Applied Materials has claimed that the European Patent Office (EPO) has revoked a Patent No. EP 0 871 979, which is at the centre of a patent infringement case Oerlikon filed in June, 2008 in the German District Court of Duesseldorf, against SunFilm AG, a customer of Applied Materials ‘SunFab’ thin film technology and production line equipment.
The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has announced the first of its 2009 Workshop Series, "Solar Options for Low Cost Utilities," to be held on April 13-14 at the Hilton Knoxville in Tennessee. This workshop will focus on utilities in low-cost electricity states in the Midwest and Southeast, while being open to all utilities, State Public Utility Commissions, State Energy Offices, and solar companies. TVA, along with the City of Knoxville, will sponsor the event.
One of the largest diversified equipment and service providers to the photovoltaics industry, centrotherm photovoltaics AG, posted an increase in revenue for 2008 of over 125% to reach €374.7 million compared to €166.2 million in 2007. Order backlog stands at €990.2 million at the end of 2008, of which the company expects to convert 60% into revenue this year. Total revenue guidance was set between €500 million and €550 million for 2009, potential growth of over 40% year-on-year.
Thin film and c-Si PV equipment supplier Roth & Rau AG has reported sales of €272 million for 2008, an increase of 86.1% over sales of €142 million in 2007. Growth was attributed to both product and service expansion due in part to key acquisitions undertaken that included AIS Automation and TECNOFIMES. The company now claims that its own products cover about 65% of the process steps in the value chain, compared to 45% previously.
Record sales and market share gains marked SMA Solar Technology AG’s financial results for 2008. Sales more than doubled to €682 million, representing a slight increase on preliminary results reported in February, 2009.
GE Solar, a branch of the General Electric Company, has announced the layoff of the second and third production shifts as well as some engineering staff at the its Newark, Delaware manufacturing site. About 86 employees were released, down from 200 total workers.
Powerlase Limited, manufacturers of nanosecond Q-switched, diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) lasers, have announced that important investments have been secured from an investor group including MTI Partners, Deutsche Venture Capital, DJF Esprit LLP, Alice Ventures and FNI Venture Capital. The extent of the investment was not disclosed.
Making a bold decision to focus on one product group, Entech Solar has announced that it is shutting down manufacturing operations for its current generation of concentrating solar systems. The company will now focus its efforts on the rapid development and commercialization of its next generation products, along with implementing aggressive cost cuts such as headcount reduction.
Metals and materials provider Elkem has named Helge Aasen as the replacement for Bjørn Wiggen as Managing Director following the latter’s appointment to a new role as President and CEO of SAPA, as well as his appointment to the role of Chairman of Elkem’s Board of Directors. Mr. Wiggen replaces Ole Enger, who was recently appointed as President and CEO of the Renewable Energy Corporation (REC).
A long-term gas supply deal has been signed between Masdar PV and Linde Group, which also includes gas storage, distribution systems and on-site gas management services. Supplied gases include nitrogen (N2), hydrogen (H2), silane (SiH4) and chamber cleaning gases, as well as argon (Ar) and helium (He). Masdar PV is currently investing US$200 million in a thin-film plant in Erfurt, Germany.
