The Stuttgart-based researchers at Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg, Germany (Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research, ZSW) have demonstrated a CIGS solar cell conversion efficiency of 20.3%. The area of the world record cell is 0.5 square centimetres and surpasses their previous record of 20.1%, established in April 2010.
AU Optronics (AUO) has become the first company to achieve carbon footprint verification on EcoDuo PM220P00, the multi-crystalline photovoltaic module, according to the international carbon footprint standard PAS2050.
TÜV Rheinland has now officially opened its seventh solar modules and systems testing laboratory, based in Electronics City in the Indian city of Bangalore. TÜV invested €2 million in the new solar test centre, which will offer services to India's burgeoning solar industry.
PVA TePla has received a €5 million order from China-based Tianwei New Energy Wafer for the supply of systems for the production of multicrystalline silicon ingots. The order will be processed in 2010.
UPS2, the newly formed ultra-precision engineering group, has developed an advanced machine which enables Fresnel lens manufacturers to improve the efficiencies of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules.
Moving a step further in the extension of its solar production facilities, Bosch Solar Energy has formally opened its new Arnstadt, Thuringia-based crystalline solar cell production plant. The 12,000m2 facility provides the company with extra capacity of 10,000 cells an hour, or 90 million solar cells a year.
Canadian Solar has finally completed its internal investigation and questioning by the Securities and Exchange Commission and reported profitable first-quarter results. The company reported a profit of US$1.5 million, or 3 cents a share, compared with a loss of US$4.8 million, or 13 cents a share in the same period of 2009. However, the latest quarter included a less-than-anticipated US$15.9 million foreign-exchange loss.
High-purity materials supplier 5N Plus has signed a long-term supply agreement with cadmium-telluride thin-film module producer Abound Solar. Under the terms of the deal, 5N Plus will provide CdTe compounds to be used in the manufacturing of Abound's PV panels.
World Cup sponsor Yingli Green Energy posted strong revenue, gross margin, and net income numbers in the second quarter, with sequential increases shown across the board. The vertically integrated Chinese solar manufacturer said it experienced a substantial increase in PV module shipments during the period ended June 30 and still expects to hit between 950MW and 1GW in total panel shipments for 2010.
DRI Energy has completed a 1MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installation at the Mercer Foods facility in Modesto, CA. The project was accomplished in 33 days, meeting the deadline required in order to preserve Mercer Foods' solar rebate from Modesto Irrigation District (MID).
