Merck and Dyesol have announced their plans to work together to create electrolytes for use in dye solar cells (DSC). The joint agreement is slated to be an indication of the potential for future commercial agreements, which would allow Merck to manufacture existing and next generation electrolytes for DSC applications such as photovoltaic renewable energy sources.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has signed a contract with Agua Caliente Solar, a subsidiary of NextLight Renewable Power, for 290MW of solar power to serve PG&E's customers in Northern and Central California. This is one of many contracts signed by the utility with independent developers aiming for a total of 830MW of solar power.
Roth & Rau has opened a technology center for the development of future-generation solar cells at the Swiss Institute for Microtechnology (EPFL/IMT), as part of a three-year agreement that the two organizations signed in May 2008. A Swiss subsidiary of Roth & Rau has been established in conjunction with the installation of the research line and siting of a team of scientists and engineers at IMT's Neuchâtel campus.
A sum of $500,000 CND has been granted by the National Research Council (NRC) to Day4 Energy, the reportedly ailing module manufacturer. The Canadian Government's R&D organization granted the funding to allow further development of the Day4(R) Electrode platform, a set of cell manufacturing technologies that offer increased conversion efficiencies at lower cost.
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.
