Singulus Technologies has advised that it has received a new order for a processing machine used in the production of CIGS/CIS thin-film solar cells. The order came from an undisclosed international thin-film solar manufacturer and will be used for the set-up of a pilot production of CIGS/CIS modules. Singulus noted that upon successful commissioning by the thin-film solar manufacturer, the company plans to expand its module production, hence the order placed with Singulus. Further details, including a delivery date, were not available.
Japan’s Kagawa government in western Japan has announced that Kokusai Kogyo Holdings and Orix Corp will each build a solar power plant, to start operations in July and September. The plants will have a capacity of 2MW.
GCL-Poly Energy Holdings and Bank of America Merrill Lynch have closed the initial transaction to fund 15 solar power systems that will be developed by GCL-Poly’s US subsidiary, GCL Solar Energy. The 15 solar sites will total 5MW of solar energy and serve the Palmdale School District in southern California.
Applied Materials’ Varian VIISta ion implant platform will be using Praxair Electronics’ UpTime sub-atmospheric dopant gas delivery system. Praxair Electronics noted that it is also the preferred sub-atmospheric dopant supplier for the Solion implant tool developed by Varian Semiconductor Equipment.
Hydro One Networks, NEC and ON Semiconductor have joined Semiconductor Research Corporation’s (SRC) global Energy Research Initiative (ERI) joining established members such as Applied Materials, Bosch, First Solar and IBM. The now 10 member ERI will continue to focus on finding new materials, devices and methodologies for power control/management and energy collection, conversion and storage.
The CPV solar cell business segment of Emcore accounted for US$19.1 million or 51% of the company's total revenue in its FY2012 first quarter, representing a decline of US$2 million from the prior quarter. However, Emcore reported a CPV cell order backlog of approximately US$51.7 million, an increase from US$43.5 million in the prior quarter. The order increase was due to the first order from its China-based JV CPV module operations, Suncore, which is starting assembly operations to meet a US$100 million project contract in the country.
Borrego Solar has again secured funding for US$47 million from US Bank and East West Bank for solar energy projects in California, US. The fund will be used to build 6MW of installations for three school districts and two plants in Massachusetts – the largest of which is expected to be 4.7MW. The company said these projects are expected to create 400 local jobs and generate enough electricity to power nearly 2,000 homes.
Organic PV thin films may hold a significant promise of low cost electricity generation but longevity has been a key weakness of the technology. However, Konarka Technologies has become the first OPV manufacturer to become certified in compliance with IEC 61646, an accelerated lifetime testing protocol by TÜV Rheinland.
In releasing full-year 2011 results, Showa Shell highlighted the successful roll-out of subsidiary, Solar Frontier’s CIS thin film modules in key markets such as Germany, US, Asia, Middle-East and Japan. The company noted a string of commercial and utility-scale project wins having started production at its 900MW plant in February, 2011. However, price decline of 40% were reported for the year with further price declines expected in 2012, due to oversupply, though current price declines were said to have slowed.
Dow Corning announced that it had contracted Bardawil Group to distribute its silicon-based solar solutions for the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Bardawil will market and support Dow Corning’s solar products while additionally representing the company at strategic conferences and exhibitions in the specified region.
