of BIPV specialist Tenesol from Total, paying out US$165.4 million in cash. Ownership of Total in SunPower will increase to 66% as part of the transaction as Total purchases 18.6 million shares of SunPower common stock in a private placement at US$8.80 per share.
Instituto de Energía Solar at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid has certified that Semprius’ HCPV modules have set a new world record with an efficiency level of 33.9%. The module was tested indoors at Standard Test Conditions (850 W/m2, 25°C cell temperature, and a spectrum matched to AM1.5D) and corroborated by outdoor measurements made at the Institute of Concentration Photovoltaic Systems (ISFOC) in Puertollano, Spain. The HCPV modules significantly exceed the previous claim of 32.0%.
Fluor Corporation announced it had been selected last year for its EPC services to contribute towards Arlington Valley Solar Energy II’s (AVSE II) 125MW solar facility in Maricopa County, Arizona. Fluor has also acquired a contract for ongoing operations and maintenance services. In 2002, Fluor designed and constructed the Arlington Valley Combined Cycle Facility nearby.
For the first time, the US Department of Commerce has issued a finding, ahead of the preliminary determination on duties, scheduled for March 2. In order to prevent “a massive, evasive surge of Chinese solar cell and panel imports”, the department has proposed that countervailing duties will apply to all imports of cells and modules from Chinese exporters that were brought into the United States starting December 3, 2011.
Continuing with the impact of overcapacity and falling prices, REC has said that another long-term wafer sales contract signed in the 2006-2008 period had been terminated. REC said that it would receive a cash compensation of approximately US$34.2 million (NOK 220 million) in relation to the cancellation. REC did not disclose the customer involved.
The Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) has commissioned an economic analysis to counter the petitions to the US Commerce Department and the US International Trade Commission by SolarWorld, demanding 250% tariffs on Chinese imports. The Brattle Group has found that a 100% tariff on imported solar PV cells and modules from China would result in as many as 50,000 net lost jobs in the US over the next three years. Furthermore, retaliatory tariffs placed on US exports of polysilicon to China would put nearly 11,000 more American jobs at risk in the first year following tariff imposition.
Following its win at the 2011 Solar Decathlon event, the University of Maryland has found a buyer for its winning entry, WaterShed. Pepco, the electric service provider, has purchased the solar-powered house and will transport the building to one of its facilities in Montgomery County, Maryland where it will act as a ‘living classroom’ to illustrate the clean energy possibilities.
Sunlogics Power, a subsidiary of Salamon Group, was named the senior secured creditor of Arise Technologies. The company additionally noted that it is consulting on Arise’s day-to-day operations of its systems business.
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice gave Timminco, and its subsidiary Bécancour Silicon, an extension of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act stay of proceedings. The stay proceeds will now be allowed to continue until April 30.
The US Department of Commerce has agreed to postpone the date for its preliminary decision on the CASM-led US versus China trade dispute to March 2, 2012. The original date of February 13 was deemed to soon by SolarWorld, the leader of the CASM movement, and the 18-day extension will delay the decision by the Department of Commerce.
