With amorphous silicon-based thin film technologies under pressure to boost conversion efficiencies to remain competitive with both CdTe and crystalline-based technologies, Oerlikon Solar has claimed that its own pilot production line has now seen full-size ‘Micromorph’ modules (1.4 m2) produce 151 Watts initial power, equivalent to 11% percent initial power conversion efficiency. According to the company, this is a new efficiency record for the technology.
The SEMI PV Group, the special interest group that serves the photovoltaic supply chain, has made available a report on “China’s Solar Future,” prepared by the China PV Advisory Committee, organized by the PV Group, and comprising China PV industry and academic leaders. The report presents specific recommendations for a China PV policy roadmap; in particular, the need for an accelerated adoption of PV generated electric power in China.
A 10-MW solar photovoltaic power plant near Masdar City, Abu Dhabi--said to be the largest of its kind in the Middle East/North Africa region--has been activated and connected to the grid. The project, which began construction in January, was designed and built by local solar integrator Enviromena Power System. Electricity from the 55-acre installation will help provide energy for the initial construction work at Masdar City.
GT Solar International, Inc. announced that its chief financial officer Robert Woodbury has resigned effective immediately for personal reasons. Woodbury has served as CFO of GT Solar since January 2008. Richard Johnson, vice president, finance and controller, will lead the finance organization on an interim basis.
Under the terms of a deal announced at Intersolar Europe this week, RGE Energy will use hundreds of thousands of BP Solar crystalline-silicon PV panels for 66 MW of installations, including a 46-MWp plant to be built in Koethen, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The project launch is planned for the third quarter; the approval procedure is being processed, and by the end of the year, all of the 220-W modules should be set for installation, the companies said.
Troubled solar materials supplier Timminco has ratified and approved the terms of a new collective bargaining deal with its hourly workforce at the company's Becancour, Quebec, facilities. More than 93% of the unionized employees, who are represented by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 184, voted in favor of the new terms, which will apply for five years ending in April 2013.
S.A.G. Solarstrom will build a 13-MWp photovoltaic power plant at a former military site in St?íbro, Czech Republic--the company's first in the country and its largest project to date. The installation, said to be the biggest PV system planned in the republic, is scheduled to begin construction in July and be completed by the fall.
Solarwatt has ordered a new automated turnkey production system for manufacturing crystalline-silicon solar modules from Kuka Systems. The line, which will occupy a production area of 3,800 m² in Solarwatt's factory near Dresden, will increase the company's production capacity by 150 MW when it comes online in the first half of 2010.
Signet Solar has signed a deal with Moncada Energy Group to supply at least 7.7 MW of large-area Gen-8.5 amorphous-silicon thin-film photovoltaic modules this year for deployment in the Italian renewable energy company's wind farms.
Silex Systems has conditionally acquired the manufacturing assets and equipment of the Sydney Olympic Park (SOP) solar photovoltaic production facility from BP Solar, which operated the Australian fab until March. Silex has also signed a conditional lease for the building which houses the SOP plant, so once the transactions are completed, the manufacturing facility--including infrastructure and services--will be secured relatively intact, according to the company. Both transactions are expected to be completed before the end of June.
