Bridgestone is to add a new ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) production line to its factory in ?arów, Poland. An investment of US$58 million will be used to fund the installation, with manufacturing scheduled to begin during the first half of 2013.
China-based polysilicon producer, Daqo New Energy, has reported its first financial year results as a public company, listed on the NYSE. Polysilicon shipments for 2010 were 3,650MT, module shipments were 3.5MW, after starting volume production in the fourth quarter. Revenues in the fourth quarter of 2010 were $81.9 million, an increase of 29.6% from the third quarter of 2010. The increase was mainly due to higher average selling prices for the polysilicon.
Expanding Greece’s PV project portfolio, plans have been announced for the construction of 12.5MW of projects in Greece. Solaria will supply the modules for the various projects, the amount of which has not been specified, while Greek installer company Positive Energy will look after all procurement, engineering and maintenance of the plants.
Abengoa Solar has selected the 3M Solar Mirror Film 1100 for utilisation at one of its concentrated solar thermal projects. The turnkey system, which was installed in June 2010, has been surpassing the set specifications put in place to cut down the energy usage for a hot water storage system.
Western Wind Energy has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) for a 30MW project. The company also agreed a 40-year land lease with the Puerto Rico Land Authority for a 401-acre plot in the municipality of Yabucoa.
Further expanding its presence in the solar PV industry, SiC Processing has successfully closed several contract negotiations. Boosted by the recent SNEC PV Power Expo 2011, which was held in Shanghai, the company has signed off on three separate deals.
Enphase Energy’s two new European offices, located in France and Italy, have been established in order for the company to better accommodate growing demands of its microinverter system. Both France and Italy have been cited as areas with a burgeoning solar market that stand on the brink of better implementing microinverter technology.
Spanish installer Grupo OPDE has signed a cooperative agreement with ArcelorMittal Construcción España, the Spanish branch of the multinational iron and steel company, which will see the companies collaborate on the development of the PV rooftop installation market. Targeting industrial buildings and car parks, the companies will incorporate ArcelorMittal’s solutions for rooftop installations in industrial buildings, canopies and fixed structures.
Global Solar Energy, a manufacturer of high-efficiency copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar material and an emerging leader in building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), has announced Dr. Urs Schoop as the company’s new chief technology officer (CTO). As CTO, Dr. Schoop will leverage his extensive expertise in the research and development of CIGS solar cell production.
Hailed as a decisive move in terms of the company’s plans for the region, Phoenix Solar has formed its North American executive leadership team, working from its headquarters at the Bishop Ranch office park in San Ramon, California. Stepping into the role of president and CEO is Paul J. Caudill, who brings over 30 years’ power generation and industry experience to the company.
