Clal Energy, the energy division of IDB, and Tigo Energy have signed an agreement to distribute Tigo Energy products and technologies for the enhancement of energy output across a wide range of renewable energy projects.
A new analysis from iSuppli forecasts that the price of polysilicon will begin a "precipitous plunge in 2009 after peaking this year," as the supply of the raw material exceeds demand. At fault, according to the research firm, are "fundamental imbalances in the solar supply chain." After peaking at as high as $500 per kilogram this year and suppliers largely dictating terms to customers during a three-year price rise, the report sees the average spot market price for poly dropping next year to as low as $200 per kilogram.
Oerlikon Solar said it was now able to produce a-Si thin film modules with than 7% stabilized efficiency, enabling a 16% increase in panel power output. Its new ‘Amorph High Performance’ process uses a specially developed Zinc Oxide TCO layer, which Oerlikon Solar claims, significantly increases the performance characteristics of the panel through better light trapping properties. The company said that it had already been granted the requisite master certificates from TÜV.
NanoGram and Tokyo Electron have signed a joint technology agreement focused on the development of thin-film process equipment based on the cleantech company's proprietary laser reactive deposition (LRD) process for thin crystalline silicon films.
GT Solar’s order backlog in its just posted second quarter financial results topped $292 million, resulting in its total order backlog exceeding $1.4 billion, up from $1.26 billion at the end of the first quarter. GT Solar also shipped more than 200 DSS furnaces to the solar market with many orders shipped ahead of schedule due to customer demand, the company said.
Panasonic Corporation and Sanyo Electric have started formal discussions that could lead to Panasonic acquiring Sanyo. A possible deal could be concluded by the end of December, 2008, the companies stated. The companies claimed that direct synergies between the two companies meant that the deal was highly likely.
Blue Square Energy (BSE) announced its production of a 14.6 percent efficiency solar cell using its Bright Point technology. The result is the highest on upgraded metallurgical grade (UMG) silicon and was verified independently by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Working together since 2005, S.A.G. Solarstrom AG and Yingli Green Energy, have confirmed the signing of a contract between the two companies in regards to solar modules. Yingli will supply solar modules with a total output of 36.8MW to Solarstrom starting in 2009. Solarstrom in turn will procure further modules from Yingli at short notice on a purchase option basis.
Sunways AG has announced that Roland Burkhardt (pictured), CEO and founder of the company, will pass his position of CEO and Sunways strategic and operational management to CFO Michael Wilhelm, effective 1 January 2009. Wilhelm will oversee the finance and strategy areas in his new position, while Burkhardt will take over the technology and R&D division.
Dyesol recently opened its newest facility in Shotton, North Wales only a few weeks after its Australian materials manufacturing and equipment design and assembly facility was unveiled. The new photovoltaic accelerator facility is a continuation of the partnership between Dyesol and Corus to step up the commercialisation of Dye Solar Cell (DSC) technology onto steel sheeting building products.
