The Japan Photovoltaic Expansion Center (J-PEC) has certified a system configuration featuring Upsolar photovoltaic (PV) modules. The accreditation, which was obtained on February 3rd, insures that Upsolar products can be installed on residences and commercial facilities in Japan, qualifying them for Government solar subsidies.
Sputnik Engineering will be releasing its new communication software, MaxTalk2 at the 26th Symposium on Photovoltaic Solar Energy in Bad Staffelstein taking place March 2 through March 4. The new software edition is said to be able to monitor and manage the measured values of solar plants that use SolarMax inverters while permitting users to survey the status of their solar plant by looking at operating data, statistics, measured values and device parameters.
Ultrasonic Systems has recently installed and commissioned its PV-480 coating system for an unspecified U.S. CdTe solar panel manufacturer. Ultrasonic advised that the solar panel manufacturer intends to use the system for the application of cadmium chloride solution in its absorber layer activation process.
Solon Corporation has won a contract to build a 15MW solar power plant for Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) in Fresno, California. Construction on the 160-acre site will begin this April and is expected to be completed by October.
Solar Rainbow Services and Carlisle Energy Services have joined forces to install a 2.3MW rooftop PV system on Jordache Enterprises’ New Jersey distribution center and warehouse.
Citing 2010 as being a transformational year for the company, Dr. Peng Fang, CEO of JA Solar, noted that annual revenues increased 211%, while PV shipments increased by 187%. Revenue for the year was US$1.78 billion, PV shipments reached 1.46GW.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have concluded after a testing with more advanced cell structures than are currently used, that large-area silicon solar cells are closer than ever at achieving 20% efficiency ratings. The newly researched cell structures differed in the type of silicon material, the base and the type of emitter used. Solar cells with a negatively conducting base are referred to as n-type, those with a positive conducting base are p-type cells and the emitter had the same inverse polarization of the base.
Juli New Energy, a subsidiary of the Juli Group, has selected Critical Manufacturing’s cmNavigo Solar Edition MES for implementation in its Baoding, China facility. The execution of the MES solution will be completed by Critical Manufacturing’s Chinese unit.
During its exhibition at the SNEC PV Power Expo 2011, Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates has unveiled its new Solion PV ion implant platform for the Chinese market. Partnering with seven Chinese PV manufacturers, Varian looks to implement its Solion technology into volume manufacturing by mid-year.
In January 2010, the Morris County Improvement Authority (MCIA) of New Jersey distributed US$22.3 million in low-interest government bonds to finance the development of solar installations throughout the county. Partnering with Tioga Energy and SunDurance Energy on the Morris Model pilot program, MCIA has completed the installation of 19 solar projects on 16 school and government facilities in its county. These are the first to be financed through the public-private collaboration and collectively generate 3.1MW of energy for the New Jersey County.
