PV Insider - Thin Film PV

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 18 Sept – 1 Oct. 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 08:35:51 +0000

Précis:

First Solar breaks ground on 150MW Imperial Valley project

Companies mentioned: First Solar, Solar Gen 2 project, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Oxford University, IKEA, Hanergy, Heliatek, AGC, Ascent Solar Technologies, K road Project, Moapa Solar Project, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Silver State Solar South project

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 18 Sept – 1 Oct. 2013

First Solar breaks ground on 150MW Imperial Valley project

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Thin Film: A perfect fit for MENA energy needs?

Heba Hashem — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 07:10:16 +0000

Précis:

Thin film modules are increasingly finding their way into Middle East installations, with Saudi Aramco and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) both opting for thin film in their latest renewable energy projects.

Perfectly positioned around the Sun Belt, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where outdoor installations dominate, can largely benefit from thin film solar cells over crystalline silicon. Not only can thin film panels perform much better at high temperatures and in outdoor applications, but the region’s abundant solar resources can shorten the energy payback time.

Utility choice

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Solar Frontier: how it’s charting a clear roadmap for improvement

Ritesh Gupta — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 13:55:21 +0000

Précis:

Thin film solar companies all share a voyage of ups and downs. We speak to Japan-headquartered Solar Frontier to hear about the company's journey and its future chosen path and its CIS technology.

Tokyo-based Solar Frontier, a 100% subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu, has worked with leading PV technologies, including crystalline silicon, since the late 1970s. But it was not until the company realised in the early 90s the unique potential of CIS.

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4th Utility Scale PV Plant Optimization USA

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Thin Film Intelligence Brief 4 – 17 September 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 09:10:54 +0000

Précis:

Apple eyes thin film talent

Companies and organisations mentioned: Apple, TCL Communications, Dyesol, Tansee, PacWest, DayStar Technologies, Equities Euro Brazil Investments, Solar Thin Films, Smit Ovens, SoLayTec

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 4 – 17 September 2013

Apple eyes thin film talent

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Thin Film Intelligence Brief 21 Aug – 3 Sept, 2013

Katherine Steiner Dicks — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 10:35:20 +0000

Précis:

First Solar, GE new solar power couple

Companies and organisations mentioned include First Solar, GE, Ontario Power Authority, Solar Thin Films, Solar Portables Business, Solar Frontier, Saudi Aramco, EDF Renewable Energy, Bechtel, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Ingenero

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 21 Aug – 3 Sept, 2013

First Solar, GE new thin film power couple

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Manufacturing & licensing: why proprietary technology pays off

John Johnson — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 08:57:44 +0000

Précis:

After operating in stealth mode since being founded in 2009, Reel Solar Inc. (RSI) made a gold-carpet entry into the solar marketplace in July when the company shunned its secrecy by announcing a new world record for cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic module size.

Reel Solar’s breakthrough 1.5 square-meter module, together with a localised manufacturing strategy, is expected to allow the company to achieve a manufacturing cost of less than 40 cents per peak watt in 2014 and enable grid parity for utility scale solar projects.

RSI’s strategy is to offer licensing agreements for different regions around the globe, with the potential to build its own facility to service the U.S. market. The company’s first licensing agreement with a solar manufacturer in Asia is expected to be formally announced by October.

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4th Utility Scale PV Plant Optimization USA

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Thin Film Intelligence Brief 6 – 19 August 2013

Bea Gonzalez — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 12:54:52 +0000

Précis:

Companies and organisations mentioned: PacWest Equities, DayStar Technologies, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Picodeon Ltd

and Enso Ventures Ltd., Stion, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

PacWest thin film CIGS line invited into Brazil

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India: new rules no immediate threat to thin film leaders

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 09:30:52 +0000

Précis:

After India's much quoted thin film crackdown last month, what will be the effects? Will local partnerships make sense there to get around the domestic content rules? Susan Kraemer reports.

There’s already a peak deficit of 12 GW of electricity in India, and the government wants to add 100 GW over the next five years. Theoretically this will come from coal as well as renewables, but coal generation is an extremely thirsty energy source, and water is increasingly an issue in the hot and dry nation. Some of India’s worst blackouts came from water shortages at coal plants, leading to plant shut downs. Coal generation now uses most of India’s industrial water supply.

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Primary Event:

4th Utility Scale PV Plant Optimization USA

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CPV Intelligence Brief 24 July – 6 August 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 08:19:02 +0000

Précis:

Alstom, Soitec create French CPV alliance

Companies and organisations mentioned: Alstom, Soitec, Santerno Solar, Carraro Group, Mildura Solar Power Station Project

CPV Intelligence Brief 24 July – 6 August 2013

Alstom, Soitec create French CPV alliance

Power generation and transmission firm Alstom and CPV systems company Soitec of Bernin, France, have signed a cooperative agreement to provide CPV power plants.

