Spire establishes Spire Taiwan LLC branch office

BEDFORD, USA: 2009 Spire Corp., a global solar company providing capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules and turnkey manufacturing lines has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Spire Taiwan LLC, that will have an office in Hsinchu County, Taiwan.

“Spire Taiwan will provide rapid customer communications and will enhance its growing position within the region,” said Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire. “It is a headquarters for equipment service operations and will support customers throughout China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines, as well as others in the region. The branch is also staffed with multilingual sales and service engineers, allowing our customers to receive immediate care. Spire will also be establishing a regional spare parts inventory warehouse in Taiwan.”

“And of course, Taiwan itself is a major player in solar manufacturing, having recently established the Taiwan PV Standards Committee and has initiated government incentives to stimulate the industry,” he concluded.

Suntech sets another world record for multi-crystalline module conversion efficiency

HAMBURG, GERMANY & WUXI, CHINA: Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd announced that it has beaten all previous records for multi-crystalline silicon module conversion efficiency, including its own record achieved last month.

The new world record conversion efficiency (aperture area only) was measured at 16.53 percent by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.

Suntech's world record breaking multi-crystalline silicon module is powered by Pluto PV cells utilizing solar grade silicon with each PV cell having a conversion efficiency well over 17 percent.

In August, Suntech surpassed the previous record of 15.5 percent set by Sandia National Labs 15 years ago. The latest record is well above previous records and is a reaffirmation that Suntech's Pluto powered multi-crystalline modules have the highest conversion efficiency in the world.

"We are very pleased to announce that our Pluto technology has been recognized as the most efficient multi-crystalline silicon technology in the world," said Dr. Stuart Wenham, Suntech's Chief Technology Officer. "This shows that it is possible to combine both first class R&D and low cost manufacturing into a commercially viable business model that will bring clean alternative energy to the world's growing energy demands."

Dr. Martin Green, Research Director of the ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and member of the Progress in Photovoltaics Committee said, "The 16.53% conversion efficiency Suntech module has a clear margin over other multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaic technologies. It has set the new benchmark for the highest performance multi-crystalline module."

Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairman and CEO, was scheduled to present a paper on the technology required to produce the Pluto powered multi-crystalline cells on a commercial scale at 2:45pm German time on Wednesday, 23 September 2009 at the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference at the CCH Congress Centre and International Fair, Hamburg, Germany.

Suntech's 60 cell module for residential and commercial rooftop systems

HAMBURG, GERMANY & WUXI, CHINA: Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd, the world's leading manufacturer of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules, announced the introduction of a 60 cell multi-crystalline PV module to be marketed under the product name Wd.

The new Wd module series features positive peak power tolerance of 0/+5 watts, which will assure that all Wd modules will produce at, or outperform, the nominal power rating.

"The new 60 cell module, which weighs about 20kg, will be ideal for customers that have plenty of roof space, but want to avoid the challenges of mounting a heavier 72 cell module," said Andrew Beebe, Suntech's VP of Global Product Strategy.

"With high quality components and extensive vetting through our 52 step quality control process, we believe this will be one of the most reliable modules on the market and well-suited to operate in extreme weather conditions. This new product reflects our commitment to developing products to suit our customers' evolving needs through close collaboration and consideration of customer feedback."

The 60 cell Wd module series will be available in two power ratings, 220 watt or 225 watt, and is designed to complement Suntech's 54 cell and 72 cell multi-crystalline modules to provide customers with a powerful and light weight option for residential and commercial rooftop applications.

In addition to positive peak power tolerance of 0/+5 watts, the new modules will also feature the latest IP67 rated junction box with enhanced thermal isolation, 4mm thick glass and a durable and easy to install 50mm aluminum frame.

Illustrating Suntech's commitment to producing the most reliable modules in the industry, the Wd module series will be backed by Suntech's 25-year power output warranty, and has also received IEC 5400Pa certification that verifies the modules' ability to withstand high wind-pressure and snow load.

The Wd module series is already available for purchase and will be on display at this year's European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition from September 21-24 at booth B7/75, CCH Congress Centre and International Fair, Hamburg, Germany. Interested customers can also contact their local dealerships or visit Suntech's website for additional information.

