Roth & Rau AG and Innovalight have together completed the world’s first silicon-ink based solar cell production line, installed at Innovalight’s Sunnyvale, California facility. The line has reached operational capability and its initial capacity of 10MW can be scaled to several hundred megawatts, according to the companies.
As of March 10th, 2009, Applied Materials’ Chairman of over 20 years will step down from the chair and will be replaced by company CEO Mike Splinter. James C. Morgan (pictured), an Applied Materials employee since 1976 and holder of the role of CEO from 1977 to 2003, will assume the role of Chairman Emeritus and will not run for re-election as company chairman, as he has reached the customary Board retirement age of 70.
A subsidiary of China Technology Development Group Corp. has lined up $36 million in credit from a leading Chinese commercial bank to enhance the solar PV company's manufacturing plant. The company said that China Merchants Zhangzhou Development Zone Trenda Solar Energy Ltd. (known as Trenda Solar) has received a commitment of credit line worth RMB 250 million from the Fujian branch of China Construction Bank.
ET Solar Group Corp has signed a 13MW module supply deal with Germany’s USE, a distributor and integrator. The deal lasts through January to November 2009. The two companies entered into a strategic partnership in 2008, including module shipments.
Operating in the solar industry as Tata BP Solar India Ltd., a joint venture with BP Solar, Tata Power has signed an MOU with the Government of Gujarat to enter into plans for the construction of a 5MW solar power plant in Gujarat. The plans, which also include the planned construction of a 5MW geothermal power plant, would complement Tata BP Solar’s plans to expand its module manufacturing facility and increase domestic sales.
The company formerly known as WorldWater & Solar Technologies has changed its name to Entech Solar. WorldWater & Solar Technologies acquired ENTECH, Inc. in January 2008 and now aims to shift focus to the manufacture of concentrating energy systems such as its ThermaVolt solar system. Entech has also announced the appointment of David Gelbaum (pictured) as Chairman of its Board of Directors, replacing Quentin Kelly, company founder, who resigned as an employee and director of the company with effect from January 7th, 2009.
National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer has granted Israel’s first licenses to build and operate PV and solar thermal plants in the country, according to The Jerusalem Post. The Arava Power Company has received the go-ahead to build a 4.9MW solar plant at Kibbutz Ketura in the Eilot region of the Arava desert, while Edig Solar will build the country’s first 100kW solar thermal plant.
Spire has received its sixth sales contract from Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente, S.A. that will see Spire supply a 100MW production line to the Spanish company. Spire will supply provide state-of-the-art assembly machines, laminators, and a module simulator to Solaria for a sum that has yet to be disclosed. The equipment will be installed in Solaria Energia’s new facility in Fuenmayor, Spain.
Dynamic Engineering, Inc., high purity chemical process technology supplier to the polysilicon industry, has named Joe Ausikaitis as its new CEO and President. Ausikaitis replaces company founder Lee Kennedy, who passed away in November last year. Mr. Ausikaitis brings over 30 years of process technology and chemical management experience to the company.
SpectraWatt, the solar cell spinoff from Intel, has stopped construction on its Hillsboro, OR, manufacturing facility and may seek another plant location because of financing difficulties, according to a news report in the Oregonian. The story says that Andrew Wilson, SpectraWatt's CEO, "confirmed Wednesday that the company had suspended construction plans and was searching inside and outside the state for an existing building to retrofit for less money."
