India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has awarded PV project contracts worth 350MW to 28 developers in its latest National Solar Mission (NSM) auction. Projects in batch II of phase II were allotted by a reverse bidding process and have an initial completion deadline of March 2013.
With almost perfect conditions for solar technology deployment, a significant energy need and weak infrastructure, South Africa as highlighted in a detailed EPIA report last year should be one of the best emerging markets. However, lack of financial support was said to be the key obstacle. That my now be changing with one example of funding being made available with the support of the European Investment Bank and Investec to the tune of €100 million for the promotion of clean energy generation and energy efficiency initiatives in South Africa.
Centrosolar will be expanding its market position with its new PV system, previously only available in Germany. Nicknamed the “Roof King”, Cenpac was developed in 2010 and Centrosolar claims it is the first standard solar system available on the market that can be installed on almost any roof.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s high-desert Adelanto Switching and Converter Station has started to take shape. Located on a 42-acre site, about 65 miles north of Los Angeles, construction on the project began in February this year, after the Board of Water and Power Commissioners granted final approval for the project in December 2010.
As part of its long-term cost reduction goals for its turnkey Micromorph thin film silicon ‘ThinFab’ production lines, Oerlikon Solar has teamed with gas suppliers Air Liquide and Linde to provide more than a 20% reduction in total cost of all gases and precursors. As a result, its ThinFab (120MWp) lines going into full production by end of 2012 can reduce module production costs by up to 5%. The total gas budget was said to be less than €8.50 per panel.
Semiconductor equipment supplier, Novellus Systems is developing what it describes as conformal film deposition (CFD) technology, an atomic layer deposition process to grow conformal metal oxide and metal nitride dipole layers in the PV cells. Collaboration is being undertaken with the University of South Florida (USF), to study the precise engineering of solar cell interfaces via a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant.
David Brady, First Solar’s VP of Treasury is also taking over the role of Investor Relations, reporting to Mark Widmar, Chief Financial Officer. Former investor relations officer, Larry Polizzotto remains within the company, though no formal position has been chosen. Reasons for the shuffle were not given.
Pushing the boundaries of conventional silicon solar cell technology, while offering a low-cost production approach, took another step forward, according to R&D organisation, imec. In conjunction with its industrial affiliates, researchers have developed a small-area (2x2 cm2) - interdigitated back-contact (IBC) silicon solar cells that has demonstrated a conversion efficiency of 23.3%. Work will now focus on developing a large-area and production viable cell and process steps.
OPDE has signed a module supply contract with Canadian Solar for its 8.8MW solar power plant in Ablitas, Spain. Installation of the CS6P-P series modules began last month and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
JCM Capital has signed an agreement with Hay Solar Holdings ULC to provide development, construction and long-term equity financing for a 30MW portfolio in Ontario, Canada. The portfolio will be comprised of a series of 100kW solar installations at farms across the province.
