Thin-film manufacturer First Solar, in conjunction with developer Fundación Chile, has announced the acquisition of Solar Chile as part of its its endeavour to advance into new markets.
Solar Frontier has broken the record for CIS thin-film solar cell conversion efficiency using a sputtering and selenization process. The current CIS efficiency record at 20.3% was set with the co-evaporation processes.
Thin film manufacturer First Solar has established an operating subsidiary in Cape Town, South Africa. The move follows a recent swathe of large utility-scale PV announcements in South Africa, as part of the country’s first round of renewable energy project bidding.
CIS thin-film manufacturer Solar Frontier has won a contract to supply 92,000 modules to Mitsui & Co, continuing its success in securing supply deals for utility-scale PV projects in Japan.
A small JV company, established between Tokyo Electron (TEL) and Sharp Corporation in 2008 to develop plasma CVD systems for use in thin-film silicon solar photovoltaic cells has been dissolved by TEL.
ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe has joined the Solliance (ECN, imec, TNO, Holst Centre, TU/e, Forschungszentrum Jülich) R&D alliance that is focused on organic photovoltaics (OPV) thin film technologies.
High-efficiency thin-film solar module manufacturer Stion received a US$2 million award from the US Department of Energy (DOE) for its tandem junction technology.
Specialty metal and chemical products producer 5N Plus has opened a new recycling facility within the Kulim High Technology Park in Malaysia, completed under budget.
Research laboratory SLAC has been awarded over US$2.6 million from the US Department of Energy to undertake three research projects into cheaper materials and manufacturing techniques for solar panels.
