Day4Energy’s 1.8MW turnkey ground-mounted PV power plant has entered its construction phase. The Niedereschach-Fischbach, Germany plant is being specifically built for an unnamed private investor group, which happens to be a continuous customer for Day4. Construction completion is expected by the end of this month.
Trina Solar (US) has signed an agreement with Southern California Edison (SoCal Edison) that will see the China-based integrated PV manufacturer supply 45MW of modules for use in SCE's Solar PV Program. The modules, which were purchased for an undisclosed sum, began shipment in May 2010; further deliveries will be made between the second quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011.
Suntech has passed a milestone of sorts with the shipping of its 10 millionth solar module, a Ud-series model that is used primarily for commercial and utility-scale electricity generation. It was manufactured in March 2010 at Suntech’s Wuxi, China facility. The purchaser of the module will be awarded a gift of Suntech solar panels for donation to a charitable cause.
Ontario, Canada, will be home to Silfab’s newest PV module production site. Ramp-up of the 120MW capacity site, capable of producing around 500,000 PV modules, will be conducted in two stages, with the first 60MW to be completed by the second quarter of 2011 and the second 60MW the following year. The plant’s location has yet to be determined, but will be controlled by Silfab International.
Astronergy’s a-Si/μc-Si tandem-junction high-efficiency thin-film PV modules have been awarded both TÜV and UL certification for the IEC 61646 and IEC 61730 standards. The dual certification means that the company’s modules are guaranteed for these standards in both Germany and the U.S.
Confirming that things are indeed on the up for the company, First Solar has released word that it is planning to double production capacity at its Frankfurt (Oder) manufacturing plant. Strong demand from the company’s European customer base has necessitated the expansion from 223MW to around 446MW by the fourth quarter of 2011. The company is in advanced talks with the German regional and federal authorities in regard to the proposal. First Solar’s current (2010) anticipated annual production capacity is in more than 1.3GW in Germany, the U.S. and Malaysia. With three additional factories in different phases of construction in France and Malaysia...
SunPower has agreed to construct what will be its fifth solar power plant for the Naturener Group in Spain. The 9.1MW (AC) plant will be constructed in Alange, Badajoz, and is one of the largest to be commissioned in Spain so far this year. SunPower will install its T0 Tracker systems and Serengeti solar panels at the 38-hectare site, while also providing operations and maintenance services for the plant.
The German Institute for Standardization (DIN) has passed Suntech’s core product range as certified ammonia resistant by awarding the DIN 50916 standard. This standard assures that the panels can maintain a high performance level under exposure to ammonia, most relevant to installations in and around farms that can use ammonia-based products as fertilizer for land, or livestock that emit ammonia.
Total’s subsidiary Total Gas & Power USA (SAS) has completed their acquisition of 25.4% interest in AE Polysilicon through a reserved capital increase. In addition, Total signed a long-term agreement to buy AEP high purity granular polysilicon.
Avancis, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, will be constructing a 100MW capacity plant in Torgau, Germany. The new factory, which has an undisclosed cost at this point, will be built close to the first Avancis industrial site and feature the manufacturing of copper-indium-gallium-(di) selenide thin-film PV panels. Completion and commencement of operation is expected by the first quarter of 2012.
