Plans for a 1GW PV power plant are underway in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where the Al-Husseini Group, a diversified real estate, industrial and trading organization based in Amman, Jordan, and Amelio Solar plan to construct a 200MW thin-film PV module manufacturing plant over the space of three years, which will power the gigawatt-scale plant. The Jordan-based gigawatt plant, referred to as a “multi-year” project, will be designed by Amelio Solar and is expected to be completed by 2017.
NATCO International, Inc. has received independent an third party report verifying the performance of its Lassen Hybrid Solar Panel. The tests showed that up to 208V and over 2,000W of power output were supplied. The test has met satisfied requirements for NATCO to be able to complete the share transfer and license agreement with Lassen and its affiliates as arranged in the 26 November 2008 Form 8K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
IMS Research has released a report, which speculates that the global PV inverter market will double in size for 2008. Considering that the PV inverter market is still quite young and heavily depends on each country’s legislation, for the first time the market is expected to exceed $2 billion. Recent analysis shows the PV inverter market grew by 110% in the first nine months of 2008 with Europe accounting for 80% of worldwide revenue. Spain, Italy and Germany all saw excellent performances and high demand this year in the market.
Evolution Solar looks set to add another customer to its books, as Atlantic Energy Solutions has decided to team up with the company for provision of its PV panels. The collaboration will pave the way for the certification of the panels by Underwriters Laboratories, and will see the modules used in Atlantic Energy’s solar projects in the U.S. It will also allow for the provision on Atlantic Energy’s part of low-cost panels at high volumes for large projects.
Effective as of 14 November 2008, Ravi Khanna (pictured), the Chief Executive of Moser Baer Photovoltaic, left the company to join Norway-based Scatec Solar. He had been with Moser for the past 18 months looking after acquisitions of technology firms and setting up a technology centre for emerging and disruptive technologies. Before Moser Baer he was with the Delphi Corporation serving in various positions including Country Manager for India and Thailand.
It has been reported that Sembawang Engineers & Constructors is going to venture into its first renewable energy project. According to Reuters, the company, a subsidiary of India-listed Punj Lloyd Group, will build an S$250 million plant in Brunei for thin-film solar modules.
The Digitimes reports that E-Ton Solar Tech is anticipated to sign with an Italian PV module producer for a four-year contract to supply solar cells totaling 100MWp. E-Ton reportedly declined to comment on the deal, but did acknowledge that Europe is abundant with business opportunities, especially in countries like Italy, Greece and France.
Tokyo Electron’s U.S. investment arm, TEL Venture Capital, has invested an undisclosed sum in Unidym, the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) manufacturer. Accompanying this news was the announcement that Tokyo Electron and Unidym intend to enter into a program for the development of equipment used in the manufacture of Unidym’s carbon nanotube-based transparent, conductive films (TCFs), which are used in thin-film solar cells, as well as in other applications. The companies will also enter into an information-sharing agreement that will see them collaborate on Unidym’s printed electronics technology development and to work together to modify TEL's existing equipment to support Unidym's inks.
Solar-Fabrik AG has signed an agreement with JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. to supply 30MW of solar cells. Currently, the agreement calls for a one-year term, but both companies have shown interest that it be extended. This agreement also expands Solar-Fabrik’s market share and helps achieve its goal of increasing solar panel sales by 70% in fiscal 2009.
After a mere 10 months of building, Centrosolar Group AG has opened its Wismar, Germany, solar module facility, one of the largest in the area. Chairman Dr. Alexander Kirsch (pictured) was joined at the opening celebration by numerous guests that were part of the community and world political and economy scene. The investment volume of the factory totals around €23 million and has created 250 new jobs, making the fab one of the biggest employers in Wismar.