BHEL augments solar PV manufacturing facility to 8MW per annum

NEW DELHI, INDIA: As another step toward supporting the Government of India’s Green Energy Initiative, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has enhanced the solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing facility at its Electronics Division, Bangalore, from 3MW to 8MW per annum.

The company’s new state-of-the-art, upgraded unit was dedicated to the nation by Vilasrao Deshmukh, Hon’ble Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, in the presence of Arun Yadav, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Ananth Kumar, Member of Parliament. M. Krishnappa and D.K. Shivakumar, MLAs; Dr. Satyanarayana Dash, Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry, Govt. of India; Sudhakar Rao, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka and K. Ravi Kumar, Chairman & Managing Director, BHEL, were also present on the occasion, in addition to the Board of Directors and senior officials of BHEL.

The additional photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing facility has enabled BHEL to handle larger (156x156-mm) and thinner (200-mm) solar-grade mono/multi-crystalline silicon wafers, for which process optimisation trials have been successfully completed.

BHEL has been committed to promoting eco-friendly sources of energy and has reinforced its commitment towards renewable energy by upgrading its solar PV manufacturing capacity.

In another step forward in this direction, the joint venture between BHEL and BEL for establishing a 250 MW PV production facility for processing Silicon Wafers, Solar Cells and PV Modules is under finalisation. With this JV, BHEL and BEL are expected to assume a leading position in the area of photovoltaics in the country.

BHEL has been actively contributing to the application of solar PV in remote and rural parts of the country for over three decades. The company’s Grid Interactive/Stand Alone Solar Power Plants as well as independent systems have enabled the people of Lakshadweep, Sagar Islands of West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, etc., to vastly improve their quality of life.

Solar cells and modules manufactured by BHEL are also exported to countries like Germany, Australia and Italy. The company’s PV modules are certified to international standards by JRC, Ispra, Italy.

BHEL has been committed to the nation’s power development programme and has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian Power Sector by equipping itself for the future, by way of technology, facilities and trained manpower to meet the country’s power forecast for the 11th Plan and beyond.

For this, it has already enhanced its manufacturing capacity to 10,000 MW per annum and is further augmenting it to 15,000 MW per annum which is proceeding apace and plans are afoot to hike it further to 20,000 MW by 2011-12.

Spire Solar offers input for Department of Energy tax credit and loan applications

BEDFORD, USA: Spire Corp., a global solar company providing capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules and turnkey manufacturing lines is offering technical and financial modeling support to companies applying for the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) 48C and Manufacturing Line Loan applications.

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA) has authorized the Department of Treasury to award $2.3 billion in tax credits for qualified investments in advanced energy projects to support new, expanded, or re-equipped domestic manufacturing facilities.

The time-critical preliminary application is due to the Department of Energy (DOE) September 16, 2009 and the final application is due October 16, 2009; all applicants will be notified of their respective tax credit award by January 15, 2010.

Spire Solar has distinguished itself as a US supplier of turnkey PV module and cell lines, including domestically manufactured equipment. A key advantage of Spire Solar’s photovoltaic equipment, made locally in the US, is it adds to evaluation points for indirect job creation.

Having participated in numerous Department of Energy programs over the company’s 40 year history, much of Spire Solar’s DOE activities have addressed the development of advanced PV equipment and technology. Such experience has allowed Spire Solar to continuously provide the leading edge manufacturing technology to its extensive customer base.

In support of the ARRA applications, Spire Solar can provide specific factory designs, factory management assistance, analysis of job creation from factory installations, plant and facility design, factory siting guidance, and manufacturing cost analysis for business plan input.

Spire Solar’s input is valuable for those newly pioneering this sector in America, those aiming to enhance their present manufacturing lines, and for foreign companies wishing to contribute to the rapidly expanding US PV market.

“Spire Solar offers a great advantage to applicants of the MTC,” said Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation. “We have compiled dynamic factors needed to support applicants wanting to successfully achieve approval for the $2.3 billion tax credits.”

Little continued, “Not only is Spire’s turnkey equipment American-made, but earlier this year, we launched a Succeed in America campaign and have been focusing a substantial amount of our efforts on creating US jobs.”

