Misleading title: New PV technology roadmap is anything but international
March 31, 2011 | Comments Off
The idea of an industry roadmap for photovoltaic technology and manufacturing, along the lines of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS), came to fruition a few years ago in the form of, you guessed it, the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics (ITRPV). The second edition of the solar effort has just been published by the Crystalline Silicon PV Technology and Manufacturing Group (CTM) in conjunction with SEMI’s PV Group, and a summary of its contents presented at the recent PV Fab Managers Forum in Berlin. Just one problem though: with nary a single non-European cell or module manufacturer participating, the very name of the effort is misleading, since it is anything but international.
Industry buffet, Part I: Greentech summit offers nutritious sampling of solar sector
March 31, 2011 | Comments Off
With its annual solar summit event, Greentech Media intermingles the various food groups of the PV and CSP communities for a tasty buffet. The market, technology, manufacturing, project development, and financial comestibles might come in the form of small plates of newsy nibblets or larger entrees that intrigue and challenge the intellectual palate. Like any fine culinary encounter, the conversations between mouthfuls are an important part of the experience. You walk away from the two-day info-sharing and networking feast satiated but not stuffed, unlike the often-painful mental indigestion that happens after a 15-course technical conference gorging or weeklong mega tradeshow binge.
Centrosolar offers trapezoidal roofing solution for flexible thin-film mounting
March 31, 2011 | Comments Off
Centrosolar has developed a new installation option for the flexible thin-film solar module, TF Multi Professional, produced by United Solar Ovonic. This means the large-surface module can be installed on roofs covered with trapezoidal sheet metal. Up until now, installation has been possible only on plastic foil roofs, according to the company.
Solyndra offers integrated greenhouse energy generation solution
March 31, 2011 | Comments Off
Solyndra has developed a new solar application for agricultural greenhouse and shade structures that takes advantage of the ability of light to pass through the company’s proven tubular thin-film PV panel design.
3M integrates its Cool Mirror Film technology into tenKsolar’s RAIS Wave system
March 31, 2011 | Comments Off
3M and tenKsolar have started a partnership for the improvement of tenKsolar’s RAIS Wave commercial solar array. The RAIS Wave system now features 3M’s Cool Mirror Film 330 reflective material, which the companies state, allows for the system to produce up to 60% more annual energy per square foot of a rooftop installation. 3M recently commissioned a grid-tied 4.5kW RAIS Wave solar array from tenKsolar for installation at 3M’s Cottage Grove facility.
Order Focus: Schiller wins contract to provide facility automation to Chinese thin-film PV plant
March 31, 2011 | Comments Off
Schiller Automation has won a contract for a new factory automation facility in China, which, as sources confirmed to PV-Tech, is a silicon thin-film factory. It is expected that the new automation facility will utilize Schiller’s BackBone concept, which allows for full size glass substrates to be handled in a central control area and then distributed to multiple process steps. Additionally, the installation of a ProLoad station, that handles the substrates as they are being processed in one step, and Schiller’s line control (LC)software system will implemented. Schiller points out that its LC software is already used in eight thin-film module factories, allowing for continuous operation to be maintained at the facilities.
Power-One closes US$150 million deal for North American and Asian market expansion
March 31, 2011 | Comments Off
Power-One recently closed a US$150 million revolver, which among other corporate purposes, will go towards the expansion of design, production, service and sales of its inverters in the North American and Asian markets. Bank of America oversubscribed and arranged the new facility while Merrill Lynch acted as the lead and book manager. Bank of the West, Comerica Bank, HSBC Bank USA, Silicon Valley bank and Union Bank were also participants in the funding deal.
Despatch enhances firing furnace solar-cell production systems
March 31, 2011 | Comments Off
Despatch Industries has successfully completed the latest set of enhancements and testing for its CF Series firing furnace. Improvements to the maximum belt speed have increased up to 300 inches per minute while thermal transfer methods, notably in the cooling sector, have allowed the firing furnace to reach higher maximum ramp rates. Despatch notes that enrichments to its CF Series allow it to reach a maximum ramp rate up to 200°C for heating and cooling.
Arise Technologies posts double revenue, reduced losses and triple cell shipments in 2010
March 31, 2011 | Comments Off
Arise Technologies has completed its financial review for 2010, which resulted in a strong increase in revenue and shipments for the company. Revenues in 2010 amounted to US$76.07 million (CAN$73.9 million), compared with the US$32.63 million (CAN$31.7 million) the company recorded in 2009. Arise shipped 58.3MW of PV cells in 2010, a definite increase from the 15.7MW shipped in 2009. Sales for their PV cells made up 93.3% of 2010’s revenues with a US$5.04 million (CAN$4.9 million) balance coming from the company’s systems division.
New Energy enters CRADA with NREL for SolarWindow technology
March 31, 2011 | Comments Off
New Energy Technologies has entered a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the U. S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for the advancement of New Energy’s SolarWindow technology.