BANGALORE, INDIA: NXP Semiconductors today announced a development partnership with Tata BP Solar India Ltd, a joint venture of BP Solar and Tata Power, under which Tata BP intends to use various electronic solutions for solar applications developed by NXP. These solutions have been developed by NXP as per the requirements of Tata BP.
K. Subramanya, CEO of TATA BP Solar, and Rene Penning de Vries, CTO of NXP Semiconductors today also disclosed that the two companies have signed a Letter of Intent to roll out the electronics controls products starting 2010.
Both companies are looking at a long-term partnership that will see the development of a range of products.
Subramanya said: "We are very pleased to partner with NXP on the development of this small, but exciting range of products. Given the high level of sunlight all over India and in view of the country’s ever increasing power demands, solar power is an economically efficient and environmentally sustainable source of energy for India. We look forward to introducing these products to a substantial number of households over the next three to five years."
Penning de Vries added: "This kind of innovation is a perfect example of how the semiconductor industry is moving away from following the path of Moore’s Law. We’re not simply building faster and more complex systems, we’re now looking at inventive and very innovative ways to reduce power consumption and move the semiconductor industry to a whole new level."
Showing posts with label BP Solar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BP Solar. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Half of all solar panels made this year won’t be installed in 2009!
EL SEGUNDO, USA: How bad is the solar panel glut?
* So bad that nearly half of all panels made this year won’t be sold in 2009.
* So bad that the present massive oversupply of panels will persist until 2012.
* So bad that iSuppli Corp. is now reducing its forecast for solar panel production out to the year 2013.
“The solar industry in 2009 has been undermined by collapse in demand due to the decision by Spain—which accounted for 50 percent of worldwide installations in 2008—to change its feed-in-tariff policies,” said Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for photovoltaics at iSuppli.
“This demand drop led to a massive buildup of inventory throughout the supply chain, from the raw material polysilicon, to PV cells, to complete solar systems. Despite this, solar panel makers have continued to increase capacity and production, exacerbating the inventory buildup.”
Total solar panel production in 2009 will grow by 14.3 percent to 7.5 Gigawatts (GW), up from 6.5GW in 2008. However, only 3.9 GW worth of installations will take place this year. That means that almost one out of every two panels produced in 2009 will not be installed but stored in inventory.
“This inventory glut will have a long-term impact on the solar business, with panels set to remain in a state of oversupply until 2012,” Wicht said. “After that year, fast-growing demand for solar installations will be able to absorb global panel production and inventory.
iSuppli’s updated forecast now shows supplier production flattening for the years from 2011 through 2013 compared to the old forecast.”
The figure presents iSuppli’s previous and updated forecasts for solar panel production in terms of GW.
iSuppli: Previous and Current Global Solar Panel Production Forecasts in Gigawatts (Crystalline and Thin Film)
Source: iSuppli Aug. 2009
Still ramping?
Despite the global economic recession, most of the leading producers of solar panels -— such as Suntech, Sharp and JA Solar -— will continue to grow in concert with the overall PV industry, although they have no intention of slowing production of cells and panels.
“Even in the face of the downturn, many panel and cell producers have continued to ramp up their capacities as if a recession had never occurred,” Wicht said. “Most companies are doing this in order to maintain their share in the market.”
As a result, Suntech will push Q-Cells aside and become the No.-1 producer of crystalline cells in 2009, iSuppli predicts. Sharp, Yingli and JA Solar also will defend their Top-5 positions this year by not reducing their solar-cell production increases.
Those suppliers that have reduced or made adjustments to their production of cells and panels as a result of the softening demand have seen their short- and mid-term strategies falter. These suppliers include Q-Cells, SunPower and BP Solar.
Q-Cells, in particular, slowed down cell and panel expansion at its plant in Malaysia and has significantly reduced production targets in 2009. Likewise, SunPower has cut back its plans for expansion, while BP Solar has closed its panel production operations in Malaysia and Spain.
So, while some companies are hiking up production in order to maintain their positions in the market, others are forced to undertake short-term production cuts and delay or even cancel long-term expansion projects.
* So bad that nearly half of all panels made this year won’t be sold in 2009.
* So bad that the present massive oversupply of panels will persist until 2012.
* So bad that iSuppli Corp. is now reducing its forecast for solar panel production out to the year 2013.
“The solar industry in 2009 has been undermined by collapse in demand due to the decision by Spain—which accounted for 50 percent of worldwide installations in 2008—to change its feed-in-tariff policies,” said Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for photovoltaics at iSuppli.