Solar PV module revenues and volumes (not prices) bottomed in Q1

Here's a beautiful article I found on E4 Capital LLC, an independent research firm started in 2009 providing ideas to professional investment managers in the public equities of “cleantech” related companies

The solar energy sector, measured by revenues, appears to have hit bottom in calendar Q1. We expect that when full Q2 results are in they will show a strong rebound (better than 30 percent in aggregate) off the Q1 low, although the Q2 level is unlikely to recover all the way to the Q4:08 level.

Only about five of approximately 25 public solar companies that report quarterly results have reported their calendar Q2 results to date (8/11/09). After reviewing their results and looking at the consensus expectations for the remaining 20 names, we concluded that most of the remaining companies will achieve Q2 revenues above the Q1 trough.

Another upswing is getting underway. The peak quarter for solar PV revenues was Q3:08, or about a year ago, ending a remarkable run up driven mainly by extremely generous feed-in tariff subsidies in Germany and Spain.

Volumes of panels installed roughly doubled from 2007 to 2008. The Spanish subsidies were capped after it became apparent that country could not afford the original subsidy program, and Germany made changes to phase down its subsidies more rapidly.

Mainly due to the Spanish program, and aggravated by the global recession and reduced credit availability, prices and volumes fell sharply in Q4 and again in Q1.
The solar companies were slow to react to the downturn, perhaps because so many of the companies in this sector are newly formed and have yet to experience a downturn.

Capital spending continued to grow in Q4 over Q3 and did not begin to drop until Q1. Inventories rose modestly in Q4 and especially steeply in Q1 as companies were slow to curtail production and cut prices. Prices for modules and cells have fallen by on the order of 30 percent to 50 percent, and we believe they are still eroding.

These price cuts have triggered some demand growth as solar energy has become more price competitive in areas with subsidy programs less generous than Spain and Germany (e.g., the US).

The capacity build up in both the principal raw material (polysilicon) and the various conversion steps (wafers, cells, and modules) was such that we do not expect producers to be able to raise prices for awhile.

Two of the hardest hit solar companies will report on 8/12/09. Consensus estimates look for a nearly 100 percent revenue gain Q1 to Q2 at JA Solar to $67 million (still well below the year-ago level of $180 million). There is unusually wide variability in the estimates for JASO though.

Revenue at LDK Solar is expected to fall about 21 percent from Q1:09 to $225 million, however. The company had issued a press release on 7/23 saying it expected revenues of $225-$235 for the Q2 and would be taking an inventory write off of $150 to $170 million. Before the 7/23/09 guidance, the company had estimated revenues of $215 to $225 million. The weak LDK results have thus been well telegraphed.

Spire Solar Systems expands focus on federal market

BEDFORD, USA: Spire Corp., a global solar company providing capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules, turnkey manufacturing lines and solar PV systems today announced the expansion of Spire Solar Systems towards the federal systems market.

Spire entered the PV systems market in November 1999, originally as Spire Solar Chicago, where it fielded systems for a number of Chicago’s city projects, including systems for many of the major museums.

In July 2007, Spire formed a joint venture with a Taiwanese company to provide commercial systems in the United States; the joint venture is currently in the process of being liquidated. As a result, Spire Corp., federally classified as a small business, has expanded its systems group, mainly focusing its efforts on the US Federal market.

The Spire Solar Systems team, originally established in 1994, consists of experienced engineers and managers, well versed in the renewable energy field. As the industry grew, so did the Systems team, which has been expanded upon and has re-focused on the US federal market.

Spire Solar Systems is now a full-service organization, offering system designs and project management to accommodate those federal organizations required to achieve the mandated renewable energy goals of 7.5 percent by 2013 required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT).

Spire Corp. has long been a US government contractor and proficient in the federal procurement process. Also, Spire engineers have experience in dealing with requirements of federal building codes.

Spire’s payback analysis modeling has been developed specifically for the federal market by taking into consideration the idiosyncrasies of the US stimulus package, also known as the America Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.

“We are an American company that creates American jobs by providing PV systems to the federal government,” said Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corp.

“Spire Solar Systems is also an outlet for modules manufactured by our turnkey module line customers. This connection supports our overall strategy of encouraging distributed local module manufacturing.”

