Manufacturing

Dyesol and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) of Japan established dye solar cell R&D collaboration.

Solyndra has announced a multi-year sales agreement with Sika Services AG.

Boeing's Spectrolab subsidiary said it has begun volume production of its newest terrestrial triple-junction III-V-based solar cell, the C3MJ+. The device has an average conversion efficiency of 39.2%, which the company claims makes it the most-efficient cell on the market.

Neo Solar Power has signed a poly silicon supply contract with Hankook Silicon, which will provide them with 11,600 tonnes of poly silicon between 2011 and 2017. The agreement not only provides Neo Solar Power with a stable long-term poly silicon supply but also reinforces the strategic alliance between the two companies.

Southern California Edison has signed 20 contracts with six different independent power producer firms for nearly 240MW (AC) of solar photovoltaic systems to be deployed close to major transmission lines in various parts of the utility’s service areas in Southern California.

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.

CPV company Solergy will be debuting its two chief products: Solergy CPV and Solergy Cogen CPV. The CPV systems use an all-glass optical concentrating lens, which Solergy claims, in combination with its tracking and basic energy unit is a system that generates a significant amount of energy in comparison to other PV and CPV products.

FHR Anlagenbau, the wholly-owned subsidiary of centrotherm photovoltaics, is to supply several CIGS roll-to-roll coating systems to Leipzig-based Solarion. The systems, which are to be shipped throughout 2011, will form the central component of a 20MW annual capacity CIGS thin-film solar cell production system. Solarion is further planning to expand production to 180MW at the Leipzig site together with strategic investor Walsin Lihwa Corporation of Taiwan.

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.