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Thin Film Intelligence Brief 27 July – 6 August 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 08:02:51 +0000

Précis:

First Solar bags 155MW in projects Down Under

Companies and organisations mentioned: First Solar, AGL Energy, Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Ascent Solar Technologies, Denver Broncos, Hanergy, Mithril, Global Solar Energy, Deutsche Mittelstandsfinanz, HFG China, Alvarez & Marsal, FTI Capital Advisors, Public Service Company of New Mexico

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 27 July – 6 August 2013

First Solar bags 155MW in projects Down Under

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South Africa: optimistic outlook for thin film

Jason Deign — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 04:17:08 +0000

Précis:

Nobody doubts that South Africa represents a massive opportunity for the solar industry right now. What is less clear is how thin film might be able to carve a niche there.

South Africa has more of a history with thin film than you would expect for a country that has only recently begun to embrace solar.

Back in the early 2000s a team led by Professor Vivian Alberts, of the University of Johannesburg, was at the forefront of thin film research and development with a copper, indium, gallium, sulphur and selenium product just five microns thick.

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PV Insider Africa

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Regional growth: target markets for the next generation of thin film manufacturing

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 04:32:25 +0000

Précis:

Despite the current near-death experience in solar manufacturing, eventually it will make a comeback. And the regions where thin film manufacturing will make the most sense could arguably turn out to include some of the most expensive labour regions of the world.

One thin film CEO is confident that even Chinese manufacturers cannot dump goods forever, and that there will be a future more level playing field for solar manufacturing.

“Sooner or later, the market will be fairer again, making it possible to run a competitive business, not only in China,” says Nikolaus Meyer, CEO of Germany’s Soltecture, the CIGS thin film manufacturer that went on the auction block in the first week of July, one of many victims of the reportedly solar product dumping by China.

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Thin Film Intelligence Brief 10 - 23, July 2013

Katherine Steiner Dicks — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 07:28:11 +0000

Précis:

China to impose polysilicon tariffs on US, South Korea

Companies mentioned: Renewable Energy Corp., OCI Co., Solyndra, GCL-Poly Energy Holdings, Citigroup, First Solar, SolarChile, Stanford University

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 10 – 23 July 2013

China to impose polysilicon tariffs on US and South Korea imports

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Thin Film Intelligence Brief 26 June – 9 July 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 08:11:02 +0000

Précis:

Tata Power Solar nabs NTPC’s largest project

Companies mentioned include Tata Power Solar, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), IKEA, Hanergy, Ohio State University, Imomec, Imec, Solliance, Candian Solar, Hasselt University, Soleq Solar

Tata Power Solar nabs NTPC’s largest project

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Rich Kapusta VP of Marketing Alta Devices

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:58:13 +0000

Précis:

Alta Devices is a US-based specialist in thin and flexible mobile power technology. PV Insider speaks to Rich Kapusta, VP of Marketing soon after the company has had its technology tested at NREL in real-life conditions, which is getting certain industries excited at the prospects.

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Kuwait’s Shagaya Project accelerates drive towards PV

Heba Hashem — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:18:35 +0000

Précis:

Kuwait has recently opened the bidding process for the 70 MW Shagaya Renewable Energy Multi-Technology Park, which will comprise a 10 MW PV plant. What are the implications of this project for the international industry, and what challenges await new entrants?

After launching the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of the 70 MW Shagaya Renewable Energy Park last September, Kuwait opened the bidding process for the project on June 12, 2013. The first phase will be completed by 2016, and a 100-square-kilometre site in Shagaya, a desert area 100km west of Kuwait City, has been designated for the facility.

The master plan

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Thin Film Intelligence Brief 13 – 25 June 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:01:11 +0000

Précis:

Solar Frontier new record reshapes thin film sector

Companies mentioned include: Solexel, US Department of Energy, SunPower, KPCB, Technology Partners, DAG Ventures, Gentry Ventures, Northgate Capital, GSV Capital, Oak Hill, Ecofin, Spirox, Solar Frontier, Showa Shell Sekiyu, First Solar, J.P. Morgan Securities, Morgan Stanley, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup Global Markets, Credit Suisse, HSBC, Credit Agricole CIB,Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lazard Frères & Co

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 13 – 25 June 2013

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Thin Film Intelligence Brief 27 May – 11 June 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:45:31 +0000

Précis:

Oxford PV sets new BIPV efficiency record

Companies and organisations mentioned include: Oxford Photovoltaics, Oxford University, DuPont, Japanese Photovoltaic Energy Association, First Solar, XsunX, Ascent Solar, Solar Frontier, Yingli China

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 27 May – 11 June 2013

Oxford PV sets new BIPV efficiency record

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PV Insider Africa

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Eliminating bad wafers early would save money, but is the market ready?

