Suntech Power Holdings said it is "routinely" using the Pluto technology to produce solar PV cells with conversion efficiencies of approximately 19% on monocrystalline silicon cells and 17% on multicrystalline cells. The company also confirmed that third-party test results from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Germany show conversion efficiencies of 18.8% for monocrystalline cell and 17.2% for the multicrystalline cells manufactured on Suntech's 34MW Pluto production line.
Webel-SL Energy Systems Ltd. has, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, revealed it is to invest approximately 1.8 billion rupees ($35.7 million) to build a second cell and module manufacturing facility in Kolkata, eastern India. The facility will bring Webel’s annual manufacturing capacity from 12MW to 42MW.
It seems there may be collaboration on the cards for two of the major technology players, as Reuters has reported. Japan's Toshiba Corp. and Sharp Corp. are allegedly looking to start up a partnership agreement for their respective solar businesses in response to growing market demand for PV products and services.
First Solar, Inc. have appointed Dennis Fitzgibbons to Vice President, Federal Affairs, where he will report directly to the company’s CEO Mike Ahearn and be in charge of First Solar’s federal government affairs activities in the US.
According to IMS Research, a contraction in PV module shipments is anticipated for 2009 due to the significant void left by Spain, due to its new 500MW cap on installations. Without the cap and favourable FIT (feed-in-tariffs) in 2008, Spain became the largest market for PV for the first time, surpassing Germany for the highest MW of installations. IMS Research expects a shortfall of some 1.5-2GW in 2009, which will not be absorbed by growth in other regions such as Italy and France.
In an effort to overcome obstacles being met with in the PV industry, representatives from both mainland China and Taiwan have signed a letter of intent to further technology cooperation. The move, reported in the Taiwan News, will see the establishment of uniform product standards and an across-the-board system for cell testing and certification.
The Chinese Treasury department has reviewed its solar program with the introduction of a new solar PV subsidy program. The move, which is a temporary measure, according to Barclays Capital Solar Energy, will offer 20RMB per Watt (~$2.90/W) incentives for systems of output greater than 50kW. The uncapped plan could prove to be a huge boon for Chinese solar companies such as Suntech, Yingli, Trina Solar and JA Solar.
The rapidly changing supply and price dynamics of polysilicon has led to PV module manufacturer Sunways AG making a string of changes to previously announced polysilicon and UMG-silicon production partnerships. In early February 2009, Sunways cancelled a wafer supply deal with Swiss Wafers that had only been signed in October 2008. This cancellation is a result of what appears to be better prices on offer from LDK Solar.
SMA America, Inc.’s Sunny Central 250U solar inverters have been used for the second-largest solar farm in Hawaii. The design/build alternative energy company and Hawaii’s largest locally owned solar integrator, Sunetric, installed a 500kW system at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on the island of Kauai.
HelioSphera’s expansion has received a boost with the news that the Greek Parliament has approved its subsidy application for €29,879,500. The subsidy will fund HelioSphera’s €180,000,000, 60MW production facility in Tripolis, Greece, which is expected to begin mass production in 3Q09.
