Spire has begun the expansion of its Advanced Technology Center (ATC) lab at its corporate headquarters in Bedford, MA, with updated equipment for customer evaluation and factory training. The new Spire systems installed include a larger format laminator and electroluminescence crack detection system, as well as next-generation assembler and simulator gear.
Despite the first-half slump in PV installations and significant inventory build across the PV supply chain, leading polysilicon producer Hemlock Semiconductor would seem to be riding its 50th year in business in style, as Dow Corning management noted that the polysilicon JV arm had remained ‘sold-out’ in the first half of the year and the situation would remain the same for sometime.
Granted, we are dealing with little acorns, but Westinghouse Solar reported revenue for the second quarter of 2011, up 38% q-on-q and expects revenue to accelerate further from the third quarter onwards as its recently announced new modules gain traction in the market.
OPEL Solar International has signed a contract to supply modules for Limen’s two 1MW high-concentration PV (HCPV) power plants in Sicily, Italy. The order is valued at US$5 million and OPEL will begin delivery of the Mk-I modules in late 2011.
Sainty International Group and Gesolar have agreed to join forces and build China’s largest rooftop solar system. The 10MW array is to be located in Siyang, Jiangsu, and will be connected to the grid before the end of 2011.
Moser Baer Solar (MBSL) revealed that it has doubled its mechanical warranty for its MBVP Max Series, Model CAAP BB and higher, PV modules to 10 years. The modules will continue to carry a 25-year performance warranty on top of the 10-year mechanical warranty.
Somerset Tire Service’s (STS) Bridgewater, New Jersey distribution center is donning a new 1MW solar installation with 5,488, 185W PV modules by Mitsubishi Electric and installation completed by Advanced Solar Products (ASP). The rooftop solar system is anticipated to produce 1,197MWh of electricity per year.
First Solar’s Series 3 CdTe thin-film solar modules have received the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) 61701 certification for salt mist corrosion, confirming the use of the Series 3 modules in coastal environments. The certification involves testing and studying the module’s performance in coastal environments, which are prone to corrosive salt mist.
US-based inverter manufacturer Solectria Renewables has delivered four 266kW SGI 266 smartgrid inverters to BlueChip Energy for what will be the largest PV rooftop installation in Florida. The inverters will power the first 1.5MW stage of the 10MW Rinehart Solar Farm project located in Lake Mary, Florida.
Plextronics has scored US$15 million during its financing round from Solvay, its largest minority shareholder, which will go towards stepping up the company’s technology development and delivery of its products to customers located worldwide. Plextronics is focused on developing polymer-based materials and technologies for key applications of printed electronics such as organic light emitting diodes (OLED) and organic PV cells (OPV).
