The European association implementing a voluntary, industrywide program to recycle expired solar modules, PV Cycle, elected as president Sanyo adviser Wilfried Taetow at a special meeting last week in Hamburg during EU PVSEC.
REC’s new achievements for its solar modules should entice customers to look twice at the companies solar modules. REC revealed that its crystalline solar modules had not only cut their carbon footprint, but had also achieved an enhanced energy payback time and that it was now offering extended linear warranty for its solar modules sold as of September 1, 2011.
Canadian Solar has become an official sponsor of the New York Yankees, enhancing the baseball team’s environmental commitments while increasing the photovoltaic product manufacturer’s presence in the US.
First quarter revenue and shipments at Hanwha SolarOne increased sequentially, adding to a growing theme that low-cost PV manufacturers can still find customers, despite weak demand. Total net revenues were US$335.2 million, an increase of 3.9% from 4Q10 and an increase of 48.7% from 1Q10. PV module shipments, including module processing services, reached 248.5 MW, an increase of 13.6% from 218.8 MW in 4Q10 and an increase of 65.0% from 1Q10. However, ASP declines and slightly higher material costs resulted in gross margins falling to 16.3% down from 20.3% in 4Q10.
Further expanding its presence in the solar PV industry, SiC Processing has successfully closed several contract negotiations. Boosted by the recent SNEC PV Power Expo 2011, which was held in Shanghai, the company has signed off on three separate deals.
On March 3rd, 2011 a group of 22 Czech Senators filed a complaint with the Supreme Court against a new Czech PV law, which introduces a 26% tax on solar energy production. The Senators are afraid of the impact of solar arbitrages against the Czech Republic in the near future.
The Philadelphia Eagles are setting their sights on another prize other than Super Bowl XLV trophy this year with their commitment to power Lincoln Financial Field with wind, solar and dual-fuel generated electricity. The team claims that this will be the world’s first major sports stadium to convert to self-generated renewable energy.
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.
The Czech government announced recently that it was about to take special measures against the ongoing solar boom in the country. These measures are to limit the rapid construction of solar power plants, which would otherwise lead to a dramatic increase in the price of electricity in the future. One of these measures maybe a brand-new tax imposed on producers of solar power.
