PV-TECH

Testing for PID (potential induced degradation) of Centrosolar’s modules at TÜV Rheinland have confirmed that its modules experienced less than 1% reduction in performance, easily passing the tests which stipulate less than a 5% voltage-related reduction in performance as being non-PID affected.

Third quarter revenue at GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) was inline with guidance at US$153.0 million, compared to US$217.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 and US$262.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Polysilicon equipment segment continued to be the key earner, generating revenue of US$87.4 million. Recent new orders in this segment pushed its order backlog to US$2.2 billion. GTAT had a book to bill ratio of 1.3.

Though not independently verified, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film producer, MiaSole has claimed it has produced a 17.3% champion device result, while the manufacturing process for 14% efficiency is now in production. To date, MiaSole has claimed it has shipped over 55MW of modules since starting production in mid-2009. MiaSole started production of 13% efficient modules in October, 2011.

Work undertaken on a conventional but advanced solar cell employing ‘Metal Wrap Through (MWT) and ‘Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) technology exceeded 20% efficiencies that were supported by a specially developed and formulated metallization paste from Heraeus metallization paste, according to the company. In 2011, Heraeus introduced a new series of pastes for low temperature processing.

In addition to the 8% FiT cuts made in January, effective March 1 the Swiss Federal Department of Energy (DETEC) will further reduce the FiTs for PV power plants by 10% for new facilities.

Following consultations with stake holders and environmental organisations, the Greek Ministry of Environment has published new FiTs for PV installations, effective February 1. The tariff for PV systems up to 100kW and for systems installed on non-interconnected islands has been reduced by 12.5% compared to the previous rate introduced in 2009. The new tariff will be further reduced by 7% every six months until August 2014.

The Chinese Ministry of Finance has announced that it has changed certain FiT regulations, claiming this will speed up domestic large-scale applications of PV power generation and promote sustained and steady development of the PV industry. This will apply to grid-connected PV installations.

Lithuania-based CD and DVD disc manufacturer BOD Group is entering the c-Si solar cell manufacturing market, using a complete line of equipment being provided by Singulus Technologies. Singulus has been a supplier of CD and DVD processing equipment to the Lithuanian firm. The delivery of the line is scheduled to take place in early 2013.

According to Polyera, the Newport Corporation’s PV cell lab has confirmed that Polyera’s polymer/fullerene OPV cell has achieved a 9.1% power conversion efficiency with an inverted bulk heterojunction architecture using ActivInk PV 2000 semiconductor material. The company said its active layer materials are able to be deposited using a wider range of film thickness without lower cell efficiency, which is said to improve yields and simplify manufacturing.

San Jose, Bakersfield and Simi Valley rounded out the top three fastest-growing solar cities in California based on a report released by SunRun and PV Solar Report as part of the Q4 and year end solar sales and installation reports from PV Solar Report. The top ten California cities all demonstrated that they had added more home solar systems in 2011 than other California cities. Lancaster, Fresno, Corona, Murrieta, Rocklin, Hemet and Apple Valley completed the top ten list.

DuPont and Suntech Power Holdings announced that they had entered into a strategic agreement with an overall goal of augmenting the supply of PV materials and technologies in the global solar energy market. The companies agreement will specifically focus on technology advancements, supply chain optimization cost reduction initiatives and DuPont’s Tedlar polyvinyl fluoride film supply.

Upon the completion of PowerOptions’ RFP process, the company advised that SunEdison had been chosen to help the company develop and launch a new solar energy program for non-profit institutions in Massachusetts, including hospitals, universities, municipalities and other members of PowerOptions. The solar program will be similar to the model PowerOptions’ debuted for its electricity and natural gas supply programs, which will see the terms and conditions, as well as a pricing formula for each project, already in place.

Areva Solar advised that it has partnered with Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to build a CDP addition to the utility’s H. Wilson Sundt generating station in Tucson, Arizona. The Sundt Solar Boost Project will use Areva’s Solar Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) solar steam generators to produce 5MW of energy during peak demand periods.

Danfoss Solar Inverters and MimtaSolar have entered an agreement, which will see MimtaSolar distribute Danfoss’s TLX and ULX inverter series throughout Turkey. The company will offer its single phase products in the 1.8kW to 5.4kW range and three phase products in the 6kW to 15kW range. The Danfoss inverter line is slated to be integrated into Mimta’s turnkey PV systems.

Constellation Energy has announced the completion of an aggregate 4.29MW solar generation installation at Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear, Arizona, US. Constellation Energy will own and maintain the solar systems. In return, the school district will purchase and receive all of the electricity generated by the solar panels at a fixed rate from Constellation Energy under a 25-year solar services agreement.

Following the establishment of MidAmerican Renewables in mid-January, it has been announced former Phoenix Solar CEO Paul Caudill has assisted with the acquisition of the Topaz solar farm from First Solar. The 550MW PV power plant is being built in San Luis Obispo County, California and will have the capacity to generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 160,000 average California homes.

A debt-to-equity swap deal between Q-Cells and its bondholders has been agreed in principle, a situation that will result in the company’s being majority owned (95%) by the bondholders. In return, Q-Cells would be virtually debt-free and retain the €304 million of liquidity the company had at the end of 2011 to continue to restructure and continue operations. Q-Cells will also sell further non-core assets that could raise €200 million, which would be given back to the 2012, 2014 and 2015 bondholders on an equal basis.

Israel’s energy and water minister, Uzi Landau, has signed a further 19 licenses for 27MW of solar photovoltaic projects, bringing the total number of conditional solar licenses granted for the country’s electricity grid to 515.5MW.

The abyss of debt Spain is currently tumbling into has come to the attention of the European Commission. Following the government’s decision to halt renewable energy subsidies due to an overwhelming debt owed to the industry, the European Commission feels that such a seemingly rash judgment could have a devastating impact on investment opportunities and therefore contrary to what the government wants to achieve.

SunPower has now completed the acquisition of BIPV specialist Tenesol from Total, paying out US$165.4 million in cash. Ownership of Total in SunPower will increase to 66% as part of the transaction as Total purchases 18.6 million shares of SunPower common stock in a private placement at US$8.80 per share.