Eyeing up the region of sub-Saharan Africa, solar thermal company eSolar has teamed up with Johannesburg-based Clean Energy Solutions (CES) to form eSolarSA. This new entity will endeavour to expand sales operations across the region, in seven countries including the Republic of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.
Israeli start-up BrightView Systems says it has successfully integrated and validated its wide area metrology (WAM) system for thin-film photovoltaics producers at Signet Solar's amorphous-silicon TFPV manufacturing line in Mochau, Germany. The tool has allowed Signet to implement automated, continuous full-panel process monitoring and feedback on all production modules.
China's capital city, Beijing, is to see significant developments in the photovoltaic sector over the coming years. The capital's government has developed a solar promotion program that aims for 70MW of installed PV capacity, including BIPV technology by 2011.
G24 Innovations has sent what it calls the first commercial shipment of flexible dye-sensitized solar-cell modules to Mascotte Industrial Associates, a Hong Kong-based consumer electronics bag manufacturer. The G24i DSSC units, which are produced on the company's roll-to-roll production line in Wales, will be integrated into a range of products, including backpacks and camera bags.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a law-enforced legislation to create a feed-in tariff designed for small solar-panel generators in the state. This type of incentive falls in line with its European counterparts, reports MarketWatch.
A recent awards ceremony organised by the Aberdeen Group, a market research company that focuses on the global technology industry, saw Komax USA receive a prestigious award for its process technology. The Service Management Achievement Awards bestowed the title of winner of the 2009 Process Excellence Award on the automation company for its “process ingenuity, agility, flexibility and scalability to address evolving business requirements.”
In line with our speculation at the very beginning of the month, the new German government is likely to cut solar subsidies - but not by a concerning amount. Reuters' coalition source has given an inside take on what the plans for solar policies in Germany are expected to be, banishing all conjecture on the axing of the Renewable Energy Act.
SunEdison has appointed Kerinia Cusick as director of government affairs in the Mid-Atlantic. Cusick's main role will involve the promotion of solar initiatives in the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia, where a distinct increase in this energy source has arisen over the past year.
SunPower and SunLink have settled a patent infringement case brought by SunPower before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. SunPower called the lawsuit against SunLink back in February 2008 asserting infringement of SunPower's patent rights covering its lightweight rooftop mounting products, SunPower PowerGuard and the SunPower T10 Solar Roof Tile.
MEMC Electronic Materials has shuffled its senior management with the aim of having executives responsible for its two core markets, semiconductor and solar. Ken Hannah, who has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2006, has been promoted to the newly created position of Executive Vice President of MEMC and President of MEMC Solar Materials. Hannah will therefore be responsible for all sales and manufacturing operations for polysilicon and solar wafers.
