Storage

GT Solar has received the first orders for its sapphire crystallization system. The two orders, which total more than US$84 million, are from Jiangsu Jixing New Material and Jiujiang Sapphire Tech and mark GT Solar's entry into LED equipment market.

SunSi Energies has entered into a definitive agreement for the purchase of a trichlorosilane (TCS) facility in Weihai City, China. The TCS facility, Wendeng He Xie Silicon, has a current TCS capacity of 20,000MT, which SunSi Energies, after the successful purchase, will look to increase to 60,000MT by 2011.

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.

LDK Solar has reached a new milestone in its polysilicon production ramp, having reached the designed capacity of its second 5,000 MT polysilicon train.

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.

A Venice appeals court has upheld the international arbitration award made in connection with the ongoing dispute between Helios Technology and LDK Solar. The Venice court agreed that the "take or pay" clause outlined in the solar wafer supply contract LDK had with Helios was valid and at the terms and conditions specified in the contract. Helios must therefore pay LDK approximately US$31 million plus interest, costs and lawyers fees.

Arise Technologies signed a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with an undisclosed turnkey supplier for the purchase of two 60MW PV cell production lines, which will be added to its German plant. The LOI gives Arise four weeks to complete the definitive purchase agreement and acquire the required debt, equity and government funding necessary to buy the new production lines.

The Linde Group is to expand the existing gas supply infrastructure currently held with GCL-Poly. Under the terms of the extended agreement, which will involve approximately €15 million of investment, Linde will construct production and supply facilities for high-purity hydrogen at the Xuzhou Industrial Park facility.

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.