IMEC and BP Solar have demonstrated 18% conversion efficiency for silicon solar cells developed using BP Solar's Mono2 silicon. IMEC's processing techniques and BP Solar's low-cost substrates make it possible to produce a solar cell that is both efficient and low in price.
In the move toward the widespread uptake of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), Dow Chemical has unveiled the Dow Powerhouse solar shingle. The BIPV technology incorporates solar panel capability in the form of a building material.
Satcon has signed a collaborative deal with Canadian Solar that will see the companies market their products to customers as a “best-in-class system solution”. Canadian Solar’s solar PV systems will be marketed with Satcon’s solar inverters, providing a single solution for rooftop solar energy generation. The agreement also complies with the Ontario government’s domestic content requirements in its recently announced feed-in-tariff program.
In an update to its business divisions trading conditions, REC Group didn’t have much positive to say. Its polysilicon production ramp at Silicon III, which had initial ramp problems will struggle to meet full year output targets, while its wafer division is having to further revise pricing for 2010 due to the weak market, impacting profit margins. On the solar module front, REC noted that prices are expected to have fallen 35% in 2009 as the glut in finished products continues.
Appearing once again in the news, DayStar Technologies has shaken up its management with a new CEO appointment. Michael Matvieshen, CEO of EPOD Solar which recently announced a merger with DayStar, will replace Robert Aldrich (pictured) who recently resigned from his four-month CEO role.
Moving forward the development of the proposed 100MW JOAN1 concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) project, Ausra has been selected as the supplier of solar steam boilers. With this selection, the development of the plant in Ma'an, Jordan is going ahead as planned.
Italian state-operated energy agency, GSE has told Reuters that photovoltaic module installations reached 173MW for the first 8-months of the year, taking the cumulative capacity to above 630MW. The agency expects its target of 900MW cumulative capacity for 2009 to be exceeded, though did not provide a new projected figure.
The long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) between APS and Starwood Energy Group has been terminated. This ends plans for the Starwood Solar I plant, as the engineering, procurement and construction firm, Lockheed Martin, pulls out.
Trina Solar has signed a sales agreement with the Kerself Group, one of Italy's leading photovoltaic solar plant engineering, development, production, installation, and distribution companies. Under the terms of the deal, the Chinese solar manufacturer will supply Kerself with approximately 73MW of crystalline-silicon PV modules, with shipment deliveries of 23MW slated in the fourth quarter of this year, and further shipments of 25MW expected in each of the first two quarters of 2010.
Amorphous silicon thin-film start-up, NexPower Technology is to be supplied bulk nitrogen requirements for its 100MW plant by Air Products San Fu Co., under a long-term contract. Nexpower’s plant is based in the Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) in Houli, Taichung, Taiwan and will use Air Products' pipeline network in the CTSP.
