As Pakistan faces an energy shortage, Suntech’s collaboration with the local Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) is well timed. Suntech aims to bring solar power to Pakistan via rural electrification programs, solar-powered pumping systems and telecom projects, and signed a memorandum of understanding with AEDB to work together to achieve these goals.
Photovoltaic systems integrator Phoenix Solar has signed a signed a project development deal with a Bulgarian subsidiary of the Krass Capital Group to build a solar power plant in the southern European nation. The agreement calls for the development of a solar park with a peak output of around 20MW.
Update 1. 17/10/09: China Sunergy said late Friday, 16th October that it had been successful in gaining an extension of the injunction against REC Wafer Norway AS relating to certain bank guarantees. The Norwegian court ruled that the injunction should remain in force until the issue covered by the writ served on REC Wafer Norway AS by China Sunergy is resolved.However, according to a statement from China Sunergy, the court was said to have noted that "proven probable that China Sunergy has the right to resist the merger between REC SiTech and REC Scanwafer. It is specifically stated in the agreement that no third party has any rights under the agreement." Further, the court stated "[t]here is nothing indicating a payment default in this case."---China Sunergy is attempting to gain an extension to an existing injunction, preventing REC from accessing US$50 million in various bank guarantees the Chinese PV manufacturer made in relation to long-term wafer supply agreements. However, the company is also filing a legal writ regarding the legal status of REC Wafer Norway AS, which China Sunergy claims was not the party to the contract as this had been signed with REC SITECH, which was later reorganized by REC. The current injunction lasts until October 15th, 2009.
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.
