An exclusive agreement with Sixtron Advanced Materials will allow Air Liquide to offer advanced coating materials that tackle light-induced degradation (LID) problems for crystalline-silicon solar cells, which compliments Air Liquide’s own advanced precursor materials. The Silexium process solution combines proprietary precursor molecules with Sixtron’s ‘SunBox’ gas generation system to deposit solar cell films.
SolarWorld benefits from the development of the international solar markets in the first quarter of 2010, reporting a rise in shipments and a consolidated revenue increase in comparison to the first quarter of 2009. The Group's shipments rose by 22% to 139MW versus the same period of the previous year, while the consolidated revenue increased by 28% from €49.3 million to €225.6 million.
Secretary for the US Department of Energy, Steven Chu, announced the selection of thirteen projects, which combined will receive up to $62 million over five years for the research, development and demonstration of concentrating solar power (CSP) systems to provide low-cost electrical power. The projects will focus on improving component and design systems to extend the operation time to an average of 18 hours per day.
Thin-film PV firm Global Solar Energy said that modules using its cells are powering what it calls the largest CIGS rooftop installation in the world, a 820KW system at a plastics manufacturer in Orgiano, Italy. Spanish solar company Yohkon Energia produced the modules, and Espacasa unit CDM Italy installed the copper-indium-gallium-(di)selenide-based solar energy system.
Returning to profitability (US$11.8 million) in the first quarter of 2010 was only one aspect in a busy quarter for ReneSola. Revenue of US$206.6 million was reached on record quarterly shipments of 242.4MW (12.6% growth QoQ), both exceeding previous guidance. ReneSola now expects total solar product shipments of 1.0GW to 1.1GW, up from the previous total solar product shipment estimate of 900MW to 950MW. Average cell conversion efficiency rates on monocrystalline and multicrystalline wafers reached 17.4% and 16%, respectively, up from 16% and 15%, respectively. The average amount of power per watt generated by each wafer has increased 5% to 8%, according to the company.
Spire has announced its new 6m × 1.3m solar simulator, the 6013, which was developed off of the company’s Single Long Pulse series. The first unit is scheduled to be delivered to SoloPower in San Jose, CA, for use in CIGS modules.
Kyocera announced that it will be supplying 9,000 solar modules for the Matsuyama solar power plant in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The modules will total 1.7MW for the spring 2011 on-line target of the plant. The Matsuyama plant is combining with the existing 2MW installation to become the biggest solar installation in Shikoku, Japan.
Since the news of Moser Baer's booming solar sector, the company has announced plans to raise Rs300-400 crore over the next couple of months to fund expansion. Moser Baer will increase the crystalline silicon capacity of its photovoltaic business from 140MW to 240MW. The expansion will take place in two phases.
Solon has signed an agreement with Greek company, NRG-Orion, for the delivery of 1.5MWp of solar modules. The Solon modules will be used to construct a ground-mounted PV system at the headquarters of canned peach company, Kronos. Once complete, this will be Greece's largest single axis tracking solar power plant to date.
Solyndra and Enerqos Group have completed the first stage of their multi-store installation project with the grid-connection of a 200kWp rooftop project for Nova Coop in the Vibo Valencia province of Italy.
