Having recently had their organic solar cells verified by Fraunhofer ISE with a power conversion efficiency of 6.07% for a tandem solar cell (active area of 2cm²), Dresden-based Heliatek has received a new round of funding to the tune of US$27 million to build its first production facility in Dresden. The start up had previously noted that it planned to increase the conversation efficiencies to 10%. Heliatek is targeting in particular mobile market and architectural (BIPV) applications.
The cadmium telluride refiner and major supplier to First Solar, 5N Plus is diversifying into solar module recycling, according to a Wall Street Journal article. The company is setting up in a rented facility the system required initially to handle coated soda-lime glass and later the ability to recycle fully laminated modules. The new business is not connected to First Solar’s CdTe modules, according to the story, which quoted a First Solar spokesperson.
Romag's BIPV PowerGlaz technology, introduced in 2004, provides integrated solutions for architects and those involved in the design of PV systems for buildings. The product is designed with the aim of breaking down the aesthetic barrier often in place when considering the use of PV in building design.
The feed-in tariff rate in the Czech Republic of between €0.50/kWh and €0.52/kWh is locked in for 20 years, yet the Czech government has always held a possible annual cut for this rate, which has a maximum cost decrease of 5% per year. This 5% cut has now been announced and will be fully implemented at the beginning of 2010.
Hoku Materials and Jinko Solar have amended their polysilicon supply agreement. The companies said that, according to the terms of the amendment, both have agreed to reduce the term of the sales agreement by one year and to delay the first shipment date from Hoku's Pocatello, ID, plant from December 2009 to December 2010.
A new monosilane plant is being built by Evonik Industries and in partnership with Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation at a cost of €150 million. The plant, when operational in 2011 will supply electronics-grade monosilane for applications in thin-film photovoltaics, flat screens, and semiconductors electronics within Asia.
Sustainable Energy Technologies has begun deliveries of its solar power inverters to Tejados Industriales de Fotovoltaica (TIF), a leading Spanish EPC company, affiliated with Signet Solar, for a 1.8MW thin-film photovoltaic solar power plant located in the Blizkovice region of the Czech Republic. The Canadian inverter company says the installation marks the first time that its parallel system architecture power devices will be used in a megawatt-scale PV plant.
Salt River Project (SRP) has announced that it is to establish Arizona state’s largest solar power plant in collaboration with Iberdrola Renewables. The 20MW PV power facility will be designed and built by Iberdrola, and, subject to SRP board approval, is scheduled for completion in 2011.
Solar Power, Inc. has appointed finance and investment veteran Francis Chen to the board of directors. Mr. Chen, vice chairman with WI Harper Group, brings a wealth of management and private investment experience to the board as the company heads into a period of development. The WI Harper group manages over $400 million in invested capital.
NRG Energy, via its wholly owned subsidiary NRG Solar LLC has bought the yet to be completed solar power plant in Blythe, California, from First Solar. The 21MW project occupies approximately 200 acres of land and is expected to be completed by the end of the year and is claimed to be the first and largest utility-scale PV project in California.