“This demand drop led to a massive buildup of inventory throughout the supply chain, from the raw material polysilicon, to PV cells, to complete solar systems. Despite this, solar panel makers have continued to increase capacity and production, exacerbating the inventory buildup.”
Total solar panel production in 2009 will grow by 14.3 percent to 7.5 Gigawatts (GW), up from 6.5GW in 2008. However, only 3.9 GW worth of installations will take place this year. That means that almost one out of every two panels produced in 2009 will not be installed but stored in inventory.
“This inventory glut will have a long-term impact on the solar business, with panels set to remain in a state of oversupply until 2012,” Wicht said. “After that year, fast-growing demand for solar installations will be able to absorb global panel production and inventory.
iSuppli’s updated forecast now shows supplier production flattening for the years from 2011 through 2013 compared to the old forecast.”
The figure presents iSuppli’s previous and updated forecasts for solar panel production in terms of GW.
iSuppli: Previous and Current Global Solar Panel Production Forecasts in Gigawatts (Crystalline and Thin Film)
Source: iSuppli Aug. 2009Still ramping?
Despite the global economic recession, most of the leading producers of solar panels -— such as Suntech, Sharp and JA Solar -— will continue to grow in concert with the overall PV industry, although they have no intention of slowing production of cells and panels.
“Even in the face of the downturn, many panel and cell producers have continued to ramp up their capacities as if a recession had never occurred,” Wicht said. “Most companies are doing this in order to maintain their share in the market.”
As a result, Suntech will push Q-Cells aside and become the No.-1 producer of crystalline cells in 2009, iSuppli predicts. Sharp, Yingli and JA Solar also will defend their Top-5 positions this year by not reducing their solar-cell production increases.
Those suppliers that have reduced or made adjustments to their production of cells and panels as a result of the softening demand have seen their short- and mid-term strategies falter. These suppliers include Q-Cells, SunPower and BP Solar.
Q-Cells, in particular, slowed down cell and panel expansion at its plant in Malaysia and has significantly reduced production targets in 2009. Likewise, SunPower has cut back its plans for expansion, while BP Solar has closed its panel production operations in Malaysia and Spain.
So, while some companies are hiking up production in order to maintain their positions in the market, others are forced to undertake short-term production cuts and delay or even cancel long-term expansion projects.
Friday, July 31, 2009
FedEx Ground plans largest rooftop solar power system in US
PITTSBURGH, USA: FedEx Ground, the small-package shipping unit of FedEx Corp., announced plans to install the nation’s largest rooftop solar-electric system at its distribution hub in Woodbridge, N.J.
The solar power project is the third between a FedEx operating company and BP Solar and the fifth solar power project for FedEx. The 2.42 megawatt solar power system will cover approximately 3.3 acres of rooftop space with approximately 12,400 solar panels.
When completed, the system will be capable of producing approximately 2.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year and could provide up to 30 percent of the hub’s annual energy needs.
“Our commitment to our customers and the communities in which we operate extends far beyond delivering packages on time and intact,” said David F. Rebholz, president and CEO of FedEx Ground. “While continuing to provide the stellar service expected from FedEx, we also want to identify and implement ways that we can reduce energy use and shrink our carbon footprint. This project is a giant step forward in those efforts.”
As part of the agreement, BP will install and operate the solar power system and FedEx will purchase the power generated.
“FedEx Ground is a valued customer of BP,” said Reyad Fezzani, president and CEO of BP Solar. “We are proud to have been selected for this project and look forward to providing the company with the highest lifetime value and the lowest lifetime cost of electricity for its solar-equipped operations.”
Installation is scheduled to begin in August and expected to be completed by November. When the system is fully operating, the combined environmental benefits based on a projected annual reduction of approximately 1,867 metric tons of CO2 emissions, are equivalent to one of the following:
* More than 340 passenger cars not driven for one year.
* 211,900 gallons of gasoline not burned.
* 4,300 barrels of oil not consumed.
* 259 households’ electricity use for one year.
* 47,872 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
* 13 acres of forest preserved from deforestation.
Data is derived from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator.
FedEx and BP also work together strategically to identify, develop and implement a range of solutions to increase FedEx’s security of energy supply while improving its environmental performance. This includes fuels supply agreements for its ground and air operations, for lubricants, and for solar power systems.
“We bring the scope and scale of BP’s refining, marketing and alternative energy infrastructure to FedEx, creating value for our customer while allowing them to focus on delivering outstanding service to their customers on a daily basis,” said Richard Bartlett, vice president of strategic cooperation for BP.