Spire Solar establishes Spire Solar India

BEDFORD, USA: Spire Corp., a global solar company providing capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules, turnkey manufacturing lines and solar PV systems today announced the expansion of its international presence by establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary, Spire Solar India, LLC (Spire Solar India), a Delaware limited liability company formed to take advantage of the growing market for the Company and it’s distribution of products in India.

Spire Solar India will locate its representative office in New Delhi and aid in sales, provide rapid customer communications, provide improved after-service capabilities, and serve as a regional headquarters for equipment service operations.

Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO, said: “India has been taking great strides to become a major competitor in the world PV market and Spire Solar intends on promoting this. With about 80 percent of India’s year consisting of clear, sunny days, the solar energy equivalent is greater than the country’s total energy consumption.”

He went on to say: “Spire Solar has experienced success in India, having already installed multiple turnkey factories and equipment. This new office will enhance our reach and ensure Indian customers our pledge to not only put them in the PV business, but keep them there, every step of the way.”

“India is expected to be among the fastest growing markets for PV demand and has recently introduced the Solar Power Policy – 2009, which promotes generalization of green and clean power through solar energy and promotion of local manufacturing facilities.” Little continued,

“There is a sizable amount of uncultivated land which is ideal for massive production of solar energy. With Spire Solar’s market penetration, India gains an efficient way to boost its country’s economy, and with that, the world’s.”

Spire to attend 3rd Renewable Energy India 2009 Expo

BEDFORD, USA: Spire Corp., a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules, cells, and solar systems worldwide, announced that its senior management will attend the 3rd Renewable Energy India 2009 Expo in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India from August 10th through 12th, 2009 at Hall 10, Booth S16.

According to its website, the 3rd Renewable Energy India 2009 Expo is the melting pot for global technologies. It is a platform to provide value for the domestic industry and showcase opportunities in the Indian market for global players.

It is a forum to nurture business contacts, imbibe the latest technology trends, cultivate business relations and prepare for the exponential growth of renewables in India.

Ascent Solar exceeds 10pc CIGS module efficiency milestone

THORNTON, USA: Ascent Solar Technologies Inc., a developer of state-of-the-art flexible thin-film solar modules, announced that it has achieved its initial target module efficiency goal of 10 percent for its flexible Copper, Indium, Gallium, Selenide (CIGS) monolithically integrated modules.

The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has independently verified that the modules measured as high as 10.4 percent in conversion efficiency. The modules tested at NREL were standard 429 cm2 modules produced by the company’s 1.5MW production line that was put into commercial production in the first quarter of 2009.

Dr. Prem Nath, Sr. Vice President of Production Operations for Ascent Solar, stated: “This is a significant breakthrough in demonstrating our ability to manufacture monolithically integrated flexible CIGS modules with greater than 10 percent module efficiency in commercial production. Ascent’s high-volume 30MW commercial plant is scheduled to commence initial production at the beginning of 2010.

"Module efficiency of 10 percent is a vital element for our low-cost-per-watt manufacturing goal in high volume and will establish Ascent Solar as a leader in the production of lightweight flexible photovoltaics used for portable power and building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products.”

Dr. Harin S. Ullal, Senior Project Manager for the National Center for Photovoltaics at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, stated: “Ascent Solar has made progress in advancing the state-of-the-art flexible, lightweight thin-film CIGS PV technology. NREL has independently verified module conversion efficiency of more than 10 percent for several thin-film CIGS monolithically integrated modules deposited on flexible, lightweight plastic substrates.”

Spire secures expanded $8mn revolving credit facility

BEDFORD, USA: Spire Corp., a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules and solar systems worldwide, announced that it has amended its current Revolving Credit Facility.

In addition to the amended $3 million facility, the Company has added an additional $5 million revolver under an Export-Import Credit Facility which is backed by a guarantee from the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

The existing Equipment Credit Facility will be retained with no additional funds available under that line. In the aggregate, the Company will have availability of up to $8 million over the next year.

Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire, commented: "We are pleased to receive these credit facilities, which improve our liquidity to support our growth. Silicon Valley Bank has been a good financial partner. Even with the tough banking environment, we were also able to increase the loan availability with the assistance of the guarantee offered by Ex-Im Bank."

“Spire is well positioned in the growing PV solar renewable market,” said Jay T. Tracy of Silicon Valley Bank’s Boston office. “We are glad we are able to renew our commitment to the Company and help it meet its growth objectives, particularly in such a challenging economy.”

