As part of its strategy to supply a complete materials offering to the PV industry, Dow Corning has brought online a new 4,000MT per annum monosilane gas facility, adjacent to Hemlock Semiconductor’s polysilicon manufacturing plant in Hemlock, Michigan.
Envision Solar International advised of key changes to its executive management staff including its founder, Bob Noble, taking on the role of executive chairman while Desmond Wheatly, current president and Envision COO, will succeed Noble as CEO. Chris Caulson has additionally been named Envision Solar’s CFO with all changes effective August 10. Both Wheatley and Caulson have worked together for over ten years in publically traded and privately held international and domestic companies.
BrightSource Energy has welcomed Joe Desmond as senior VP of government affairs and communications, Stephen Wiley as senior VP of US development and Yasser Dib as regional VP of international business development to its executive management team. Between them, the three new recruits hold nearly 60 years of experience in the energy sector.
Sungevity and Citigroup have created a renewable energy tax equity fund that will support over $50 million of new residential solar lease projects. The installer/integrator company said it has raised funds to support over $120 million in residential solar projects in the US since 2010.
Only hours after PV-Tech reported that Evergreen Solar had said it was in detailed and time-consuming negotiations with holders of its convertible senior secured notes, which had caused the company to delay quarterly SEC filings, the company said it has filed for voluntarily bankruptcy under US Chapter 11. At the same time, Evergreen stated that it has made agreements with certain noteholders with more than 70% the outstanding debt to sell its ‘String Ribbon’ wafer technology business assets. A ‘stalking-horse’ bidding process has been agreed.
The long and winding road for polysilicon start-up, Hoku Materials looks to straightening after the company said it expected to start operations at its poly plant in Pocatello, Idaho. Hoku said it had received continued financial support from Tianwei New Energy Holdings, to complete construction of its first phase (2,500MT) plant and begin production.
Payom Solar has taken over the remaining 47.4% of US project developer Amsolar Holdings. The German company acquired a majority share of the San Diego-based company in March.
Daniel Matloff has joined 1366 Technologies as its new CFO and is charged for strengthening the company’s financial strategy and managing all finance and accounting transactions as it prepares to commercially-scale its direct wafer technology. Matloff comes to 1366 from Hittite Microwave where he was the corporate controller and previously held various positions at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Thermo Fisher Scientific and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a CPA and graduated from Bentley University.
US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has greenlighted the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, a 550MW (AC) solar power project to be developed, built, and operated by First Solar on 4100 acres of public lands in the California desert outside Joshua Tree National Park. Construction on the site could begin within days.
Under Upsolar’s new acceptance into the PowerWrap Systems Performance Guarantee Program from PowerGuard Specialty Insurance Services, developers using Upsolar modules will be able to benefit from discounted rates on PowerWrap’s insurance policy guarantee for the output of the entire solar project system.
