Prometheus Institute News

China Nuvo Solar Energy Announces Plans to Use Thin Film CIGS in Its Pilot Production Project

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--China Nuvo Solar Energy, Inc. (the “Company” or “China Nuvo”) (OTCBB: CNUV) announced today that it will be developing a low-cost solar cell based on thin-film CIGS technology with its collaboration partner, Pioneer Materials, Inc. (“PMI”), at its pilot production facility in Chengdu, China. CIGS, which stands for copper indium gallium selenium, has achieved the highest efficiency for thin-film photovoltaics at 19.9%, which rivals the performance of crystalline based silicon solar cells. With thin-film manufacturing techniques, CIGS thin-film solar cells can be made with 1/100th of the materials used in crystalline based silicon solar cells.

Conergy Plans Sales of Over 1 Billion Euro in 2008 (Apr 9, 2008)

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Five months after the start of its restructuring program, Conergy AG says that the company is significantly more tightly and efficiently organised and is making good progress with its strategic repositioning. In 2007 the company increased sales by 4% to EUR 706 million. The costs of restructuring Conergy into a profitable solar energy group, as well as the changes in accounting methods have had – as already communicated on February 5th – a detrimental effect on last year’s results.

ARISE Technologies Announces 56% Increase in PV Cell Production Plans; Planning to Establish Silicon Plant in Canada: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

<< - Increasing PV cell production target for new German plant to 560MW by end of 2012 from previous level of 360MW - Signs contract for equipment required for German plant's second production line scheduled for first-quarter 2009 start-up - Expects to establish new high-purity silicon plant in Canada in 2011, ramping up to target output rate of 10,000 tonnes per year - Output from new silicon plant will provide material needed for planned increase in PV cell production - Plans expansion of Waterloo high-purity silicon pilot plant to output rate of 50 tonnes per year in 2009 and 400 tonnes per year in 2010 >>

Governor Patrick and Secretary Bowles Showcase Renewables Energy at Deer Island

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

This morning, Governor Deval Patrick and Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian A. Bowles attended a ceremony held at MWRA's Deer Island Treatment Plant in Winthrop to announce two initiatives relative to renewable energy in Massachusetts – a second phase of expansion by Marlboro-based Evergreen Solar at its manufacturing facility in Devens, and a year’s worth of progress with state agencies adopting renewable energy under the Governor’s “Leading By Example” Executive Order.

LDK Solar Prices US$400 Million Convertible Senior Notes

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

XINYU CITY, China and SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK), announced today the pricing of $400 million of 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 pursuant to Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The notes will pay cash interest semiannually at a rate of 4.75% per annum and in certain circumstances, will be convertible into LDK Solar's American depositary shares, cash or a combination of cash and American depositary shares. The initial conversion rate, subject to adjustment, is 25.4534 LDK Solar American depositary shares per US$1,000 principal amount of notes, which is equal to the initial conversion price of approximately US$39.29 per American depositary share, which represents an approximate 25% premium to the closing price of $31.43 on April 9, 2008. The closing of the offering is expected to occur on April 15, 2008.

Mainstream Energy - Investing in the Solar Solution

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA, April 11, 2008 - Mainstream Energy Corporation* (MSE), a renewable energy company headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California, announced today it completed an equity transaction worth $40 million with Oslo, Norway- based Renewable Energy Corporation ASA, the world's largest producer of silicon materials for photovoltaic (PV) applications and multicrystalline wafers. As a result of the transaction Renewable Energy Corporation will have a 20% shareholding in MSE.

Trina Solar Discontinues Development of Polysilicon Production Facility

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

CHANGZHOU, China, April 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trina Solar Limited ("Trina Solar" or the "Company"), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules, founded in 1997, today announced its decision to discontinue the development of its previously announced 10,000MT polysilicon production facility having a total estimated cost of $1 billion. The Company also announced that its related equipment supply contract with GT Solar Incorporated ("GT Solar"), which was subject to final approval by the Boards of both companies, will lapse as a result, with the concurrence of both parties.

