In a bid to join the leading global producers of polysilicon, South Korean chemical manufacturer OCI plans to restart construction on a new poly plant inside its existing facility in Gunsan in January. The company (the former DC Chemical) will invest 1 trillion Won (approximately $858.5 million) in its Phase 3 (P3) factory, which will have an annual manufacturing capacity of 10,000 metric tons when commercial production begins in 2011, bringing its total annual poly capability to 27,000 metric tons.
With an intended initial investment of approximately US$95.6 million (HK$ 741 million) to establish a 100MW a-Si thin film production plant, a joint venture is being formed between China Gogreen Energy and Administration Committee of Zhengzhou High and New Technology Industries Development Zone, which is owned by Zhengzhou Municipal People’s Government, Henan Province, China.
Manufacturer of thin-film photovoltaic modules Abound Solar has named Thomas Tiller as CEO. Having served Polaris Industries as CEO for nine years, he will officially take up his position on January 18, 2010. Doug Schatz, current interim CEO for the company, will then become chairman of the board.
Amtech Systems’s Tempress subsidiary has added to its sales balance for 2010 deliveries with multiple new orders from new and existing Asia-based customers worth around US$9 million. The orders are for Tempress’s diffusion processing systems from several new and existing customers in Asia and will be shipped by the end of the third quarter 2010.
Oerlikon Group has announced its plans to restructure its finance base with its syndicate banks. The proposal, submitted by Oerlikon to the banks on November 25th, details its plans to defer repayments of the principal amounts of the term loan and revolving credit facility, lower interest charges and conversion of parts of the bank debt to an equity stake in OC Oerlikon.
Recent research into the feed-in tariff system in Victoria, Australia has found that the once criticized net scheme is actually proving to be financially beneficial.
First Solar has appointed TK Kallenbach executive vice president of marketing and product management. Kallenbach previously worked for Honeywell Aerospace (once Allied Signal) where he played roles in the company's strategic planning, marketing communications and product management. Kallenbach joined the company in 1979 and worked in a number of senior leadership positions prior to becoming vice president of marketing and product management.
Bank of America, Mendocino College and SunPower Corp. have announced the completion of a of a 929kW solar power system on Mendocino's Ukiah campus. Bank of America financed the solar power system, which is expected to save Mendocino College US$14 million in electricity costs over the next 25 years. The system was built in four months and uses SunPower solar panels equipped with the SunPower Tracker system.
Suntech’s sales pipeline has received a three-year hike as the company has announced the cementing of three long-term supply agreements for up to 490MW of PV modules. The large orders confirm the optimistic view for 2010 orders expressed by major industry players such as Canadian Solar, Sunergy and Trina Solar last month. The agreement will see the modules supplied over a three-year period, with 115MW planned for supply in 2010, 155MW in 2011 and 220MW in 2012. Each of the individual agreements has been signed with the option to increase volumes.
Didier Jeannelle has been named the new managing director of Sputnik Engineering's French subsidiary Sputnik Engineering France S.A.R.L. Jeannelle will consolidate Sputnik's presence in France, starting with a move into a larger space and an increase in staff.
