AU Optronics (AUO) and Evonik have consolidated their business relationship by signing a solar and green energy planning, manufacturing and research and development deal. The non-exclusive agreement will see both companies pool their resources in an attempt to increase their presence in the renewable energy market.
The dispute between China Sunergy and REC Wafer Norway continues as China Sunergy released an update on the court proceedings. On November 5, 2010, the Supreme Court of the People’s Republic of China made a final binding decision that the Jiangsu Higher Court will have jurisdiction over the case.
Sustained strong demand has led solar wafer producer, PV Crystalox Solar to publically provide a longer-range insight into its capacity expansion plans through to the end of 2012.
Avantor Performance Materials is to change the name of Mallinckrodt Chemicals to Macron Chemicals in a bid to move further away from the former Mallinckrodt Baker identity. The rebranding, which will take effect from March 7, 2011, will not involve any product or manufacturing alterations.
A significant increase in sales and bookings has forced GT Solar to raise its revenue guidance after reporting on its second fiscal quarter sales of US$229.3 million. This represented nearly a 70% growth over reported sales of US$135.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 and approximately 120% growth over the second quarter of last fiscal year when sales were reported at US$104.2 million. GT Solar reported an order backlog of US$1.16 billion, with US$544.6 million in its polysilicon segment and US$601.1 million in its PV segment.
MEMC Electronic Materials reported a 31% sequential increase in solar materials sales, primarily from wafers, in its third-quarter results. A 20% increase in shipments and modest improvement in wafer ASPs helped sales for the group reach sales of US$503.1 million, up 12.2% from US$448.3 million in the second quarter of 2010. Its subsidiary, SunEdison, reported sales of US$21.5 million and has 1,023MW in its project pipeline, of which 155MW is under construction.
Meyer Burger Technology has signed a purchase agreement where 3S Industries USA will take over certain assets and all employees of SGS Slicing Solutions as well as SGS Machine Tool.
5N Plus Corp was given US$500,000 in funding from the State Energy Program of Wisconsin, which will go towards purchasing equipment for the facilitation of the plants solar module recycling and creation of new jobs in DeForest, Wisconsin. The 60,500 square foot facility has a US$4 million investment behind it and is expected to be operational in the next few weeks. Along with its recycling capability, it will also be manufacturing specialty compounds for thin-film PV applications.
Iosil Energy has leased a 30,700 square foot facility from Meritex in Groveport, Ohio, as the location for its pilot manufacturing of high purity polysilicon.
