OAI's Solar Test Division is featuring the capabilities of a recently introduced 350nm to 1800nm Class AAA solar simulator at Interoslar North America, being held in San Francisco, this week. The solar simulator is said to be ideal for multi-junction solar cell testing, high current I-V testing, and as a solar power meter.
SolFocus’ latest concentrator photovoltaics array, the SF-1136X, has nearly twice the rated power of the company’s SF-1100P and can be deployed in the field in less than half the time. The firm said it has increased the level of factory integration, simplified the mechanical structure of the system, and improved the logistics packaging.
As one of a growing number of China-based Tier 1 PV manufacturers pushing-hard towards solar cell efficiencies of 20%, Canadian Solar is showcasing its ELPS solar cell technology (Efficient, Long-Term, Photovoltaic Solution), that has demonstrated cell efficiencies of 19.5% with monocrystalline wafers and 18% efficiencies with polycrystalline wafers.
Hemlock Semiconductor’s new polysilicon plant, currently under construction in Clarksville, Tennessee, USA has signed a multi-year contract with Praxair, which will supply hydrogen to the facility. Praxair said it would build and operate an on-site hydrogen generating facility and supply liquid hydrogen by truck. The plant start-up is scheduled for 2012, according to Praxair. Praxair also supplies nitrogen and hydrogen to Hemlock’s polysilicon facility in Hemlock, Michigan.
At the solar industry’s largest event, Intersolar Europe, 2011 SunPower launched its new 96-cell E20 modules, which are the industry's first commercially-available solar panels to achieve total area efficiencies of 20% and above. Jorn Jugens, SunPower’s managing director, Germany had the honour of discussing with PV-Tech the key characteristics of the module, which includes SunPower's 22.4% efficient ‘Maxeon’ cell technology.
JDS Uniphase (JDSU) revealed that it bought product design, patented intellectual property and other key assets from UK-based CPV provider QuantaSol. Financial details pertaining to the acquisition were not disclosed, but JDSU did advise that it plans to bring the new assets over from QuantaSol to the JSDU headquarters in Milpitas, California over the next six months.
ENN Mojave Energy, a subsidiary of China’s ENN Group, is planning to build a 720MW solar system and thin-film manufacturing facility in southern Nevada.
MEMC is filling-in a missing link in its polysilicon to solar projects manufacturing portfolio with the establishment of monocrystalline cell production through a joint venture with equipment supplier Jusung Engineering. At a cost of US$32 million, shared equally between the new partners, an initial 100MW of capacity is expected to begin production in the first half of 2012. The deal was signed by MEMC Singapore, though it was unclear whether the location of the cell plant would be in Singpaore or Korea, where Junsung is headquartered. The cells will used in modules for MEMC’s project arm, SunEdison.
GT Solar advised that it had received orders from two new customers based in Asia for the company’s polysilicon production equipment. Together the two customers’, who remain anonymous, orders amounted to US$81.7 million and called for GT Solar’s hydrochlorination equipment for TCS production and other polysilicon production equipment. The orders will be included in the company’s backlog for its first quarter of the 2012 fiscal year, which ended July 2.
The photovoltaics division of Heraeus Materials Technology has completed construction on its new Singapore facility, which will produce the company’s silver metallization paste for use in crystalline solar cells. The site will also house the unit’s R&D, sales and technical service operations, all of which began operation in June. The R&D lab was the facility’s most recent completion, having been finalized in July. It plans to have qualification samples ready for customers in the coming weeks. The site’s official opening ceremony will be held in November.
