Following recent news that Holland’s Orange Solar will open a module factory aimed at “reviving” European PV manufacturing, BIPV specialist Onyx Solar will begin work on a factory in Spain.
Wuxi Suntech the PV module manufacturing arm of Shunfeng International Clean Energy (SFCE) has confirmed the development and testing with Taiwan Carbon Nanotube Technology Corporation (TCNT) of a high-strength, lightweight carbon and glass fibre composite PV module frame, the first such development of its kind in the PV industry.
Research into energy storage and related technologies has been given a boost in the US in the past few days, with a major utility company committing funding in Indiana for renewables integration and New York’s governor announcing the creation of a research facility.
One of Japan’s largest trading companies, Marubeni, which is already involved in both upstream and downstream sectors of PV industry, has entered the domestic market for residential solar.
US headquartered PV module encapsulant producer STR Holdings has secured a major new exclusive supply contract worth potentially 500MW per annum in volume sales through its majority shareholder, China-based PV project developer Zhenfa Energy Group. Financial details were not disclosed.
Solar power systems serving an oilfield in Qatar will be fitted with utility-scale energy storage batteries, helping to ensure the continuity of operations at 775 oil wells.
Bankrupt PV and sapphire equipment specialist GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) has been able to secure US$95 million of debtor-in-possession financing to provide working capital needs during its Chapter 11 restructuring efforts.
