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-$2.25 billion and cell production of 570-580MW. The company also said it has signed a deal to sell the Solare Roma PV power plant in Italy.
The Spanish government has now confirmed the country's reduced feed-in tariff rate, which will be paid to new solar-power projects. Ground-mounted plants' tariff will be cut by 45% while residential rooftop systems will be paid 5% less than before. All existing installations will receive the tariff quoted at the time of connection, for the full period of 25 years.
Greg Saunders is the newest executive to join Tioga Energy, being selected as the company’s new executive vice president and chief financial officer. Relying on his 25-year financial background with public and private companies, Saunders will manage the company’s financial development and impart strategic support as Tioga looks to expand its project portfolio.
Lux Research has released a new report, “Module Cost Structure Breakdown: Can Thin-Film Survive the Crystalline Silicon Onslaught?”, which compares multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) with thin-film silicon (TF-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe) and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) on a US$/W basis in order to see which of the technologies will have a long-term cost advantage on the module level.
Etrion has released its interim consolidated financial statements and related management discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. Highlights for the third quarter include closing the acquisition of the 24MW first tranche of the 33MW Montalto solar park in Italy - subsequently closing the final 9MW tranche - recording US$7.0 million in revenues and completing a US$15 million private placement of shares to meet Toronto Stock Exchange listing requirements.
Johan Enslin, a 29-year veteran for the solar industry and the U.S., Europe and South Africa higher education system, has been named chief technology officer for Petra Solar. He has spent time in executive and consultant positions for private businesses and has been a professor in electrical and electronic engineering as well as conducting work at over 80 U.S., European, Asian and African power utilities, governments and industry projects. Enslin is credited with managing several renewable energy groups and projects for U.S. and international clients through system planning, power electronics and renewable energy integration.
SunPower has revealed that it’s new headquarters will remain based in San Jose, CA. The company is to relocate to an existing three-building site on Rio Robles next year in order to accommodate long-term growth plans. By renovating the buildings, with a rooftop solar system and solar carport alongside other renewable features, SunPower aims to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification.
Despite an ongoing ramp of its Malaysia-based Fab 3 cell production plant that will increase its megawatt production by 65% in 2011, Tom Werner, CEO of SunPower, noted in its third-quarter financial conference call that demand for its products exceeded supply both in the second-half of this year but also going into 2011.
Solar 3D is looking forward to Dr. Changwan Son bringing his expertise in the photonics and optoelectronic devices fields to his new position as the company’s director of technology. Utilizing his background, Son will spearhead the development of Solar3D’s technology and prototype.
Describing business conditions as an ‘ongoing order boom in the solar sector,’ centrotherm photovoltaics posted revenue of €458.4 million for the first nine months of this year, a 22.3% increase compared with the same period a year ago. The company reported a total inflow of €707.7 million of new orders, compared with the prior-year period of €472.1 million. However, revenue fell in its thin film module segment to only €11.9 million in the period.
