Photovoltech is to build a new crystalline solar cell manufacturing plant in Tienen, Belgium, where its current production facility is located. Dutch engineering company DHV is to design and build the 26,500 m² facility, which will be divided into 3 floors and will have a 400MW capacity. The new facility will generate 100 new jobs.
Q-Cells AG has signed a significant supply deal with LDK Solar for upgraded metallurgical silicon (umg-Si) based wafers. The signed MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) will see LDK Solar process approximately 20,000MT (metric tones) of upgraded metallurgical silicon into wafers for Q-Cells, until 2018, with an option for an additional 21,000MT. Supply of the umg-Si wafers is to start this year, the companies said. Earlier this year, Q-Cells signed a umg-Si supply deal with Becancour Silicon Inc. (BSI), a division of Timminco. The initial deal was later increased to 6,000 metric tons per year in the years 2010 to 2013.
On the back of the 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition held in Valencia, Spain last week, Komax Holding AG has received orders worth over CHF 30 million, which includes a significant order from Algatec Solar AG for Komax’s crystalline solar module automation systems for a new 160MW module plant.The Algatec Solar order includes stringer and layup systems.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between LG Electronics and Conergy AG that will see LG take a 75 percent stake in Conergy’s advanced solar module plant in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. The deal could be in place by the end of 2008, Conergy said. LG will also be involved in R&D activities with Conergy, citing its manufacturing experience in the flat panel display industry and its move into being a major PV player in the years to come.
The city ofSanta Barbara, CA, has selected EI Solutions andTiogaEnergy to design, build, and fund a 384-KW DC (331-KW AC) solarelectric system, which will be located on available rooftop space on acity corporation yard in the historic downtown area.
Schott Solar Inc. has signed an agreement with DC Power Systems to supply more than 13 megawatts of photovoltaic modules for distribution in the Americas. The company works through a network of more than 1,500 qualified dealers and installers to provide photovoltaic systems for commercial, residential and municipal applications in North and South America, said DC Executive Vice President Daniel Marino in a news release.
Independent photovoltaic power producer, SOLARIG has recently completed all of its PV power plant projects in Spain, ahead of the expiration of the current Royal Decree. A total power capacity of 22MW of planned energy production at a cost of €132 million has been successfully connected, the company said.
China Technology Development Group (CTDC) has begun commercialproduction of tin-oxide (SnO2) solar baseplates, a transparentconductive oxide substrate used as a top electrode foramorphous-silicon thin-film photovoltaic solar cells and modules.
Dutch solar cell producer, Solland Solar has announced the development of a new photovoltaic solar cell design using the ‘Metal Wrap Through’ (MWT) method. The technique enables the removal of the traditional ‘bus bars’ from the cells front-side, increase the usable area and reduce shading, boosting cell efficiencies. The research was carried out in collaboration with ECN (Energy research Centre of the Netherlands).
LDK Solar has placed a new order with long-term CVD reactor supplier GT Solar, worth $32 million. The reactors will be used in LDK Solar’s manufacturing facilities in Xinyu City, China as it continues to add new capacity to meet market demand. LDK doubled wafer production in 2007, reaching nominal capacity of 400MW. At the beginning of the year, LDK Solar expected to reach a capacity of 800MW in 2008. However, this has been revised upwards at least twice since then and is now expected to reach 1.2GW by the end of 2008. The company has also recently said that it was sold-out through 2009.
