MCP Group, a specialty chemicals producer of thin-film metals such as indium, gallium, selenium, and tellurium, is combining manufacturing operations into Atlumin Energy to streamline operations and meet growing demand, especially from the thin-film PV industry. Copy-exact processes at its U.K. operations in Wellingborough are to be expanded to its Sunnyvale, CA, facilities.
Continually rising module efficiencies are finally making an impact in demand for Inventux Technologies tandem (a-Si/μc-Si) junction ‘micromorph’ thin-film modules, as the start-up says it is at full capacity in its 33MW plant near Berlin, Germany. Coupled to its professional sales network with direct customer access, Inventux says that it is producing a 132W module with 9.2%-plus stabilized efficiency, up from 8.9% in April 2009, and is currently sold out of modules during the winter months.
Ranier Aringhoff has been appointed as chief operating officer and management board member of the Desertec Industrial Initiative joint venture. The former president of Solar Millennium will be responsible for the conceptual preparation and planning of reference projects.
Honeywell will supply the process automation and control platform for Woongjin Polysilicon's new production plant in South Korea. The solar polysilicon manufacturer will use the supplier's Experion process knowledge system with Foundation Fieldbus solutions to help the Sangju factory produce an estimated 5000 tons of polysilicon annually.
Solar developer/financier Helio Micro Utility (Helio mU) has acquired Simple Energies, a renewable energy project development firm with a 50MW global pipeline. As part of the deal, Simple Energies CEO and industry veteran Ty Jagerson joins Helio mU's executive management team.
Phoenix Solar has completed the installation of a thin-film PV plant built on the new company operations centre of Applied Materials in Singapore. This project is the largest thin-film PV application in the city, with modules covering 5.7m2.
Dow Jones & Co. plans to build a 4.1MW solar photovoltaic power plant on the 200-acre campus of its corporate offices in South Brunswick, NJ. The design of the installation calls for more than 13,000 solar panels, covering nearly 230,000 square feet of parking space.
Sputnik Engineering is changing location from Paris to Saint Priest near Lyon. The managing director plans to continue to expand the sales and service of SolarMax products in France, improve responsiveness to customer needs, and expand the training program.
Renewable energy companies in Ontario have received approval for 184 new 'green' contracts under the country's feed-in tariff scheme, of which 77 are solar PV. This marks the largest renewable energy initiative in Canada to date, adding to the 510 medium-sized projects declared in March. The combined contracts are estimated to generate more than 2500MW.
BrightView Systems has announced the addition of Hai Benron to its management team, to support global marketing and sales efforts within the thin-film market. Benron will be positioned as the company's director of global business.
