Product Briefing Outline: The Schmalz Wafer-Gripper SWG is applied in fully or partially automated production of highly sensitive wafers and solar cells with maximum process stability. A new handling concept provides minimum cycle times, precise positioning, reliable handling even of deformed and broken parts, breakage detection “on the fly” and controlled air discharge.
Starwood Energy Group Global announced on January 7 that its affiliate, Starwood SSM1 Canada, had finalized agreements to finance and construct a 20MW solar PV project in Ontario. Q-Cells has confirmed that it will deliver the two 10MW systems required for the project.
According to new figures from the Cleantech Group and Deloitte, VC investments in companies in the solar sector, reached US$1.2 billion or 21% of the share in 2009, making it the largest ‘Cleantech’ sector for investment. Clean technology venture investments in North America, Europe, China and India totalled US$5.6 billion in 557 deals. However, as these figures are preliminary, the firms expect the final figures could be up by as much as 10%.
The world's largest office products company, Staples, now has a completed 1.01MW solar installation at its Hanover branch, installed by SunEdison. This project is now the largest single rooftop solar installation in Maryland.
NV Energy has been given approval for three separate and long-term purchase power agreements for renewable energy. Given by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, the approved agreements will last for the next 25 years.
Business is back and booming at major PV systems integrator Phoenix Solar. The German residential market is overheating as the race to complete installations by year-end intensifies. According to Phoenix Solar, there will not be enough inverters and solar modules available through to the end of the year to achieve its original revenue guidance.
The long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) between APS and Starwood Energy Group has been terminated. This ends plans for the Starwood Solar I plant, as the engineering, procurement and construction firm, Lockheed Martin, pulls out.
Solar cell researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, claim the highest efficiency for solar power ever recorded, announcing a new world record of 43% of sunlight converted into electricity at the research stage.
Henning Wicht, iSuppli's senior director and principal analyst for photovoltaics market research, has become increasingly bearish on the photovoltaics industry due to the severe overcapacity throughout the supply chain. In a new report, Wicht projects that PV module production--which is still expanding--will reach a capacity of 7.5GW in 2009, however installations will only reach 3.9GW. This means that nearly half of all solar panels produced in 2009 will remain unsold and a massive inventory build will persist until 2012.
Veeco Instruments announced its financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30. The company's orders rose 86% sequentially, driven mainly by results from its LED and solar equipment unit.
