AmpleSun and partner Broosha Solar Italia have reached an agreement with the Research and Technological Innovation Agency (R&TIA) for the supply of 500KWp of amorphous-silicon thin-film modules ASF Series.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will invest up to US$12 million in total funding in four companies to support the development of early stage solar energy technologies and help them advance to full commercial scale. The money will go towards expanding the U.S. clean energy economy and the development of solar energy as a more cost-competitive source of electricity.
Concentrated solar power (CSP) firm SHEC Energy has entered into a global agreement with Emerson Process Management to help bring to fruition its novel solar thermal facilities to commercial applications. SHEC claims its CSP technology can be applied to power generation in the range of 25KW to gigawatt scale. SHEC is to employ Emerson’s advanced automation services to maximize the efficiency and reliability of its planned renewable energy projects.
Suniva has completed a 240kW solar installation on a retail center in Cary, NC. The PV module array is on the rooftop of the Mayfair Plaza Shopping Center and is one of the state's largest rooftop arrays. This project is the second to be built by FLS Energy and powered by Suniva.
EDF Energies Nouvelles has released the report on its solar activities ending December 31, 2009. Capacity in service almost quadrupled from 20.8MWp at December 31, 2008 to 80.9MWp at December 31, 2009. Overall, capacity in service or under construction at year-end 2009 came to 219.7MWp, compared to 49.9MWp at the end of 2008. The group has exceeded the target it announced at the beginning of 2009 of 100MWp to 150MWp in service or under construction.
Solar-Fabrik has now completed the largest solar power plant in Schleswig-Holstein. The project was set up through community involvement and inaugurated during January 2010 in Nindorf, Germany.
Ferro Electronic Materials has been awarded US$1 million by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) to develop advanced durability sealing systems for solar cells. The project will involve collaboration with Edison Welding Institute, StrateNexus Technologies, and The Ohio State University in developing, testing and commercializing this new technology.
The possibility of heavy cuts to the German solar feed-in tariffs could not only reduce demand for solar installations in what should become the largest market in the world in 2009, it could also see reduced investments and job losses in the sector, according to Masdar PV CEO, Dr. Rainer Gegewart. Speaking at the World Future Energy Summit currently being held in Abu Dhabi, Gegewart warned that should muted FiT cuts be made, the a-Si thin-film manufacturer would revise its investment plans in Germany and look for new opportunities abroad as those markets would grow, compared to a possible contraction in Germany.
In a presentation to be made at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, Jürg Henz, CEO of Oerlikon Solar, will claim that its ‘Micromorph’ turnkey thin- film production lines are on track to produce a further 30% reduction in production costs in 2010. The company says that it has already driven down module cost 25%, via improved cell efficiencies and greater line throughput, which means that a line capable of producing 60MW in 2008 can now produce 100MW, without additional equipment.
