This summer solar developer Espe Sunparc has completed the installation of a 10MW PV project portfolio in Italy. All 10 projects were installed between July and August and are located across fove regions. The portfolio is expected to generate 14 million kWh of electricity per annum.
MEMC Electronic Materials and its solar subsidiary, SunEdison, revealed that they had completed the acquisition of Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, Inc. (FRV US), the US subsidiary of Fotowatio Renewable Ventures. MEMC paid a the disclosed consideration of US$112 million plus repayment of nearly US$19 million in intercompany loans and capital contributions. An additional consideration of up to US$103.6 million may be paid if FRV US reaches specified performance targets.
After recently announcing that it had shipped its first international trichlorosilane (TCS) delivery, SunSi Energies has advised that the first phase of the expansion for its Wendeng TCS facility in Weihai City, China is complete. The expansion increased the facility’s production capacity by 50%, or 10,000MT, to 30,000MT.
On August 15, Tsumkwe, a small village in Northern Namibia was able to receive its first, around-the-clock electricity supply in three years thanks to a hybrid solar system completed by juwi Solar. The 200kW system, consisting of a 1MW battery storage unit and three integrated diesel generators, is claimed to be one of Africa’s largest off-grid solar systems and supplies Tsumkwe’s public buildings and 100 private households with electricity.
Calisolar is making its move to become high-volume low-cost silicon solar wafer producer with plans to build a 16,000MT silicon production facility in Lowndes County, Mississippi at an estimated cost of US$600 million. A pioneer of enhanced UMG-based wafers, Calisolar is bring silicon material production in-house to significantly lower costs and have greater control over material quality. When fully operational, the plant is said to employ 951 full-time workers.
Following the successful implementation of fluorine technology at Schüco TF’s 40MW Osterweddingen site, the company has signed a significant long-term supply contract with Linde Gases for the delivery of onsite fluorine (F2) to its new thin-film module mass production site in Großröhrsdorf, eastern Germany.
A recently signed a licensing agreement with see Taiflex Scientific offer its ‘Solmate’ backsheet, coupled to DuPont’s new ‘TPNext’ laminate, which is based on DuPont’s ‘Tedlar’ polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) backsheet film. DuPont Photovoltaic Fluoromaterials developed the new backsheet technology to enhance the quality and manufacturability of c-Si-based modules by improving adhesion to encapsulants, resistance to ultraviolet (UV) light and enabling faster throughput in the backsheet production process, an area receiving constant attention to help drive down manufacturing costs.
The US Export-Import Bank will provide First Solar with $455.7 million of loan guarantees to construct a pair of solar PV power projects in Ontario, Canada. The bank will guarantee a $236.7 million loan for a 50MW plant to be built near Amherstburg, Belmont, and Walpole townships, and another $219 million loan for a 40MW farm slated for construction in St. Clair. The debt will be repaid over 18 years.
Inventux Technologies has extended its product warranties for its micromorph-silicon thin-film PV systems from five to 10 years. The offer includes system components such as modules, inverters, and mounting systems and is being provided at no additional cost.
GE Capital Real Estate and SunEdison flipped the switch on the first two of fifteen solar rooftop systems, which fall under the Ontario FiT program. The solar projects are part of GE Capital Real Estate’s environmental sustainability initiative with SunEdison agreeing to build and operate all fifteen of the PV systems.