Trina Solar signs sales agreement with Enfinity

CHANGZHOU, CHINA: Trina Solar Ltd, a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules, has entered into a sales agreement with customer Enfinity NV.

The agreement was signed in conjunction with the recent Intersolar-Munich Conference, held from May 27 to May 29.

Under the terms of this agreement, Trina Solar will supply Enfinity with approximately 15 MW of PV modules, with shipments scheduled in the current second quarter.

"We are very pleased to announce this new sales agreement with Enfinity, to further strengthen the existing well established partnership with Enfinity. This new contract will significantly help to grow new projects in markets such as Germany, Belgium, Italy and other European solar markets," stated Arturo Herrero, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing of Trina Solar. "We look forward to keep expanding our relationship with our loyal partner Enfinity by providing high quality modules, premium service and low cost industry leading platform."

"Enfinity is proud of this new sales agreement with Trina Solar. We consider this as a continuation of our good relationship with Trina Solar that supplies Enfinity and its customer base with the best in class solar technology," commented Gino Van Neer, Founder of Enfinity.

PV market to contract in 2009

WELLINGBOROUGH, UK: According to IMS Research’s latest analysis, the global PV market is set to contract for the first time in 2009 in terms of new installations.

IMS Research’s ongoing analysis shows that although the PV market doubled in 2008 in MW terms, a contraction in shipments is anticipated in 2009. This will be caused by the sudden drop-off in demand from Spain, with its newly implemented 500MW cap.

This is likely to result in a shortfall of some 1.5-2GW in 2009. Although this will in part be counter-balanced by growth in Italy and Eastern Europe, the dramatic decline of the Spanish market will lead to an overall drop in worldwide shipments.

Research Analyst Sam Wilkinson commented: “Despite credit issues, most major PV markets look healthy and are showing promise of significant growth. However, even if their countries’ solar capacities grow at the high levels they saw in 2008, they cannot make up for the unprecedented contraction that the Spanish market will see this year.”

Wilkinson added, “Many analysts are now predicting a decline in PV module revenues this year; IMS Research, having analysed the likely performance of individual countries, believes that MW shipments will also be lower.”

In spite of this, underlying demand for PV remains very healthy; long term, double-digit annual growth rates can be expected.

The market is likely to see dramatic changes in the next few years, with the emergence of new technologies such as micro-inverters; and the development of new and attractive regional markets such as the US, which to date has made up a low proportion of the overall global market.

Difficulties in obtaining financing will restrain US market growth this year. However, in the medium term it is anticipated to become one of the largest markets for PV.

Spire to use Rudolph's process control software in turnkey solar cell lines

BEDFORD, USA: Spire Corp., a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules worldwide, and Rudolph Technologies Inc., a leader in process characterization solutions for semiconductor and photovoltaic manufacturing, have reached an agreement to include Rudolph’s Discover Solar yield analysis and process management software as part of Spire’s turnkey manufacturing product lines.

“Rudolph’s Discover Solar Software provides all the process information to our solar cell production lines. It will allow our customers to bring new lines up to profitable yields and volumes even faster than they can now,” said Dr. Avishai Kepten, Vice President of Solar Cell Lines of Spire. “Customers will be able to achieve higher average cell efficiencies and reduce manufacturing costs. Discover Solar software will give our customers a competitive edge.”

“We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with Spire,” said Mike Plisinski, Vice President and General Manager of Rudolph’s Data Analysis business. “Discover Solar Software is the first yield management tool specifically designed to help PV manufacturers to maximize the efficiency of their cell devices, as well as optimize their production processes.”

Inverters for alternative energy resources

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Inverters for Alternative Energy Resources: Economic Factors, Application Drivers, Architecture/Packaging Trends, Technology and Regulatory Developments, Third Edition" report to its offering.

Led by the growing photovoltaic market (PV), the outlook for inverters used in Alternative Energy Resource technology is expected to remain strong. Industry growth in this application will be driven by a combination of government incentives and declining PV module prices.

Projected to make up over 95 percent of the market, the inverters used in PV installations, both small (1-5kW) and large (>6MW), will far outpace those used in either wind or fuel cell applications.

