Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. has, in a restructuring of its senior management, appointed a new COO in Johnson Chiang, and a new General Manager in Robin Chen, as well as announcing the departure of Frank Zhang, former General Manager of Suntech's Shanghai thin-film plant. Mr. Chiang takes over the role of COO from Graham Artes (pictured), who will now serve as Managing Director of KSL-Kuttler and as Suntech Corporate Vice President of Engineering, while Philip Yue has been appointed Vice President of Value Chain Development.
Bloo Solar, the California-based thin-film solar company, has added two new members to its Senior Advisory Board. The company has announced the addition of Kevin Davies (pictured) and Steve Harrer, who between them bring years of engineering and operations experience to the company from companies such as BP Solar.
Ascent Solar Technologies has placed an order with STANGL Semiconductor Equipment AG, a subsidiary of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, for eight roll-to-roll wet-chemical coating machines that will be used in Ascent’s volume ramp of its flexible thin film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells at a new manufacturing plant. The 8 STANGL ‘IMPEDIO’ systems will enable Ascent to reach a nominal capacity of 30MW, per annum.
Mitsubishi Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Energy Division, Prime Minister's Office (EDPMO) in Brunei Darussalam for the construction and 3-year evaluation of a 1.2 MW photovoltaic energy plant. The plant will use both crystalline solar cell and thin film modules. The plant will be built at the Seria Power Station in Seria, Brunei Darussalam.
Indian based module manufacturer, XL Telecom & Energy Limited has secured a 300MW multicrystalline silicon solar wafer supply deal with LDK Solar. The supply deal is for 5- years, commencing in the first quarter of 2009 and extending through 2013.
MacDermid, Incorporated has announced the formation of a new Photovoltaics business unit. Don Cullen, 20yr veteran of the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) industry will lead the new group. MacDermid already offers to PV manufacturers, wafer cleaning, conductor metallization to screen-printing and anti-reflective technologies.
M+W Zander has announced the appointment of Rick Whitney, company COO since 2002, as the new CEO with immediate effect. He served as COO and President of the Total Facility Solutions (TFS) division within M+W Zander, and in his new role as CEO will oversee the company’s development in the U.S. and overseas.
Q-Cells AG has revised its production and revenue forecasts on the basis of greater levels of secured supply of key raw materials such as UMG Si, and continued strong demand worldwide with 90 percent of its production sold or agreed through the end of 2009. Q-Cells expects to reach a production volume of 585MWp in 2008, up from 570MWp previously guided earlier in the year. Sales are therefore set to rise from a previously projected €1.275 billion to €1.325 billion.
Deutsche Solar AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of SolarWorld AG, has entered into a new polysilicon contract with DC Chemical, valued at $580 million through 2016. The polysilicon deal ensures the ability of the company to meet new solar wafer contracts worth $350 million from customers in Germany and China, the company said.
(SV Solar) has established a 2MW pilot production line in Sunnyvale, California to manufacture its ‘Sol-X’ concentrating PV modules. Pilot scale manufacturing equipment has now been deployed at its 15,000 square foot mixed-use facility, the company said.
