Tokyo Electron’s U.S. investment arm, TEL Venture Capital, has invested an undisclosed sum in Unidym, the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) manufacturer. Accompanying this news was the announcement that Tokyo Electron and Unidym intend to enter into a program for the development of equipment used in the manufacture of Unidym’s carbon nanotube-based transparent, conductive films (TCFs), which are used in thin-film solar cells, as well as in other applications. The companies will also enter into an information-sharing agreement that will see them collaborate on Unidym’s printed electronics technology development and to work together to modify TEL's existing equipment to support Unidym's inks.
Located southeast of the Bulgarian capital Sofia, in the town of Ihtiman near Paunovo, the country’s first solar power plant has opened and is expected to produce 1,250MWh of energy per annum. Project investor Intersol announced the opening of the plant, which is claimed to be the largest of its kind in Eastern Europe.
Product Briefing Outline: The TITAN TRACKER 122-219 ATR PRECISION is a new concept in solar trackers and has been developed for flat-plate and high concentrating photovoltaics CPV). It breaks with the usual trend, based on mounted-pole systems, and is claimed to offer improved benefits during the whole life-cycle of the installation.
In a supply deal worth approximately US$500 million (NOK 2.9 billion), REC will supply an Asia-based PV company with approximately 1,500MT per annum of silicon powder for a timeframe of seven years. Silicon powder, traditionally a low-value material, is a form of fine particulate silicon from the FBR process. The take-or-pay agreement is a result of REC’s development of technologies to develop this material and address commercial opportunities.
Helios Technology has entered into a seven-year wafer supply agreement with LDK Solar. Under the terms of the agreement, LDK will supply approximately 70MW of multicrystalline solar wafers to the Italian company from 2009 to 2015. The companies have agreed that Helios Technology will make a prepayment representing a portion of the contract value to LDK Solar.
SOLON AG’s new state-of-the-art module facility in Tucson, Arizona has come on stream. The facility’s first phase production will have an annual capacity of 60MWp, producing both crystalline and thin-film solar modules as well as photovoltaic systems. The Tucson site currently employs approximately 100 staff.
In an agreement with an as-yet-unnamed U.S. energy solutions supplier, LDK Solar Co., Ltd. will deliver approximately 90MW of multicrystalline silicon solar wafers for a three-year period commencing in 2009. The ‘take or pay’ contract will see the customer supply at least 300MT of polysilicon to LDK in the form of a down payment for part of the contract value, which was also undisclosed.
In a move approved by the company’s Supervisory Board, centrotherm photovoltaics AG has taken steps to increase its share capital by €8 million to €24 million. The company has passed a resolution to integrate sister company centrotherm Thermal Solutions via a ‘payment-in-kind’ agreement with its major shareholder Hartung Beteiligungs GmbH...
TÜV Rheinland Group has entered into a private venture with Arizona State University (ASU) to offer a state-of-the-art testing and certification facility for solar energy equipment. The new venture, entitled TÜV Rheinland PTL, LLC, will be based in Tempe, Arizona and will see the extension of the ASU PTL’s testing and certification capabilities...
Spark Solar Australia, a solar cell manufacturer, has announced that it has completed its first round of funding for the development of a new, $70 million solar cell manufacturing facility in the Canberra region. The factory, which will produce approximately 19 million solar cells per annum, the majority of which will be exported to Germany, will also see the creation of close to 115 jobs for the region.
