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The rapid decline of conventional crystalline based solar modules due to weak demand and massive over-capacity throughout the supply chain has forced CPV manufacturer, Emcore to take a long hard look at its terrestrial CPV business model. In its most recent quarterly conference call company executives said that they would concentrate on solar cell receivers with 1,000 times concentrated reflected optics development and supply while licence and partner on complete systems.
In a ground-breaking ceremony held Aug. 19, RGE Energy started construction of a 45MWp solar power plant, equipped with BP Solar modules, on 116 undeveloped hectares at the site of a former military airfield in Köthen, Saxony-Anhalt. When completed, the developers say that project will be the largest solar power plant in the German state and the world´s largest to be outfitted with string inverters.
PV shipments which include solar modules and inverters in IMS Research’s latest assessment of the PV industry have rebounded strongly in the second quarter of 2009, with over 1GW of PV shipments. However, for the first six months of 2009, shipments were down 34% compared to the same period last year. The collapse of the Spanish market was at the root of the decline, the market research firm said.
Preparation for the construction of one of the largest solar plants in Greece is underway as Scheuten Solar announced it has signed up for a 1MWp project between Tripoli and Megalopolis in the south of the country. Scheuten will supply its Multisol modules for the Ilioependytiki S.A.-owned plant, which will then be installed by Data Energy.
Independently tested by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), Suntech’s ‘Pluto’ cell technology has been used in multi-crystalline silicon PV modules to set a new world record in this classification of 15.6% conversion efficiency. The previous record (15.5%) had been set 15 years ago by Sandia National Labs. Suntech’s Pluto cells have a conversion efficiency exceeding 17%. The company also noted that the new world record was set using the framed area, without which Suntech believes it would achieve a conversion efficiency of well over 16%.
Adept Technology, provider of intelligent vision-guided robotics and global robotics services is expanding its distribution channel in Japan by signing Nihon Kizai as its newest distributor to cover the Japanese market.
First Solar's U.S. project pipeline now tops the 1GW mark, after the thin-film photovoltaics company and utility Southern California Edison signed deals that will lead to the construction of two large-scale solar power projects in Southern California. The installations in Riverside and San Bernardino counties will have a combined generation capacity of 550MW (AC) of solar electricity, or about 1.2 billion KW-hours, enough to provide power to approximately 170,000 homes, according to SCE.
The continued weak demand for both residential and commercial rooftop installations in conjunction with the lack of project finance available for utility-scale solar plants are forcing major module manufacturer Solon to undertake a further round of restructuring. Solon plans divestments, a reduction in its temporary workforce, and part-time work among other cost saving measures. Solon also said it would review a potential spin-off of the Austrian production company, Solon Hilber Technologie.
Shaanxi Tianhong Silicon Industrial Corp. in Xian City, China, has successfully started polysilicon production at its 1,250MT plant, according to turnkey plant provider centrotherm photovoltaics. The plant was planned and developed by centrotherm SiTec, a subsidiary of centrotherm formed out of centrotherm’s acquisition of SolMic and from its former subsidiary centrotherm SiQ. This is the second turnkey plant the company has successfully completed.
