Hybrid TFPV cell manufacturer XsunX has entered into an agreement with Taiwanese company Telecomps Technology Corp., Ltd. (Telecomps) that will see the latter provide OEM module assembly services for XsunX’s CIGSolar technology. Telecomps will work with the thin-film manufacturer to develop back-end CIGSolar solar module assembly capabilities, which is likely to aid XsunX in its Chinese marketing efforts.
Solyndra has recently closed on its new US$75 million in secured credit facility, which was underwritten by current investors. The company stated that the financing will go towards furthering its pursuit of cost reductions and implementing its channel expansion, segment sales and marketing stratagems.
Q-Cells SE is set to increase its presence within the U.K. solar industry by opening a new office in London. The exact opening date for the office has not been revealed but it is likely to take place before the end of Q2.
Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley is the new home for Helios USA’s new manufacturing facility, which officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today. Helios, who states that they are the state’s first manufacturer of high-performance solar modules that can be used in residential, commercial, industrial and utility-based solar projects, is already manufacturing panels and shipping them across the U.S. from its new Wisconsin facility.
In accordance with the strategic cooperation agreement signed by JA Solar Holdings and the Hefei City Government, JA Solar will be constructing a 3GW integrated solar industry production base for the company’s solar cells in Hefei, the capital city of East China’s Anhui, Province.
Production capacity at DEGERenergie’s tracking system facility in Ontario, Canada is set to double in the first half of 2011. Last year’s output level has already been increased by 50% and the German firm expects to see production rise by a further 50% in the second quarter as it attempts to take advantage of a spate of recently-announced Canadian projects.
Ultrasonic Systems has recently installed and commissioned its PV-480 coating system for an unspecified U.S. CdTe solar panel manufacturer. Ultrasonic advised that the solar panel manufacturer intends to use the system for the application of cadmium chloride solution in its absorber layer activation process.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have concluded after a testing with more advanced cell structures than are currently used, that large-area silicon solar cells are closer than ever at achieving 20% efficiency ratings. The newly researched cell structures differed in the type of silicon material, the base and the type of emitter used. Solar cells with a negatively conducting base are referred to as n-type, those with a positive conducting base are p-type cells and the emitter had the same inverse polarization of the base.
Juli New Energy, a subsidiary of the Juli Group, has selected Critical Manufacturing’s cmNavigo Solar Edition MES for implementation in its Baoding, China facility. The execution of the MES solution will be completed by Critical Manufacturing’s Chinese unit.
During its exhibition at the SNEC PV Power Expo 2011, Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates has unveiled its new Solion PV ion implant platform for the Chinese market. Partnering with seven Chinese PV manufacturers, Varian looks to implement its Solion technology into volume manufacturing by mid-year.
