MEMC is filling-in a missing link in its polysilicon to solar projects manufacturing portfolio with the establishment of monocrystalline cell production through a joint venture with equipment supplier Jusung Engineering. At a cost of US$32 million, shared equally between the new partners, an initial 100MW of capacity is expected to begin production in the first half of 2012. The deal was signed by MEMC Singapore, though it was unclear whether the location of the cell plant would be in Singpaore or Korea, where Junsung is headquartered. The cells will used in modules for MEMC’s project arm, SunEdison.
GT Solar advised that it had received orders from two new customers based in Asia for the company’s polysilicon production equipment. Together the two customers’, who remain anonymous, orders amounted to US$81.7 million and called for GT Solar’s hydrochlorination equipment for TCS production and other polysilicon production equipment. The orders will be included in the company’s backlog for its first quarter of the 2012 fiscal year, which ended July 2.
The photovoltaics division of Heraeus Materials Technology has completed construction on its new Singapore facility, which will produce the company’s silver metallization paste for use in crystalline solar cells. The site will also house the unit’s R&D, sales and technical service operations, all of which began operation in June. The R&D lab was the facility’s most recent completion, having been finalized in July. It plans to have qualification samples ready for customers in the coming weeks. The site’s official opening ceremony will be held in November.
Having 8 facilities within the Tokyo Electric Power Company and Tohoku Electric Power Co service areas, Kyocera has increased the size of the rooftop solar power system at its Tanagura manufacturing plant in Fukushima Prefecture, to meet energy reduction targets of 15%, due to the power consumption regulations dictated after the Fukushima nuclear power disaster.
KLNE has increased its manufacturing capacity in China by opening a new facility and research and development centre in Changzhou. The 100-acre site was officially unveiled on June 29 at a ceremony attended by the company’s sales director, Wison Qi, and marketing director, Paul Nicholson, as well as dignitaries from the Changzhou local government and staff representing the Wujin Economic Development Zone.
SolarWorld advised that with the sale of its shares in the South Korea joint venture module plant, the company would be focusing on expanding and improving its module production sites in Germany and the US. Financial details regarding the sale of its shares were not released, but the company advised that its Saxony, California and Oregon production facilities are undergoing expansion in order to meet growing demands. Combined, the three plants are expected to have a total production capacity of more than 1GW by the end of the year.
TecnoSun Solar Systems’ US Division, TecnoSun Solar USA, is settling into its new US headquarters at the University of Toledo’s Nietzsche Commercialization Complex in Ohio. The site will be the home base for the company’s marketing, sales, manufacturing, installation and servicing of its 1 and 2 axis solar tracking systems in North America.
While Barack Obama may have reneged on his promise to put solar panels on the roof of the White House by the end of spring, the US Government shows no sign of backtracking on his other solar commitments, with further evidence of this seen last Thursday as Energy Secretary Steven Chu paid a visit to Amonix’s new production facility in Las Vegas.
Solar Frontier is set to strengthen its presence within the growing Middle Eastern solar market by opening a new office in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The office, which opens on July 1, will help Solar Frontier to liaise with its partners in the region and offer more hands-on support for its projects in Saudi Arabia.
Stringer system specialists teamtechnik has expanded the global reach of its production base by forming two new subsidiaries in Asia. The subsidiaries, located in the Chinese cities of Suzhou and Jintan, enable the Freiberg-based firm to provide shorter delivery time, quicken service response and forge a closer relationship with its clients.
