The photovoltaics division of Heraeus Materials Technology has completed construction on its new Singapore facility, which will produce the company’s silver metallization paste for use in crystalline solar cells. The site will also house the unit’s R&D, sales and technical service operations, all of which began operation in June. The R&D lab was the facility’s most recent completion, having been finalized in July. It plans to have qualification samples ready for customers in the coming weeks. The site’s official opening ceremony will be held in November.
A combination of solar, wind and other renewable energy sources are contributing to Ontario’s economy by creating around 5,000 new jobs. The McGuinty Government’s FiT program has enabled the construction of 25 new large-scale solar and wind projects that will not only bring about healthy employment levels, but will draw massive amounts – an estimated CAD$3 billion – in private-sector investments to the province in areas such as manufacturing facilities.
The final adaptation of Italy's deficit-reduction plan has imposed further reductions on renewable energy incentives. If confirmed, the new legislation could see incentives to renewable energy companies paid for by consumers on their electricity bills slashed by as much as 30%.
Having 8 facilities within the Tokyo Electric Power Company and Tohoku Electric Power Co service areas, Kyocera has increased the size of the rooftop solar power system at its Tanagura manufacturing plant in Fukushima Prefecture, to meet energy reduction targets of 15%, due to the power consumption regulations dictated after the Fukushima nuclear power disaster.
KLNE has increased its manufacturing capacity in China by opening a new facility and research and development centre in Changzhou. The 100-acre site was officially unveiled on June 29 at a ceremony attended by the company’s sales director, Wison Qi, and marketing director, Paul Nicholson, as well as dignitaries from the Changzhou local government and staff representing the Wujin Economic Development Zone.
In a move to bring better exposure to the company and its products in South Korea, Spire has selected South Korea-based JEIS Holdings to represent the company’s solar products and services in the country. “The Korean solar industry has been on the rise for many years,” said Roger Little, chairman and CEO of Spire. “Our Vice President of Business Development in Asia, Jae-Bok Young, has worked very hard to identify the company that best fits Spire’s needs in Korea and has successfully secured the representation of JEIS.”
Just over a year after Astronergy and Munich Re signed a contract to cover Astronergy’s crystalline-silicon PV modules, the two companies have revealed a new agreement that sees the reinsurer covering all crystalline-silicon PV modules sold by Astronergy as of January 1, 2011. The new contract additionally calls for Munich Re to back-up the performance warranties Astronergy issues against excessive power loss over the next 25 years.
Test and measurement company Atonometrics has completed the installation and qualification of a continuous solar simulator at Fraunhofer ISE. The system, located at Fraunhofer’s Freiburg, Germany facility, features an integrated I-V measurement system, which will be used for light soak tests on full-size PV modules.
A 2006 long-term wafer supply deal between Suntech and MEMC has been ‘mutually terminated' at a cost to Suntech of approximately US$212 million. Suntech said that the decision to cancel the wafer supply deal was due to ‘rapid changes in the market for silicon wafers.’ Suntech also announced that it was stopping investment in CSG Solar's research and development operations, which focused on crystalline silicon thin-film technology. MEMC remains a wafer supplier to Suntech under other supply agreements.
Australia’s Sunshine Coast Regional Council has granted planning permission to Energy Parks Australia (EPA) for its new solar plant in Valdora, Queensland. With a capacity of 10MW, the development dwarfs Australia’s current largest system – Liddell’s 3MW concentrating solar power (CSP) facility – and will cost AU$40 million (US$43 million) to build.