Last year, FedEx Freight installed two solar power systems. One in Whittier, Calif., is a 282-kilowatt system , while another in Fontana, Calif., is a 269-kilowatt system. In 2005, FedEx Express activated a 904-kilowatt system at its Oakland, Calif., hub facility, making it the first of its kind in the FedEx family. That system today meets up to 80 percent of that facility’s peak energy demand.
FedEx is currently constructing its Central and Eastern European gateway at the Cologne/Bonn, Germany, airport, which will include a 1.4-megawatt solar power system. The hub is slated for completion in 2010.
Opened in 2000, the Woodbridge hub sits on more than 80 acres of former brownfield once used to stockpile soils dredged from the nearby Raritan River. Soils and groundwater were contaminated with various polluting substances, primarily arsenic.
To build the facility, FedEx Ground worked with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on a remedial action for the site. Today, the hub houses a workforce of more than 1,000 employees and independent contractors.
The solar power project is the third between a FedEx operating company and BP Solar and the fifth solar power project for FedEx. The 2.42 megawatt solar power system will cover approximately 3.3 acres of rooftop space with approximately 12,400 solar panels.
When completed, the system will be capable of producing approximately 2.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year and could provide up to 30 percent of the hub’s annual energy needs.
“Our commitment to our customers and the communities in which we operate extends far beyond delivering packages on time and intact,” said David F. Rebholz, president and CEO of FedEx Ground. “While continuing to provide the stellar service expected from FedEx, we also want to identify and implement ways that we can reduce energy use and shrink our carbon footprint. This project is a giant step forward in those efforts.”
As part of the agreement, BP will install and operate the solar power system and FedEx will purchase the power generated.
“FedEx Ground is a valued customer of BP,” said Reyad Fezzani, president and CEO of BP Solar. “We are proud to have been selected for this project and look forward to providing the company with the highest lifetime value and the lowest lifetime cost of electricity for its solar-equipped operations.”
Installation is scheduled to begin in August and expected to be completed by November. When the system is fully operating, the combined environmental benefits based on a projected annual reduction of approximately 1,867 metric tons of CO2 emissions, are equivalent to one of the following:
* More than 340 passenger cars not driven for one year.
* 211,900 gallons of gasoline not burned.
* 4,300 barrels of oil not consumed.
* 259 households’ electricity use for one year.
* 47,872 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
* 13 acres of forest preserved from deforestation.
Data is derived from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator.
FedEx and BP also work together strategically to identify, develop and implement a range of solutions to increase FedEx’s security of energy supply while improving its environmental performance. This includes fuels supply agreements for its ground and air operations, for lubricants, and for solar power systems.
“We bring the scope and scale of BP’s refining, marketing and alternative energy infrastructure to FedEx, creating value for our customer while allowing them to focus on delivering outstanding service to their customers on a daily basis,” said Richard Bartlett, vice president of strategic cooperation for BP.
Last year, FedEx Freight installed two solar power systems. One in Whittier, Calif., is a 282-kilowatt system , while another in Fontana, Calif., is a 269-kilowatt system. In 2005, FedEx Express activated a 904-kilowatt system at its Oakland, Calif., hub facility, making it the first of its kind in the FedEx family. That system today meets up to 80 percent of that facility’s peak energy demand.
FedEx is currently constructing its Central and Eastern European gateway at the Cologne/Bonn, Germany, airport, which will include a 1.4-megawatt solar power system. The hub is slated for completion in 2010.
Opened in 2000, the Woodbridge hub sits on more than 80 acres of former brownfield once used to stockpile soils dredged from the nearby Raritan River. Soils and groundwater were contaminated with various polluting substances, primarily arsenic.
To build the facility, FedEx Ground worked with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on a remedial action for the site. Today, the hub houses a workforce of more than 1,000 employees and independent contractors.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Silex acquires solar manufacturing facility at Sydney Olympic Park
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Silex Systems Ltd (Silex) is pleased to announce the conditional acquisition of all the manufacturing assets and equipment of the Sydney Olympic Park (SOP) Solar manufacturing facility. This follows the signing of a Heads of Agreement with BP Solar Pty Ltd, who operated the facility until the end of March 2009.
In a separate arrangement, Silex has also signed a conditional lease for the building which houses the SOP Plant, meaning that once the transactions are completed, the manufacturing facility including infrastructure and services will be secured relatively intact. It is expected that both transactions will be completed before the end of June 2009.
Subject to this, Silex anticipates that new manufacturing operations will involve a progressive roll-out of advanced technology and innovations, potentially including novel materials being developed by Silex’s Silicon Valley subsidiary Translucent Inc.
