During the “American Solar Boom? Cutting Through the Hype” teleconference held by AltaTerra Research Network and presented by EuPD Research, over 30 solar PV consultants, manufacturers, developers and installers heard that executives from the solar industry are split down the middle on how the financial crisis will affect their companies’ revenues in 2009. Half the executives polled said that they do expect the financial crisis to negatively affect their revenues, while the other half responded that they do not expect it to have a negative impact.
SEMI has named a long-time employee as its new president of SEMI North America, appointing Jonathan Davis to succeed Victoria Hadfield, effective Jan. 1, 2009. Davis will assume responsibility for the group's North American programs, products, and services and will be responsible for relationships with SEMI members as well as industry, government, and academia in the region. Hadfield moves on to pursue personal interests but will remain with the trade association in an advisory role.
Edwards and Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) are to jointly develop a perfluorocarbon (PFC) gas abatement system dielectric film etching processes that will also be able to abate carbon monoxide. The ‘PA-01E’ abatement tool will also be developed with input from Adtec Plasma Technology Co., Ltd., of Japan.
Eights months after 3S Swiss Solar Systems first entered into business with semi-automatic production lines, it has delivered its first line to the Alicante-based Eurener Energia Solar, which had previously been operating with the manual 3S production line since 2006. Eurener has installed a semi-automatic 20MW line, which includes an automatic string soldering station from Somont, a laminating line from 3S and a module tester from Pasan.
EMCORE Corporation has deployed its first concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) system in China in collaboration with XinaAo, one of the country’s largest energy companies. Owing to the two companies’ earlier agreement, the 50kW test and evaluation system is fully installed, operational and producing power in accordance with specifications.
SolarReserve named Alistair Jessop as Vice President to oversee its European and other international markets. He will be developing solar power projects in the regions by utilizing SolarReserve’s technology.
Suntech Power Holdings' first thin-film line using Applied Materials' ‘SunFab’ turnkey technology will complete installation by the end of the year, noted Dr. Stuart Wenham, Suntech’s Chief Technology Officer, during a conference call with financial analysts.
Suntech Power Holdings has reacted to the seasonal slowdown and tight credit conditions for customers by halting planned capacity expansions and cutting capital spending from US$300 million in 2008 to only US$80 million in 2009. Suntech reiterated that it would reach a nominal capacity of 1GW by the end of 2008. However, the company said that further planned increases would be halted for 2009. Previously, Suntech had planned to reach a nominal capacity of 1.4GW in 2009 and 2GW in 2010. Nominal capacity reached in 3Q08 was 750MW.
Signet Solar has produced and shipped its first MW of panels from its Mochau, Germany manufacturing facility only one month after it became the first licensee of Applied Material’s SunFab thin-film modules. The first shipments are being sent to Hannover-based alfsolar Vertriebsgesellschaft GmbH. Other Signet customers include Phoenix Solar AG, Soleg GmbH, Goldbeck Solar GmbH and SolarMarkt AG.
Sputnik Engineering has announced its intention to open a new production facility in Biel, Switzerland next year so that it can meet the increasing demand of its string inverter series SolarMax S.
