OTB Solar and Arise Technologies say they have made “significant progress” in the development and deployment of OTB's inkjet deposition-based single-pass selective emitter process, in combination with a conventional diffusion furnace, to produce high-efficiency silicon-based photovoltaic cells. The process enables the deposition of the area emitter and selective emitter dopants in a single-pass sequence, thus reducing and eliminating the need for additional costly emitter forming equipment, processes, and materials.
Sixtron Advanced Materials has named industrial gas industry exec Steven Lerner as a strategic adviser and member of its board. The company says that Lerner, who was CTO of Praxair and serves on a number of advisory boards, will provide crucial insight and counsel as it deploys silane-free antireflective coating systems to crystalline-silicon PV cell companies.
Building on the companies’ successful collaboration on the recently announced 10MW Dunhuang City power plant, Enfinity and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC) have embarked on a joint venture agreement to promote and actively develop solar power projects in China, Europe and worldwide.
Virginia has announced that it will be implementing its first-ever renewable energy rebate program, supported by Standard Solar. This will provide homeowners and businesses in the Commonwealth with a possible US$2,000 per kW for PV systems up to 10kW. Standard Solar urges interested parties to apply quickly as there is a limit on available funds.
Americans overwhelmingly believe that the nation should develop and use solar energy and that the federal government should make solar power a national priority, according to a new poll. The Schott Solar Barometer survey finds almost half of all Americans are thinking about solar power as an option for their homes or businesses and cite solar as their top choice among energy sources.
Solar and semiconductor wafer slurry reprocessing company, CRS Reprocessing Services (CRS) has named Scott T. Massie as CEO. Prior to this role, Massie was CEO of EPV Solar -- manufacturer of thin-film modules based in Robbinsville -- New Jersey.
As the company ventures down the road of product development expansion, Evolution Solar has appointed Robert Hines as its new president of US operations. Mr. Hines is a financial executive who owns an entrepreneurial consulting firm, Robert Hines & Associates, LLC.
Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm has announced that Georgia-based Suniva will invest US$250 million in a new solar manufacturing facility in Saginaw County's Thomas Township. With this development, Suniva will create 500 new jobs over the next five years subject to receiving a Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee, which the company recently applied for.
The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory has adopted Synopsys' Sentaurus TCAD package for simulating solar cell characteristics to improve performance. The lab recently implemented the simulation software to create both thin-film and silicon PV cell models.
Terry Bailey has taken over the chairman and CEO reins at Soliant Energy, a concentrated photovoltaics company based in Monrovia, CA. Bailey, who replaces interim CEO Marco DeMiroz, recently left Evergreen Solar, where he was senior VP of marketing and sales.
