Cell Processing

One of the key low-cost PV module manufacturers, Yingli Green is also fast becoming one of the largest suppliers of high-efficiency modules.

SunPower sees substantial growth in store in fiscal year 2011, with annual revenues expected to range between $2.65 billion and $2.85 billion as well as PV cell production of 900-945MW at its three fabrication facilities. The company’s already issued its 2010 guidance, which forecasts revenues of $2.15 billion-$2.25 billion and cell production of 570-580MW. The company also said it has signed a deal to sell the Solare Roma PV power plant in Italy.

Manz Automation has reported strong revenue growth in the first nine months of 2010. Sales reached €121.3 million, compared to €46.7 million in the same period a year ago. Revenues in the third quarter of 2010 reached €53.8 million, driven by new product sales for the production of crystalline solar cells. Revenue was €18.5 million in the same quarter of the previous year. Due to continued demand, Manz has raised its revenue guidance for 2010 to between €170 - €175 million, up from at least, €140 million.

Increased orders from PV manufacturers in Asia are responsible for Despatch Industries posting third quarter revenue in excess of US$75 million. Despatch said it had expanded production capacity to meet demand, particularly for thermal furnaces. Lead times have subsequently declined for its range of products, the company said.

New supply agreements with multiple customers have pushed JA Solar’s 2011 delivery commitments passed 1.2GW. The cell and module manufacturer said it had secured an additional 600MW of new product orders, all with delivery dates in 2011 and had received prepayments associated with these customer orders.

Meyer Burger has concluded a CHF 70 million wire saw and wafer inspection systems contract with an unnamed customer in Asia. The contract will enable the customer to expand its production facility during next year.

Tempress Systems, a solar subsidiary of Amtech Systems, has obtained US$33 million in new solar orders from numerous Asian customers. The customers, both new and existing for the company, ordered Tempress’s diffusion processing systems this past October.

Solarfun has joined JA Solar and Yingli Solar to become the third Chinese crystalline-silicon PV cell manufacturer to sign a licensing agreement with Innovalight for the Sunnyvale, CA-based company's proprietary performance-enhancing nanosilicon ink process.

Update: A significant increase in production capacity of its leading-edge ‘Panda’ technology will help boost Yingli Green’s total PV production capacity pass 1.7GW by mid-2011. Yingli Green is adding 600MW of new capacity in each key area of monocrystalline silicon manufacturing, which includes ingots, wafers, cells and modules at its Baoding, China headquarters. A further 100MW will be added to multicrystalline silicon production, in Haikou, Hainan Province, China. Yingli’s

Once a leading in-house solar module manufacturer, BP Solar has further solidified its outsourced manufacturing strategy by awarding JA Solar a monocrystalline and multicrystalline cell supply contract exceeding 185MW. The new supply deal will see 100MW of cells shipped to BP beginning in the first quarter of 2011.