In its "Cool Vendors in Solar Energy, 2010" report, Gartner highlights some of the solar energy start-ups to keep an eye on that it believes are developing technologies and innovations that will likely have a strong impact on the adoption of solar energy. Companies included in the review include, Applied Quantum Technology, BrightView Systems, Confluence Solar, Innovalight and Solexant.
Pan Ökoteam is using PV modules from Kyocera at one of the largest single projects to date in the Czech Republic. At the end of 2009, the plant had reached 1.6MW and is expected to expand to 4MW in 2011. With an installed capacity of 4MW in 2011 annual electricity output of 4.2 million kilowatt hours is expected and could supply about 1050 households with 2,800 tonnes of CO2 saved per year.
Trina Solar announced that its subsidiary, Changzhou Trina Solar Energy, will be introducing a new utility-scale solar module, TSM-PC14, at the May 2010 Solarexpo in Verona, Italy. The new module has a fourth quarter availability target date for sales in Europe and North America.
The latest slew of announcements from various sectors of the solar manufacturing supply chain to establish partial or complete production outsourcing is no accident and a trend that will continue grow, according to iSuppli. The market research firm noted that the latest SunPower news of a contract manufacturing deal with major electronics manufacturing services firm Flextronics is only representative of the early stages of a boom, especially in module assembly outsourcing.
Electronics manufacturing services company Flextronics will utilize production floor space in its Silicon Valley operations for a 75MW module assembly facility for SunPower. The Silicon Valley-based PV manufacturer is carrying out a solar cell capacity expansion program at its own facilities in Asia. The new subcontract production should be operational by the end of the year and will service module installations throughout the Western U.S. from its Milpitas facility. Approximately 100 jobs will be created at the facility.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) will implement a major new solar photovoltaic program with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The program, which was approved on April 22, will generate up to 500MW once complete.
Manz Automation has opened a development center for vacuum-coating technology in Karlstein, Germany. All of the company competences needed to develop vacuum-coating equipment and processes will now work from this location. Manz has also announced plans to set up a technical lab to develop and test new coating methods and technologies.
Phoenix Solar has released its annual report, which includes the consolidated financial statements from their 2009 financial year. The company shows a growth in total revenue of €473 million, up from 2008’s €402.5 million. In addition, their module sales increased by around 70%, from 120MW in 2008 to more than 200MW in 2009.
Mercury Solar Systems and the US Department of Energy’s NREL have formed a partnership in the name of solar energy research advancement. The NREL will take data from its own long-term research of Mercury’s solar test-bed. The system will be built on Mercury’s corporate headquarters roof in New York with full operation slated to begin by the end of the summer. The project was partially financed with a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
GWS Technologies has begun selecting German technology partners for the development of alternative energy installations and facilities in Mexico and Central America.
