Currently under test at TUV Rheinland, Green Energy Solar (GESOLAR) is sampling the first ‘smart’ modules with customers, using National Semiconductor’s ‘SolarMagic’ power optimizer chipset within Huber+Suhner NS3 junction boxes. Pre-testing was claimed to show that the GESOLAR smart module could recoup an average of 50% of energy loss and could capture as much as 75% compared to standard panel performance.
With approximately 50% of all conventional crystalline solar modules made in China, the concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) manufacturing sector in the country has been easily overshadowed in the past. However, that could be changing with the inauguration of the first commercial-grade CPV system on the Weihai campus of Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), which was built and installed by China-based Suntrix. The project been listed as the ‘Golden Sun HCPV Demonstration Power Plant’ by the China General Certification Centre (CGC) through the Golden Sun Project.
Right on the heels of its 184MW supply contract with BP Solar, JA Solar Holdings announced that it has landed another supply agreement for the delivery of over 13MW of its mono-crystalline solar cells to a U.S. solar module manufacturer and systems company. Although the company’s name was not disclosed, JA Solar publicized that delivery of the solar cells begin in the third quarter and will continue through the remainder of this year.
United Solar announced the completion of the848kWp solar installation on the rooftop of Sisley, a luxury cosmetic brand, in Paris, France; considered one of the largest solar installations in Paris. United Solar worked with Soprema using its modified roofing material, SopraSolar, which is powered by Uni-Solar PV laminates and has integrated the PV laminates into the waterproofing function.
Any manufacturer involved in the renewable energy business should be taking note of the move by SunPower to report its carbon footprint from operations. As part of the Carbon Disclosure Project, an independent not-for-profit organization, SunPower said that in 2009, its global operations produced greenhouse gas emissions of 328 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per megawatt of solar cells produced. Due to higher cell efficiencies this was approximately 10% down on the previous year.
A key aim for First Solar in 2010 has been to focus on broadening its customer base in Europe to mitigate potential fluctuations in core markets such as Germany. In 2009, 71% of sales were to Germany but have been declining to around 50% by the second quarter of this year as both utility-scale projects went ahead in the U.S. and important emerging markets in Europe, such as France and Italy continued to grow. Expanded contracts with seven key customers in Europe have led to a 380MW increase in module supply agreements for 2011.
The concentrator photovoltaic sector has taken another step toward enhanced bankability with the introduction of what is being called the first insurance solution to offer an effective performance warranty for CPV panels in the United States. The new plan, which covers systems manufactured by SolFocus, is a collaboration among insurance provider Munich Re, broker Woodruff-Sawyer, and the CPV company.
Upsolar has formed a partnership with Enphase Energy for the incorporation of Upsolar's current and future generation photovoltaic modules into Enphase junction boxes compatible with Enphase microinverters, resulting in the AC-enabled solar module product, ACE.
Once a leading in-house solar module manufacturer, BP Solar has further solidified its outsourced manufacturing strategy by awarding JA Solar a monocrystalline and multicrystalline cell supply contract exceeding 185MW. The new supply deal will see 100MW of cells shipped to BP beginning in the first quarter of 2011.
Once the agreement is finalized and the governmental incentives approved, a former strip-mining site next to a nature conservancy in southeastern Ohio will host what will be one of the largest solar PV power plants in North America. American Electric Power Ohio has signed a memorandum of understanding with New Harvest Ventures and Agile Energy for a 20-year power purchase agreement for the electricity generated by the 49.9MW Turning Point Solar project. In a related deal, Spanish solar manufacturers Prius Energy and Isofoton will set up factories in the region and supply components for the array.
