With the opening of its new Silicon Materials Technology and Evaluation Center (SIMTEC) in Freiberg, Germany, Fraunhofer ISE is extending research into materials, which includes multicrystalline block crystallization, block shaping through to wafering silicon epitaxy for crystalline silicon thin-film wafer equivalents. SIMTEC will also work on metallurgical grade silicon and its use for the production of solar cells.
In a supply deal worth approximately US$500 million (NOK 2.9 billion), REC will supply an Asia-based PV company with approximately 1,500MT per annum of silicon powder for a timeframe of seven years. Silicon powder, traditionally a low-value material, is a form of fine particulate silicon from the FBR process. The take-or-pay agreement is a result of REC’s development of technologies to develop this material and address commercial opportunities.
CVD Equipment Corporation stated that it has received a total of $25 million in orders since January 1, 2008, compared to $14 million orders received in the full 12 months in 2007. Around 50% of the orders in 2008 deal with the needs of the solar and energy markets and include CVD proprietary and patent pending thin-film solutions.
The Organic Photovoltaics 2009 event, organized by IntertechPira, will take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from April 27 through 29, 2009. The event is being co-chaired by Russell Gaudiana of Konarka Technologies, Inc., and Dr. Dana Olson of the NREL. This year’s venue will provide an exceptional arena for industry experts, researchers, customers and investors to address the opportunities and most critical challenges for the commercialization of OPV technologies.
Tempress Systems, Inc., the subsidiary company of Amtech Systems, Inc., has received a $3 million order from a new European-based customer that supplies solar turnkey systems. The new order comes after two existing customers in Asia placed follow up orders in September 2008 for Tempress Systems diffusion tools and a separate follow-on solar order for its diffusion processing system in August from another existing customer in Asia.
ICP Solar Technologies said today that it has signed a binding letter of intent to buy privately held Ibersolar Energía, a leading European manufacturer and supplier of solar photovoltaic systems, solar thermal systems, and absorption units with annual sales of approximately €120 million.
Helios Technology has entered into a seven-year wafer supply agreement with LDK Solar. Under the terms of the agreement, LDK will supply approximately 70MW of multicrystalline solar wafers to the Italian company from 2009 to 2015. The companies have agreed that Helios Technology will make a prepayment representing a portion of the contract value to LDK Solar.
SolarWorld cut the ribbon Friday on what is being called the largest silicon solar-cellproduction facility in North America. The 480,000 square-foot factory, located in Hillsboro, OR, is part of the Germancompany's $500 million investment in advancedphotovoltaics technology in the U.S.
SOLON AG’s new state-of-the-art module facility in Tucson, Arizona has come on stream. The facility’s first phase production will have an annual capacity of 60MWp, producing both crystalline and thin-film solar modules as well as photovoltaic systems. The Tucson site currently employs approximately 100 staff.
In an agreement with an as-yet-unnamed U.S. energy solutions supplier, LDK Solar Co., Ltd. will deliver approximately 90MW of multicrystalline silicon solar wafers for a three-year period commencing in 2009. The ‘take or pay’ contract will see the customer supply at least 300MT of polysilicon to LDK in the form of a down payment for part of the contract value, which was also undisclosed.
