The U.S. Congress' passage of theEmergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the subsequent signing into law of the bill by President Bush not onlyprovides government bailout options for the country's troubledfinancial sector but includes a strong package of investment taxcredits for solar and other renewable energy developers. But thelegislation doesn't stop there. Because of the removal of a prohibition that prevented regulated utility companies from taking advantage of the credit, the Solar Electric Power Association predicts a major increase inlarge-scale solar photovoltaic and thermal projects by thosefirms.
Demand for SC GaAs bulk substrates from the photovoltaic industry has the potential to grow at a rate of 79% by 2013, representing over 20% of demand, according to the latest analysis from Strategy Analytics. LEDs currently represent the largest section of the market, with 39% of demand.
In two supply agreements totalling 58MW, Yingli Green Energy has signed contracts with German PV companies GeckoLogic GmbH and Sinosol AG. GeckoLogic has ordered 28MW of modules, with an option to order an additional 7MW, while Sinosol will be supplied with 30MW.
Advent Solar has added financial veteran Dick Trueblood andmanufacturing expert Bernard Wilimitis to its executive managementteam. Trueblood joins the company as its CFO, responsible for financial management, taxation, and global businessstructuring in support of international growth. Wilimitis was promotedto VP of manufacturing and operations, where he oversees allmanufacturing and operations.
Suntech will supply 1.6MW of solar panels to Sun Devil Solar LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Integrys Energy Services, for its PV project with Arizona State University (ASU). The panels will be installed on top of two elevated parking structures in the centre of ASU’s main campus using a tracking system. The project will be the state’s largest building-mounted project when it reaches completion at the end of 2008.
Neo Solar Power (NSP) has placed a $450 million multi-crystalline silicon wafer supply contract with REC ASA. The contract will start in the second half of 2009 and run through 2015. The agreement is structured as a take-or-pay contract with pre-determined prices and volumes for the entire contract period, REC said.
On a recent US Clean Energy and Environment Trade Mission to India and China, Patrick Peyton (pictured), Chairman and CEO of Despatch Industries, spoke with leading Indian government officials in New Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai on the subject of clean technology business opportunities. The mission, which was led by U.S. Commerce Assistant Secretary David Bohigian and Carmine D’Aloisio, Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs, saw the participation of 19 industry delegates.
SolarPower Restoration Systems, Inc., the BIPV technology company, has announced that it has signed a non-binding letter of intent with SBM Solar, Inc. for the supply of a minimum of 10MW of solar modules per year for the three years commencing 2009. The modules will incorporate SBM’s new polymer surfaced composite panel crystalline module design.
Six early-stage and established photovoltaic companies based inCalifornia and New England have been awarded up to $17.6 million todevelop advanced solar PV manufacturing technologies as part of theSolar America Initiative, the U.S. Department of Energy announced. DOEsays that, including the costshare from industry--which will be at least 20%-- the totalresearch investment is expected to reach up to $35.4 million.
British Gas is to enter the photovoltaics market in the UK after its owner, Centrica PLC said it had acquired Solar Technologies Group Limited, an installer of PV and BIPV systems in the country, including the BIPV solar system for the London City Hall, designed by Fosters and using E-Ton Solar Tech’s crystalline PV modules.
