First Solar Sets Another World Record for CdTe Solar PV Efficiency

According to the press release, “First Solar, Inc.  today announced it set a new world record for cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) solar module efficiency, achieving 14.4 percent total area efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) confirmed the record, which eclipsed the prior record of 13.4 percent, which also was set [...]

Solyndra Goes Bankrupt, Workers Laid Off

Solyndra LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Staff has been laid off. Solyndra is a Fremont-based manufacturer of solar power systems. Global economic conditions and the solar industry have made their business model unsustainable. In June, the company dropped plans for an IPO. American solar manufacturers have been affected by a worldwide plunge [...]

First Solar Dedicates Mesa Factory Site

According to the press release, “First Solar, Inc.  dedicated its factory site in Mesa, Ariz., at a ceremony held this morning. The company also announced that Todd Spangler has been appointed Site Director and General Manager of the new Mesa factory, having previously served as General Manager of First Solar’s factory in Perrysburg, Ohio. Mike [...]

Google allocates $280 Mil in Residential Solar Projects

According to the Google Green Blog (official Google Blog), “Imagine sitting on your patio watching the sun’s rays pass overhead, knowing that they power your home with clean energy—at a cost that’s less that what you would have paid using just the grid. That’s what my colleague, engineer Michael Flaster, has been doing at his [...]

First Solar, Southern California Edison Sign Contract for 250 MW of Solar PV Power

The press release states, “Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed a power purchase agreement with First Solar for 250 megawatts AC of electricity to be generated with solar photovoltaic panels. This emission-free power source is the equivalent, in greenhouse gas terms, of removing 30,000 cars from the road annually. The solar panels will be ground-mounted [...]

1366 Technologies raises $20 million series B financing round

According to the press release, “1366 Technologies, whose innovative approaches to solar manufacturing have the potential to halve the cost of solar energy, announced today the close of a $20 million Series B financing bringing the Company’s total amount raised to $37.55 million. Korea’s Hanwha Chemical and Ventizz Capital Fund IV L.P., one of Europe’s [...]

Yingli Green Energy Announces New 700 MW Capacity Expansion Projects

According to the press release, “Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) (“Yingli Green Energy” or the “Company”), a leading solar energy company and one of the world’s largest vertically integrated photovoltaic manufacturers, which markets its products under the brand “Yingli Solar,” today announced its new 700 MW capacity expansion projects to be located [...]

Q-Cells and ATS Partner to Accelerate Solar Growth in Ontario

According to the press release, “Q-Cells SE, one of the largest photovoltaic (PV) companies in the world providing solar power plants, modules and cells, and ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (TSX: ATA), a leading global provider of innovative, custom designed, turnkey manufacturing solutions, and through Photowatt, an integrated manufacturer and developer of solar systems, today [...]

enXco and Solaria Sign Supply Agreement

The press release states, “enXco – an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company (PARIS: EEN) and Solaria Corporation announced today a five year global supply agreement under which module manufacturer Solaria will supply their patented solar module to enXco as well as a small equity investment from enXco in Solaria. The agreement, which is a combination of [...]

Applied Materials Details Progress Towards Industrializing PV Solar

According to its press release, “At its annual solar analyst and press briefing today at the Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (PVSEC), Europe’s largest solar tradeshow, Applied Materials executives provided updates on Applied’s solar strategy, including highlights of the company’s business and technology roadmaps for both crystalline silicon (c-Si) and thin-film solar photovoltaics (PV). [...]