As part of previously announced plans to expand module production internationally, SolarWorld has successfully issued a €400 million bond. SolarWorld said the bond was placed with banks and intermediaries in the private sector.
Suntech has completed two BIPV solar systems on the China Pavilion and the Theme Pavilion of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. These systems are also connected to the grid and have a combined power output of 3.12MW.
In an effort to start volume production of its PV microinverters and become a leading player in the nascent market, especially in Europe, Enecsys has received a new round of funding from Good Energies to the tune of US$4.2 million. The Cambridge, UK-based start-up plans to publically launch its product range soon and will be exhibiting for the first time at Intersolar in Munich in June. Funding for the company has reached US$14.3 million.
Winsol Energy Systems, based in Brindisi, Italy, has recently completed a 99kWp BIPV greenhouse. The roof-integrated system includes 450 Winsol monocrystalline silicon WXS220S modules of 220Wp connected to two Bonfiglioli RPS450-60 inverters of 60kW each.
Preliminary figures from Italian government agency GSE for solar module installations in Italy for 2009 indicate that the surge late in 2008 was not replicated in 2009. PV installations reached 374MW in 2009, up only 10% from 2008 when 338MW was installed and connected to the grid. The Italian market had often been touted as becoming a major market in 2009, due to the attractive FiT and high cost of electricity in the country, enabling solar to reach grid-parity earlier than in most other European countries.
In a move that many other PV module manufacturers are expected to adopt, SolarWorld is the first manufacturer to switch to a linear performance guarantee on its entire range of solar modules. SolarWorld claims that as a result of the change, it has extended the performance warranty for its modules from two to five years. Traditionally, the industry has used a stepped performance guarantee system, such as 90% of the lower nominal output for the first 10 years and then 80% for year 11 onwards.
The Canadian government-backed Sustainable Development Technology Canada foundation has announced CAN$58 million in funding for 16 clean technology projects from across the country. The sole solar firm to receive monies to "help move innovative technology solutions to the market" is concentrator photovoltaic company, Morgan Solar.
Colexon Energy has secured a credit commitment of €21 million from the many banks it holds a relationship with. The credit facility, which has a running time of up to four years, will be utilized for working capital, financing project acquisitions and capital expenditure.
In respect of the US$2.3 billion U.S. federal tax credits issued last week for job creation, two key trends have emerged. As already highlighted, the solar sector garnered approximately US$1.0 billion of the credits allocated. However, another trend emerged whereby three major polysilicon producers garnered the most from the credits in the solar sector.
Borrego Solar Systems has announced a partnership with Reading Electric of Reading, PA to install more than 5MW of solar energy at 32 different local businesses across Southeastern Pennsylvania.
