News from PV Tech

The Japanese Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA) announced figures for Q4 and fiscal 2011, finding that total quarterly shipments fell 23% to 554.2MW from Q3, while shipments of PV cells and modules increased by a small percentage point during Q4. Domestic and import sales of thin-film also took a hit, falling by 68% while import of PV materials for the period went up 3%. Monocrystalline products increased 16% while multicrystalline products dropped 13%.

Dominion Virginia Power filed a petition with the Virginia State Corporate Commission (SCC) today asking for permission to buy solar-generated electricity from residential and small commercial customers at US$0.15/kWh for a five-year demonstration period. The power company aims to encourage solar electricity through a proposed new rate that includes a premium, so that customers are more likely to install solar panels and sell the electricity to the company.

The proposed 3MW, US$20 million Ponterril solar project has received its final needed approval from the zoning board of appeals. The project will be developed across 22 acres of what used to be the Pittsfield Family YMCA’s recreation camp overlooking Pontoosuc Lake. The Berkshire Eagle advised that electricity produced by the project would be sold and transported to Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) as part of the power gird on North Street. The report confirmed that project officials want to begin work on the project this year, but actual construction timelines will depend on WMECO since it needs to advise what it would cost CTC Electric to make upgrades to the WMECO system in order for it to accept electricity from the new solar project.

Solar Gard has finished its second Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which examines the environmental impact of a product from production to disposal . The latest EPD covers 14 more solar control architectural window films, bringing the company’s total number of carbon negative window films to 46.

PV Crystalox Solar advised that it had reached a cash settlement over a terminated wafer supply deal that amounts to €90 million. The funds will be recognized as income in the first half of this year and, according to proactiveinvestors, the news saw the company’s value more than double.

Expecting the PV equipment market to continue to slow this year, GT Advanced Technologies advised that it would be broadening its product lines with a new furnace that makes silicon carbide crystals. The company is aiming to diversify its product line in the midst of what it calls a global downshift in demand for its systems that make polysilicon and PV wafers. As reported by Bloomberg, CEO of GT Advanced, Tom Gutierrez, is looking its R&D this year by 50% to over US$65 million with sales expected to grow 6% to between US$925 million and US$975 million.

Earlier this month, Chinese vice premier Wang Qishan and state councillor Dai Bingguo met with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and treasury secretary Timothy Geithner, in Beijing to discuss Sino-American strategic and economic relations. On May 17, the US Department of Commerce announced in a preliminary hearing that China had been exporting to the US at less than fair value.

First Solar has announced plans to open an office in the United Arab Emirates, according to Bloomberg reports, in order to meet the demand for solar energy in the Middle East. The company is currently negotiating with potential partners about contracts and a possible production plant in the UAE, as First Solar’s technical development manager Karim Asali commented.

German-based manufacturer of metallization pastes Heraeus is constructing a new manufacturing site in Taiwan, the company has announced. The production site is expected to commence operation in the last quarter of 2012 and is intended to meet the demand of the Taiwanese market with local production and technical services. Heraeus produces silver pastes for polycrystalline solar cells.

The regional authority of the Spanish region of Extremadura has singed an agreement to fast-track permit the developemnt of a 400MW solar park in Calzadilla de los Barros, Spain, developed by SAG Solarstrom and Valsolar, it has been announced. The region will back the construction of the €450 million PV plant, which will be the third project in the region and at least the fifth project in Spain that does not rely on subsidies. SAG and Valsolar expect to commence construction of the plant in 2014 and complete the project 2015.

On May 17, 2012, the Department of Commerce has announced its affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty investigation of imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from the People’s Republic of China. Brought forward by SolarWorld last October, the DoC has determined that Chinese producers/exporters sold solar cells in the United States at dumping margins ranging from 31.14% to 249.96% citing this as “less than fair value”.

GT Advanced Technologies will supply UTECH Solar with US$8 million worth of silicon growth technology and casting furnaces, the company has announced. GT received an order from UTECH Solar for its DSS450 MonoCast silicon growth technology and another one for its DSS450HP casting furnaces. UTECH will commence the production of MonoCast wafers as well as increase production with additional DSS450HP multicrystalline casting furnaces to meet the increasing demand.

Satcon will supply 30MW of its Equinox Prism Platform to Western Wind and Lord Electric. The inverters will be installed at a solar power park in Puerto Rico, the company has announced.

Walmart will install PV panels on 27 of its 50 stores in Massachusetts, the company has announced. The projects will generate a total of 10.5MW and, according to the Boston Globe, are currently in the engineering stage.

Research service company Lux Research has recently published its “Painting a Green Future: Opportunities in Sustainable Architectural Coatings” report as part of the Lux Research Sustainable Building Materials service. The report focuses on the US$53 billion architectural coatings market and the sustainability of coating technologies.

China Sunergy has announced that it has supplied the Bulgarian Yerussalimovo solar park with 5MW of VP modules. In total, China Sunergy has shipped 22.32MW of panels to Bulgaria since the beginning of 2012, exceeding the company’s 18MW shipments to Bulgaria in 2011. The panels were sold to Mitsubishi and Helios Power acted as installer of the modules.

Amid rumours that MEMC Electronic Materials’ chief executive officer, Ahmad Chatila, was to leave the company, MEMC has announced the appointment of Brian Wuebbels as its new CFO. He succeeds Mark Murphy, who resigned, effective May 16, 2012, in order to take up the role as president at Praxair Surface Technologies. Murphy will continue a temporary consulting role with MEMC to aid the transition process.

Konarka Technologies and Dri-Design have announced the results of their collaboration to integrate Konarka’s solar panels into Dri-Design’s metal rainscreen panels. It is the first application of its kind and the panels are used for façade installations. The panels will be utilized for BIPV installations and offer architects a range of possibilities of integrations into materials like glass, steel, fabrics or plastic.

Former EDS Chief Global Sales Officer, Bobby Grisham, has been selected as the newest member of Premier Holding’s board of directors. He will be working, along with fellow members and executive management, to meet the company’s strategic global initiatives. Grisham also formerly served as the president of the EDS’ US southwest operations solutions, was president of the large financial institutions strategic business unit and managed all IT operations for six General Motors Electrical Component divisions.

OPEL Technologies advised that its common shares have begun trading in the US on the OTCQX International under the “OPELF” symbol. Pierce Atwood will be the company’s principal American liaison and supply guidance on OTCQX requirements and US securities law. OPEL’s common shares will still trade in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange under the “OPL” symbol.