Photovoltaics (PV) News for April 2009

Photovoltaics (PV) News Archive

First Solar to build 48 MW solar PV plant in Nevada

First Solar will build a 48 MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant for Sempra Generation in Nevada, USA.

Tough times for wind energy whereas solar power is rising in 2009

The year ahead will be tough for wind energy whereas solar power will experience an uptick in 2009, according to analyst Emerging Energy Research (EER).

Suntech supplies Soleos with 6 MW of solar modules in H1

Suntech Power Holdings will supply photovoltaic (PV) systems integrator and manufacturer Soleos Solar GmbH with at least 6 MW of solar modules in the first half (H1) of 2009.

Concentrix Solar installs new tracking system in Concentrating PV (CPV) power plant Concentrix Solar installs new tracking system in Concentrating PV (CPV) power plant

The installation of the FLATCON systems for the Spanish CPV power plant in Castilla-La Mancha is now complete.

Intel tops list of USA green power purchasers

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a list of the USA’s top green power purchasers.

Risø DTU connects polymer solar cells to the grid in "world first"

Risø’s solar energy programme has been conducting research into polymer solar cells - a cheap alternative to existing silicon-based solar cells - and research is now at such an advanced stage that a demonstration plant has been built at Risø DTU.

Plastic solar cells set to achieve higher efficiencies? Plastic solar cells set to achieve higher efficiencies?

According to the Korea Times, South Korean and US researchers claim to have engineered an approach that could lead to plastic solar cells with power-conversion efficiencies of more than 6%.

PG&E to purchase solar power from space

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) may see 200 MW of power coming from solar panels in space from 2016.

IMEC and CYTEC to increase lifetime of organic solar cells IMEC and CYTEC to increase lifetime of organic solar cells

Cytec Industries Inc, a producer of specialty chemicals and materials, and IMEC, a European independent nanoelectronics research institute, are cooperating to develop a commercially viable technology for organic photovoltaic (PV) devices with enhanced stability and extended lifetime.

FPL and Kitson to build solar powered city in Florida FPL and Kitson to build solar powered city in Florida

Real estate developer Kitson & Partners and electric utility Florida Power & Light have agreed to build a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant at Babcock Ranch, Florida, USA, making it “the world’s first city powered by solar energy.”

Solar roof from Eagle Solar Roof and Suntech Wins 50+ SMART CHOICE Award

Eagle Roofing Products’ Eagle Solar Roof with SolarBlend™ from Suntech has won a 50+ SMART CHOICE Award from the 50+ Housing Council and the Sales and Marketing Council of Southern California.

Spire to develop 42% efficiency concentrator solar cells for NREL

The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has awarded Spire Semiconductor a contract to develop triple junction 42% efficiency concentrator solar cells.

Swinburne University and Suntech develop next generation solar

Swinburne University of Technology and solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd, are cooperating on the creation of next generation solar cells that are “twice as efficient and run at half the cost of those currently available.”

Trina solar powers 4.7 MW Italian PV rooftop installation Trina solar powers 4.7 MW Italian PV rooftop installation

Solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer, Trina Solar, has completed a 4.7 MW solar PV rooftop installation in Italy developed by ErgyCapital.

Renewable Energy Focus to twitter

Renewable Energy Focus has now joined the twitter network...

REC Solar halves Q2 solar cells and modules production

REC Solar is reducing second quarter (Q2) production of solar cells and modules by close to 50% in response to the “challenging market environment.”

TenCate supplies composites for solar car TenCate supplies composites for solar car

Solar Team Twente will use advanced composite materials from TenCate for its solar powered car, which will participate in the 10th World Solar Challenge in Australia on 25-31 October, 2009.

Renewable Power Solutions awarded solar apprenticeship programme

Renewable Power Solutions, a provider of solar energy installation services, has been awarded the first exclusively solar apprenticeship programme by the State of California.