MIT and Fraunhofer Announce Center for Sustainable Energy Systems with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

PLYMOUTH, Mich., April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- At the MIT Energy Conference this morning, Foreign Minister of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, along with MIT President Susan Hockfield and Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles, participated in the announcement ceremony for the founding of the MIT-Fraunhofer Institute for Sustainable Energy Systems. I

Solar Cell Efficiency Increased with Popcorn Ball Design | NDN

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Researchers from the University of Washington in the U.S. have developed dye-sensitized solar cells with a nanoscale “popcorn-ball design” that can better manipulate light and convert solar energy to electricity with double the efficiency of conventional dye-sensitized solar cells.

Solar Millennium To Operate Solar Thermal Around the Clock

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Solar Millennium AG has entered into an agreement with Blue Tower GmbH to use Blue Tower's conversion technology at its solar thermal plants. The goal is for Solar Millennium's solar thermal power plants to work in hybrid operation around the clock.

ReneSola signs six-year deals to supply two Chinese companies with solar wafers

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

LONDON, Apr. 15, 2008 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- ReneSola Ltd. (OOTC:RESLF) (NYSE:SOL) said it has signed six-year solar wafer supply contracts with Ningbo Solar Electric Power Co. Ltd. and Eoplly New Energy Technology Co. Ltd.

Fluor receives contract from LDK Solar

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Fluor Corp. said Tuesday it received a contract from LDK Solar Co. to provide engineering, procurement and construction management services for a new polysilicon plant in China.

Meinl International Power buys solar power plants from Solon for 87 mln euros

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

VIENNA, Apr. 15, 2008 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- German solar module producer Solon AG. said it has sold large-scale solar power (OTCBB:SOPW) plants at four locations in Spain to Meinl International Power Ltd. in a transaction valued at around 87 million euros.

Conergy expects Frankfurt (Oder) fab to be at full capacity by 2H09 - Solar News

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Conergy has said that its initial ramp of its new €250 million integrated solar cell fab in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, now has approximately 90 percent of the production tools installed and is qualified for production.

Governor Ritter Announces 22 Residential Solar Program Partners (Apr 14, 2008)

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Gov. Bill Ritter today announced that 22 Solar Residential Program partners have been selected to promote the installation of residential solar electric and solar domestic hot water systems statewide. The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) has committed $550,000 of Clean Energy Funds and created a total program budget of $1 million to advance solar investment in the state.

EDF Energies Nouvelles Invests in Nanosolar (Apr 1, 2008)

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

EDF Energies Nouvelles has signed a photovoltaic panel supply master agreement with Nanosolar and a $50 million investment in the company via EDF Energies Nouvelles Réparties.

Nitol Solar and Suntech Expand Polysilicon Supply Agreement (Apr 1, 2008)

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Suntech Power and Nitol Solar, an independent polysilicon producer, today announced an expansion to the terms of their existing seven-year polysilicon supply agreement which runs from 2009 to 2015. Under the expanded agreement, Nitol has agreed to substantially increase the aggregate committed volumes to be supplied between 2009 and 2015.

Construction Begins on Module Plant

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Construction on a new highly automated solar photovoltaic (PV) module assembly facility owned by Centosolar Group AG is underway. This marks the start of the expansion of the Sonnenstromfabrik Wismar plant in Wismar, Germany. The new facility is scheduled to produce its first PV modules by July of this year.

MMA Renewable Ventures Finances SunPower Solar Systems at 14 Macy's Stores

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO, April 1, 2008, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC ("MuniMae," Pink Sheets: MMAB) today announced that it has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for 14 new solar electric systems at Macy's stores in California. MMA Renewable Ventures arranged equity investment for the first four systems through its Solar Fund III, a financing commitment with a subsidiary of Wells Fargo ("Wells Fargo," NYSE: WFC), under which Wells Fargo intends to fund 10-15 megawatts of solar energy projects nationwide.

