Kyocera’s new “Solar Power Expo” website has been created with the goal to educate all ages about the use of solar power and promote how solar energy can help tackle the environmental problems that the world faces daily. The user friendly and interactive site gives visitors the faux experience of attending an outdoor solar power exposition. Five different “pavilions” allow the solar tourist to engage in activities that introduce solar power, Kyocera’s history in solar power and environmental activities.
Elkem Silicon Materials (polysilicon) and Elkem Solar (solar wafers) are part of a business divesture plan of Norwegian conglomerate Orkla to primarily state-owned Chinese chemical firm, China National Bluestar. The US$2 billion all-cash transaction also includes Elkem’s aluminium and carbon’s businesses. Completion of the deal is expected during the first half of 2011.
5N Plus, a producer of high-purity metals, compounds and wafers for electronic applications, has converted its US$3 million debenture with Sylarus Technologies into a 66.67% majority interest. 5N has also agreed to provide additional funding of US$766,000 in the form of secured debt, to enable the repayment of short-term debt contracted by Sylarus.
In the fast-track to become integrated PV manufacturer’s, major U.S.-based firms such as First Solar, Sunpower, and SunEdison are rapidly closing on major PV project developers from Germany, according to a recent survey from market research firm IMS Research.
SunPower has signed a power purchase agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE) to build and operate three plants with a total capacity of 711MW in California. The 325MW and 276MW facilities in Rosamond and 110MW Los Banos plant will all use SunPower’s 425-watt panels, T0 Tracker and Oasis power block.
CNPV marked the end of 2010 by unveiling its largest Chinese project to date. The 7MW plant in Dongying, Shandong Province, which cost an estimated US$25 million, was officially opened on December 29, 2010 at a ceremony attended by dignitaries including Dongying’s mayor, Li Jinkun.
IBC Solar has sold its 11.2MW facility in Manzano, Italy to Allianz Specialised Investments. With 47,000 polycrystalline and 3,600 thin-film hybrid modules, the Udine-based park is one of IBC’s largest developments and was connected to the grid on December 7, 2010.
First Solar has acquired Idealab operating company RayTracker, a photovoltaic panel tracking technology and balance-of-systems firm based in Pasadena, CA. RayTracker's team will join First Solar's engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) group, and the acquired company’s customers will be transitioned to its new parent.
PV julist and juwi have finished work on a 7.4MW rooftop installation at Goodyear Dunlop’s logistics centre in Philippsburg, Germany. The system is the world’s third-largest roof array and has the capacity to generate 7.3 million kWh of electricity every year.
United Solar has installed 80kW of its Uni-Solarbrand modules on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas cruise ship, reports Design-Build Solar. The modules cover 2,000 m2 and will generate 111,108kWh of electricity annually for the ship’s shopping area.