BioSolar launches BioBacksheet for thin-film PV modules

BioSolar plans to expand the company’s BioBacksheet™ technology producing bio-based materials from plant sources for backsheets for copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) modules.

Q-Cells and LDK Solar form solar PV systems JV for Europe and China

Q-Cells SE and LDK Solar Co Ltd have formed a joint venture (JV) focusing on large solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and market development in Europe and China – the first 40 MW is already underway.

Dow Corning expands solar business in Korea

Dow Corning has selected JinCheon, Korea, as the site for further expansion of its solar business with the development of a second Solar Solutions Application Center.

Xcel Energy and Sunpower plan 17 MW solar PV plant

Xcel Energy and SunPower Corp., a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels, and solar systems, are to build a 17 megawatt AC photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant in Colorado's Alamosa County.

Students scoop building award with system that uses hydrogen and renewables

The Hydrogen Education Foundation, part of the National Hydrogen Association, has announced the winners of the 2008-09 Hydrogen Student Design Contest.

Helios expands PV cell and module production Helios expands PV cell and module production

Helios Technology S.p.A. has achieved its 60 MWp target for its Italy-based cell production line, and has also started up its new module production line - which will reportedly reach a capacity of 50 MWp during 2009.

Nanoscale capacitors pack in the power

Feynman's famous 1959 proclamation “There's plenty of room at the bottom” largely referred to the untapped storage ability for information at the nanoscale.

Gorbachev foundation urges greater use of solar PV

Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union and founder of Green Cross International, has told world leaders to invest in solar PV energy swiftly as a way out of the current economic crisis, and as part of an emergency response to climate change.

Platina takes control of Spanish solar plants

Platina Partners LLP, a private equity fund advisor, has taken control of production at three major Spanish solar energy projects - the Anemoi at the Cantillana, El Coronil and Ocaña solar PV power plants.

Global solar PV market grew to 5.5 GW in 2008

The global solar photovoltaic (PV) market grew to at least 5.5 GW in 2008 compared to 2.4 GW in 2007, with Spain topping the list followed by Germany.

CPV cell efficiencies could reach 50% by 2015

Concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cell efficiencies are likely to reach 50% by 2015, according to a recent study from the University of Jaén and CPV Today.

Suntech achieves efficiencies of 19% and 17% on PV production

Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd is producing solar photovoltaic (PV) cells with conversion efficiencies of approximately 19% on mono-crystalline PV cells and 17% on multi-crystalline PV cells.

BP Solar lays off solar cell and module staff

BP Solar says it will lay of 620 solar cell manufacture and module assembly staff in Maryland, USA, and Madrid, Spain, as it seeks to reduce unit costs by 25% by the end of 2010.

Electricity from renewables rise 11.7% in UK

Electricity supply from renewable energies including wind and hydro in the UK rose by 11.7%, or 2.2 TWh, to 20.7 TWh in 2008.

Amorphous silicon will continue to dominate thin-film PV market

Amorphous silicon (a-Si) will continue to lead the solar thin-film photovoltaic (PV) space for years to come, according to industry analyst NanoMarkets.

OptiSolar unable to find buyer – halts manufacturing

Optisolar Inc has stopped manufacturing operations and may lay off most of its staff as the solar company has been unable to find a buyer.

Nominees for European Inventor of the Year award announced

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the European Commission have announced the 12 nominees for this year's European Inventor of the Year awards.

Germany's largest solar PV thin-film roof inaugurated Germany's largest solar PV thin-film roof inaugurated

Germany’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plant using thin-film technology on a pitched roof has been inaugurated in Moers, near Duisburg, Germany.

EPIA re-elects Hoffmann as President

The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has re-elected Dr Winfried Hoffmann from Applied Materials GmbH as President until 2010.

REC Silicon's Moses Lake polysilicon plant starts production

REC Silicon's polysilicon plant in Moses Lake, Washington (Silicon III) based on fluidised bed technology (FBR) started production in March.