Yingli Green Energy Announces Completion of Solar Project in Spain Using Modules Supplied by It

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

BAODING, China, Apr 01, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE: 25.08, +0.46, +1.86%) ("Yingli Green Energy" or the "Company"), one of the world's leading vertically integrated photovoltaic ("PV") product manufacturers, today announced that the Installation Solar Villar De Canas 2 Project (the "Project") in Cuenca, Spain has been recently completed with 9.5 MW modules supplied by Yingli Green Energy under a previously announced sales contract between Yingli Green Energy and Control y Montages Industriales CYMI S.A. ("CYMI").

Nevada PUC Examines Third Party Ownership of Distributed Renewable Generation

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (the "PUCN") recently ordered that an investigation be opened into whether renting or leasing renewable generation systems is legal within the electric service territories of public utilities in Nevada. Commission staff ("Staff") previously filed a petition for an advisory opinion on the issue, contending that renting or leasing renewable generation systems constituted the provision of electricity, a service that only public utilities may provide. Should the PUCN adopt Staff's position, the decision could significantly curtail the development of distributed solar generation in Nevada.

Trina Solar Signs Long Term Polysilicon Supply Agreement (Apr 2, 2008)

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Trina Solar, a manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules, has signed a long-term polysilicon supply agreement with a subsidiary of GCL Silicon Technology Holdings Ltd.

Phoenix Solar - Phoenix Solar

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Sulzemoos, 2 April 2008 / Under partial utilisation of the Approved Capital 2006 and to the exclusion of shareholder subscription rights, Phoenix Solar AG (ISIN DE000A0BVU93) has placed 607,500 new no-par bearer shares with qualified investors. The share capital has thus risen from EUR 6,077,000 to EUR 6,684,500. The new shares are to be admitted, without a prospectus, to trading on the official market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and are entitled to a share in profits as from 1 January 2007. The company will receive gross issuing proceeds from the capital increase of EUR 20,806,875. The funds will be used to finance planned company growth and to further the internationalisation of the Group’s business.

SolarCity Gives Homeowners a New Lease on Solar

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

FOSTER CITY, Calif., April 2, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- SolarCity, a leading provider of solar energy systems, today announced a new financing program backed by Morgan Stanley that will change the way residential solar is purchased. SolarLease, the first residential financing program to be provided directly by an installer, offers homeowners an affordable way to go solar without significant upfront costs, and adds exclusive benefits not available with cash purchases.

LDK Solar to supply wafers to Moser Baer | Cleantech.com

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Xinyu, China-based LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK) signed an agreement to supply solar wafers to Moser Baer Photo Voltaic, a subsidiary of Moser Baer India.

MEMC hit by technical hitch at new polysilicon line at Pasadena facility - Solar News

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

MEMC Electronic Materials has said that a production problem at its Pasadena, Texas facility had impacted its utilization rate by approximately 20 percent. The lower than anticipated output would also impact revenues in the quarter.

JAPAN'S SUMCO TO ACCELERATE SOLAR CELL WAFER PRODUCTION - April 3, 2008 Thursday 3:15 PM EST - Semiconductor International

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Sumco Corp. (TSE:3436), the world's second-largest silicon wafer producer, is expanding production of wafers for solar cells.

Praxair ups silane prices by as much as 30 percent - Solar News

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Praxair has followed Air Liquide in raising silane (monosilane, SiH4) prices by between 20 and 30 percent, effective immediately.

LDK Solar Signs Three Supply Deals - Forbes.com

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

EW YORK - Chinese solar wafer maker LDK Solar Co. Ltd. said Friday it signed two wafer supply agreements and one polysilicon sourcing deal.

GT Solar Signs $91 Million Contract with The Silicon Mine B.V. of the Netherlands

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

MERRIMACK, N.H. - (Business Wire) GT Solar Incorporated, a key global provider of a comprehensive range of equipment, services and technology solutions to the solar power industry, announced today that it has entered into a contract to supply The Silicon Mine B.V. (TSM), of the Netherlands, with polysilicon reactors and converters worth approximately $91M. The equipment will be used by TSM in conjunction with its announced plans to launch the first solar grade silicon plant in the Netherlands, expected to open in late 2009.