Driven by the need to develop alternative sources of energy, limit greenhouse gasses and reduce the dependence on foreign energy supplies, the market forces driving the alternative energy resources industry vary by region.

In Europe, the primary driving forces are feed-in tariffs, which have been successfully used in 16 EU countries, most notably Germany, Italy and Spain. In fact, in Europe renewables comprise the fastest-growing segment of the energy market. In North America, unlike Europe, the alternative energy industry is driven by a combination of regulations, subsidies and tax incentives and legislation.

In contrast, Asia employs a patchwork system of incentives including subsidies and other government actions. In this region, the primary focus on alternative energy is the alleviation of power shortages and the development of backup and emergency power.

The trend towards more efficient inverters has also made considerable progress. In an effort to improve the efficiency of the technology, semiconductor companies are developing discrete IGBTs, MOSFETs such as CoolMOS as well as Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices in power modules and stacks, with the objective of raising solar inverter efficiency to 98 percent, and with the purpose of feeding as much solar-based electricity into the power grid as possible.

A number of semiconductor companies are developing technologies designed to increase efficiency and reduce electricity waste to a minimum.

Despite the efforts of a number of government and regulatory bodies worldwide, the goal of interconnection and regulatory standards is still a work in progress. However, there are a number of groups working on electrical interconnection standards with the objective of reducing or removing barriers between distributed generation technology and the utility grid.

A survey done found that most projects, including PV, wind and fuel cells, meet some sort of resistance from the utility companies when they try to interconnect with the grid. The expensive and sometimes difficult interconnection requirements currently in place worldwide comprise a key barrier to the increased use of alternative systems.

One of the more interesting technologies being developed to drive interconnection is the development of a "smart grid." However, removing current interconnection requirements is not as simple as changing the policies, and a method of resolving these barriers is ongoing.

In addition, the rate of refurbishment and replacement of the existing building stock, combined with the new ultra-efficient housing/building laws such as those described in the European directive (2002/91/EC), contribute to a growing market for residential micro-combined heat and power.

Fuel cells are an enabling or bridging technology which can allow the environmental and efficiency benefits of CHP to migrate into the residential market. In this respect, fuel cell technologies represent a market opportunity for the clean generation of electricity and provision of hot water and heating.

First Solar announces multi-year supply contract with Pfalzsolar

MUNICH, GERMANY: First Solar Inc. and Pfalzsolar, GmbH, a fast-growing German solar project developer owned by Pfalzwerke AG, a public utility in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, recently announced the signing of a new long-term supply agreement.

The latest in a series of utility-linked agreements initially foresees delivery of First Solar’s photovoltaic modules to Pfalzsolar, beginning immediately, for use in rooftop and free field solar projects in Germany.

“This agreement reinforces First Solar’s relationships with utility-owned project developers and demonstrates that local utilities increasingly see photovoltaic power as a necessary component of their future electricity generation portfolio,” said Stephan Hansen, managing director of First Solar GmbH.

“We are pleased to have gained Pfalzsolar as an additional customer in a key market at a key period for the evolution of solar electricity in Europe,” added John Carrington, executive vice president, global marketing & business development.

Ali Boukhalfa, managing director of Pfalzsolar GmbH, said the company was delighted to have reached a long-term supply agreement with First Solar. “The agreement gives us the guarantee of being able to offer high-performance modules at competitive prices, thereby helping us fulfill our ambitious growth targets,” he said.

Linde to supply supply high purity gases to Italy’s first thin-film solar cell plant

MUNICH, GERMANY: Linde Gases, a division of The Linde Group, announced that it has been awarded the exclusive contract to supply high purity gases to Italy’s first thin-film solar module manufacturing plant. The Moncada Energy Group s.r.l., a leading private producer of renewable energy in Italy, is building the plant in Campofranco (Sicily).

Under this agreement, Linde Gas Italia, a member of The Linde Group, will provide Moncada with turnkey installation of the plant’s bulk and specialty gases supply systems. On an ongoing basis, it will also deliver nitrogen (N2), hydrogen (H2), silane (SiH4) and chamber cleaning gases which are essential to making thin-film solar cells.

“Linde Gas Italia is excited to partner with Moncada to expand Italy's growing infrastructure of renewable energy installations,” said Fabrizio Elia, CEO of Linde Gas Italia. “Our collaboration with Moncada echoes our commitment to deliver innovative environmentally friendly processes, and it also builds on our aim to make solar energy more affordable for mass consumption –- at par with the grid.”