“This is a unique opportunity for Silex to kick-start its commercial solar operations” Dr Michael Goldsworthy, Silex CEO said. “More importantly, it opens the door for Silex to begin implementing some potentially exciting technical innovations aimed at higher efficiency solar cells. While the SOP Plant provides a solid platform for the production of high quality silicon solar cells, our aim is to ultimately become a leader in the Solar industry through technology innovation” he added.
The SOP Plant is the largest solar manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 50MW of solar cell production and 10MW of module production annually under previous BP Solar operations. It is estimated that the future capacity of the plant could potentially be expanded to 200MW, and possibly more with improvements in solar cell efficiencies. Initially, the plant will operate at a much reduced capacity of 10MW ~ 15MW in 2010CY, ramping up to full capacity by 2012 to 2015CY, depending on market demand.
The time to market with product from the SOP Plant, regardless of cell technology, is dictated by the product qualification process, which is expected to take approximately six months to complete. This is a mandatory process for any manufacturer in the solar industry.
During this period -– planned to commence in July 2009 following finalization of the abovementioned transactions -- Silex Solar will undertake maintenance and recommissioning activities, and produce the product samples needed for qualification testing later in the year.
The existing manufacturing equipment and facility is in good condition, although we have budgeted up to A$0.5 million in costs associated with the re-commissioning effort over the remainder of 2009. A team of ~20 engineers and technicians is currently being assembled to undertake this effort. If all goes to plan (noting that delays are possible), Silex Solar will aim to generate its first sales in Q1 2010 CY.
“We believe this is a very opportune time to be gearing up for a new solar manufacturing enterprise” Dr Goldsworthy said. “With the current economic downturn, the global solar industry is taking a ‘breather’ -– with forecast growth this year around 10 percent instead of the 30 percent+ per annum growth seen for the five years to the end of 2008. Despite this, strong growth continues in the local Australian market with the increasing support of State and Federal initiatives.
"Looking forward, stronger growth is expected to return to the global market once economic conditions improve. An important factor going forward is the global swing towards renewable energy sources such as solar, supported by strong government policy initiatives around the world, and ever decreasing solar power costs as solar technology improves. With its strong focus on technology innovation, Silex Solar
will be in good position to take advantage of these positive market factors over the next decade” he explained.
In a separate arrangement, Silex has also signed a conditional lease for the building which houses the SOP Plant, meaning that once the transactions are completed, the manufacturing facility including infrastructure and services will be secured relatively intact. It is expected that both transactions will be completed before the end of June 2009.
Subject to this, Silex anticipates that new manufacturing operations will involve a progressive roll-out of advanced technology and innovations, potentially including novel materials being developed by Silex’s Silicon Valley subsidiary Translucent Inc.
“This is a unique opportunity for Silex to kick-start its commercial solar operations” Dr Michael Goldsworthy, Silex CEO said. “More importantly, it opens the door for Silex to begin implementing some potentially exciting technical innovations aimed at higher efficiency solar cells. While the SOP Plant provides a solid platform for the production of high quality silicon solar cells, our aim is to ultimately become a leader in the Solar industry through technology innovation” he added.
The SOP Plant is the largest solar manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 50MW of solar cell production and 10MW of module production annually under previous BP Solar operations. It is estimated that the future capacity of the plant could potentially be expanded to 200MW, and possibly more with improvements in solar cell efficiencies. Initially, the plant will operate at a much reduced capacity of 10MW ~ 15MW in 2010CY, ramping up to full capacity by 2012 to 2015CY, depending on market demand.
The time to market with product from the SOP Plant, regardless of cell technology, is dictated by the product qualification process, which is expected to take approximately six months to complete. This is a mandatory process for any manufacturer in the solar industry.
During this period -– planned to commence in July 2009 following finalization of the abovementioned transactions -- Silex Solar will undertake maintenance and recommissioning activities, and produce the product samples needed for qualification testing later in the year.
The existing manufacturing equipment and facility is in good condition, although we have budgeted up to A$0.5 million in costs associated with the re-commissioning effort over the remainder of 2009. A team of ~20 engineers and technicians is currently being assembled to undertake this effort. If all goes to plan (noting that delays are possible), Silex Solar will aim to generate its first sales in Q1 2010 CY.
“We believe this is a very opportune time to be gearing up for a new solar manufacturing enterprise” Dr Goldsworthy said. “With the current economic downturn, the global solar industry is taking a ‘breather’ -– with forecast growth this year around 10 percent instead of the 30 percent+ per annum growth seen for the five years to the end of 2008. Despite this, strong growth continues in the local Australian market with the increasing support of State and Federal initiatives.