Linde was selected based on its proven supply capability and strong global market position in turnkey solutions for thin-film solar module manufacturing. Its established R&D programme, which is focused on reducing production costs and delivering environmentally friendly solutions, was also key to the contract win. Linde has developed a process that can replace the powerful greenhouse gas nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) with pure fluorine (F2), which does not contribute to global warming.

Moncada’s thin-film PV plant in Campofranco, which becomes fully-operational in 2010, will produce large 5.7m2 single junction photovoltaic modules. The facility is expected to have an annual output capacity of 40MWp.

“Moncada’s mission is to enable the environmentally friendly and cost-effective production and installation of solar panels. Linde’s proven technology expertise mirrors our ambition to quickly achieve grid parity in Italy,” said Salvatore Moncada, CEO and founder of Moncada Energy Group. “Partnering with experts from The Linde Group and Applied Materials, Moncada is firmly placed to fuel the boom phase for renewable energy in Italy.”

Linde is the leading supplier of fluorine, producing it on-site, on-demand and at very low pressures. Developed in the late 1990s, this proven technology has been installed at more than 20 semiconductor, LCD and solar cell production sites, including Toshiba Matsushita Display, Samsung, and LG.

DuPont launches new materials for PV modules

WILMINGTON, USA: DuPont announced the commercialization of two new families of PV encapsulant sheets that are expected to improve durability and efficiency of photovoltaic modules.

The DuPont PV5300 Series and DuPont PV5200 Series deliver long-term protection for the most sensitive part of photovoltaic modules – the solar cells. They contribute to longer life and reduced cost-per-watt, helping system manufacturers deliver more reliable and cost-effective solar power. On a global basis, DuPont expects to nearly triple annual sales from its portfolio of photovoltaic materials to more than $1 billion by 2012.

DuPont offers the latest in flexible and rigid sheet and encapsulant materials for photovoltaics. (High Resolution) “With these new introductions, DuPont science is helping enable the faster spread of solar power,” said William F. Weber, vice president and general manager -- DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers. “These new encapsulant materials contribute to keeping cost-per-watt low and reducing the total cost of ownership for solar power. We expect growth for encapsulant materials like these of more than 25 percent per year in the next five years, due to the anticipated strong growth in solar module installations globally.”

DuPont PV5300 Series sheets are five times tougher and 100 times stiffer than materials typically used as encapsulants. Their structural properties make possible new module designs such as building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) tiles that can be installed on building roofs. Companies like SYSTEM Photonics S.p.A of Italy are adopting DuPont PV5300 for architecturally appealing built-in rooftop photovoltaic power generation.

The company also launched DuPont PV5200 Series sheets designed to meet the needs of thin-film solar power generation, a fast-growing segment of the industry. They are based on polyvinyl butyral polymer technology and offer high performance in physical processing. They enable faster, more efficient module production and longer service life.

Spire upgrades, expands Advanced Technology Center (ATC)

BEDFORD, USA: Spire Corp., a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules worldwide, has upgraded and expanded its Advanced Technology Center (ATC) located at Spire’s headquarters in Bedford, Massachusetts.

The ATC consists of a state-of-the-art PV module production line for product development and PV material evaluations, including solar cells. This center consists of Spire’s most advanced module manufacturing equipment for customer evaluation and training. Spire’s long-pulse solar simulator, cell string assembler, cell tester and lamination equipment are all available.

In addition, the ATC is staffed to provide expert technical and engineering support for the assembly of customer modules. Modules made for Spire’s turnkey production line customers can be used for early certification to accelerate their entry into the market. The ATC laboratory is able to produce modules that qualify for United States (U.S.) and international standards such as UL 1703 and IEC 61215.

Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO, said: “Our investment in the ATC has been made to support Spire’s ‘Come to America’ program. This program is designed to bring international module manufacturers to the US to take advantage of the Federal Government’s Stimulus Bill funding. The bill funding is aimed at putting more solar energy on line and creating millions of new jobs in America. It promises to make the US the fastest growing PV market in the world over the next few years. This facility is an important asset to our bringing new manufacturers on line rapidly.”