"Looking forward, stronger growth is expected to return to the global market once economic conditions improve. An important factor going forward is the global swing towards renewable energy sources such as solar, supported by strong government policy initiatives around the world, and ever decreasing solar power costs as solar technology improves. With its strong focus on technology innovation, Silex Solar
will be in good position to take advantage of these positive market factors over the next decade” he explained.
Monday, April 27, 2009
BP Solar to supply PV power systems for Wal-Mart
SAN FRANCISCO, USA: BP Solar recently confirmed that it has been selected to provide photovoltaic solar power systems for Wal-Mart stores in California. This agreement builds on an established relationship between the major retailer and BP Solar.
Under a power purchase agreement (PPA) negotiated for the projects, BP will finance, install and maintain the systems and Wal-Mart will have immediate access to clean electricity with no up front capital cost to the retailer.
BP said it will initially focus on building 10 to 20 rooftop systems at Wal-Mart locations in California, and would work with the retailer to evaluate the potential for additional projects. BP expects to complete the first set of projects, totalling up to 10 megawatts of installed solar power, within about 18 months.
"BP is pleased to expand our energy supply relationship with Wal-Mart through this series of new projects,” said Reyad Fezzani, CEO of BP Solar. "BP’s solar power systems have been shown to reliably perform for more than 25 years and this reliability - when combined with no up front capital cost -- will help drive further development of large-scale solar projects in California and elsewhere."
In 2008, BP Solar completed construction on 4.1 megawatts of solar energy systems for seven Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs in California.
Under the PPA, Wal-Mart is purchasing all of the energy produced by the solar power systems and BP Solar will operate and maintain the systems. BP leverages its own capital and also works closely with external finance partners to provide optimal value for its customers.
"BP Solar has been a great partner, and we look forward to accelerating our efforts to utilize more affordable renewable energy in our operations" said Kim Saylors-Laster, vice president of energy at Wal-Mart. "As we partner on this larger scale, our goal is to show how using affordable solar power benefits the environment and makes good business sense"
“With our proven long-term reliability, electricity produced from our modules actually offers the lowest lifetime cost of power among major PV companies today" Fezzani said. “Combine this with BP’s staying power and you have a very reliable, secure and cost-effective platform for large customers making significant investments in renewable energy"
BP already guarantees its modules for 25 years and pioneered this offer within the solar industry in 1998.
BP Solar, part of BP Alternative Energy, is a global company with about 2000 employees. BP Solar designs, manufactures and markets products which use the sun’s energy to generate electricity for use in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. With over 35 years of experience and installations in most countries, BP Solar is one of the world’s leading solar companies.
BP is one of the world’s largest energy companies, with interests in more than 100 countries and over 96,000 employees.
Under a power purchase agreement (PPA) negotiated for the projects, BP will finance, install and maintain the systems and Wal-Mart will have immediate access to clean electricity with no up front capital cost to the retailer.
BP said it will initially focus on building 10 to 20 rooftop systems at Wal-Mart locations in California, and would work with the retailer to evaluate the potential for additional projects. BP expects to complete the first set of projects, totalling up to 10 megawatts of installed solar power, within about 18 months.
"BP is pleased to expand our energy supply relationship with Wal-Mart through this series of new projects,” said Reyad Fezzani, CEO of BP Solar. "BP’s solar power systems have been shown to reliably perform for more than 25 years and this reliability - when combined with no up front capital cost -- will help drive further development of large-scale solar projects in California and elsewhere."
In 2008, BP Solar completed construction on 4.1 megawatts of solar energy systems for seven Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs in California.
Under the PPA, Wal-Mart is purchasing all of the energy produced by the solar power systems and BP Solar will operate and maintain the systems. BP leverages its own capital and also works closely with external finance partners to provide optimal value for its customers.
"BP Solar has been a great partner, and we look forward to accelerating our efforts to utilize more affordable renewable energy in our operations" said Kim Saylors-Laster, vice president of energy at Wal-Mart. "As we partner on this larger scale, our goal is to show how using affordable solar power benefits the environment and makes good business sense"
“With our proven long-term reliability, electricity produced from our modules actually offers the lowest lifetime cost of power among major PV companies today" Fezzani said. “Combine this with BP’s staying power and you have a very reliable, secure and cost-effective platform for large customers making significant investments in renewable energy"
BP already guarantees its modules for 25 years and pioneered this offer within the solar industry in 1998.
BP Solar, part of BP Alternative Energy, is a global company with about 2000 employees. BP Solar designs, manufactures and markets products which use the sun’s energy to generate electricity for use in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. With over 35 years of experience and installations in most countries, BP Solar is one of the world’s leading solar companies.
BP is one of the world’s largest energy companies, with interests in more than 100 countries and over 96,000 employees.
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