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:22:13 +0000

Précis:

Scientists at NREL have developed an instrument to detect and eliminate weak wafers so money is not wasted on their enhancement. The potential annual savings to the industry are in the billions.

By Susan Kraemer

During silicon wafer processing, 5-10 per cent of wafers get tiny cracks, which makes them prone to break during cell fabrication and encapsulation. When they finally break, and have to get discarded, it can be after a great deal of money has been spent on their processing.

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PV Insider LATAM

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Thin Film Intelligence Brief 15 - 28 May 2013

Katherine Steiner Dicks — Tue, 28 May 2013 14:35:18 +0000

Précis:

Thin film to hit $9.85bn; 8% CAGR by 2017

Companies and organisations mentioned: Welspun Energy, Tangedco, Ascent Solar Technologies, North Carolina State University,

Thin film to hit $9.85bn; 8% CAGR by 2017

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Selecting technologies for unusual locations

Katherine Steiner Dicks — Tue, 28 May 2013 14:13:56 +0000

Précis:

PV’s versatility is being put to the test as developers move beyond traditional solar power locations in search of new opportunities and applications.

Mention ‘solar power’ and it is perhaps logical to think of warm, sunny climes. The association is not quite so straightforward, of course, as the growth of the German solar market attests. Yet it is surprising to see just how far afield PV plants are now cropping up.

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4th Utility Scale PV Plant Optimization USA

Bea Gonzalez — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:28:27 +0000

Event Date:

Wed, 2013-09-25 - Thu, 2013-09-26

Event URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/optimizationusa/

Event Location:

San Jose, California

Number of attendees:

250

Programme URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/optimizationusa/conference-agenda.php

Brochure URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/optimizationusa/conference-event-brochure.php

Speakers URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/optimizationusa/conference-speakers.php

Event Organiser:

Leticia Thomas

Event Organiser E-mail:

[email protected]">[email protected]

Précis:

Increase efficiency, improve data management and implement cost- effective O&M strategies to boost your PV plant profitability

CPV USA 2013

Bea Gonzalez — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:26:29 +0000

Event Date:

Mon, 2013-09-23 - Tue, 2013-09-24

Event URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/cpv/

Event Location:

San Jose, California

Number of attendees:

250

Programme URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/cpv/conference-agenda.php

Brochure URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/cpv/conference-event-brochure.php

Speakers URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/cpv/conference-speakers.php

Event Organiser:

Matt Carr

Event Organiser E-mail:

[email protected]">[email protected]

Précis:

Reduce costs through technical innovation and optimized balance of systems to prove the viability of your CPV business

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 1 May -14 May 2013

Katherine Steiner Dicks — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:38:05 +0000

Précis:

Plasmonic-metal studies show thin film promise

Companies and organisations mentioned: University at Buffalo, NRG Solar, First Solar, SoloPower, Pacific Gas & Electric, Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 31 April -14 May 2013

Plasmonic-metal studies show thin film promise

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PV Insider LATAM

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Who is benefiting from anti-dumping in Europe?

Jason Deign — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:11:53 +0000

Précis:

We look at the European Union tariffs now imposed on imported Chinese panels and how some PV makers are reporting an upswing in sales as a direct result of the protectionist measures.

By Jason Deign

The European Union (EU) is officially imposing tariffs on imported Chinese solar panels in an effort to protect its own module makers. European Commission (EC) Trade Head Karel De Gucht is recommending that the EC impose anti-dumping (AD) charges similar to those imposed last year by the United States, according to Reuters.

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PV Insider Africa

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PV Insider Africa

Bea Gonzalez — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:58:18 +0000

Event Date:

Tue, 2013-08-27 - Wed, 2013-08-28

Event URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/africa/

Event Location:

Johannesburg, South Africa

Number of attendees:

250

Programme URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/africa/conference-agenda.php

Brochure URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/africa/conference-event-brochure.php

Speakers URL:

http://www.pv-insider.com/africa/conference-speakers.php

Event Organiser:

Jack Ahearne

Event Organiser E-mail:

[email protected]">[email protected]

Précis:

Identify PV project opportunities across Southern Africa to boost your pipeline in utility and industrial markets

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 17 – 30 April 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:50:28 +0000

Précis:

Belectric connects Europe’s largest thin film solar plant

Companies and organisations mentioned: Belectric, First Solar, Campo Verde Solar Project, Southern Company, Southern Power, Turner Renewable Energy, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, SoloPower, Hanergy Global Solar Power and Applications Group

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 17 - 30 April 2013

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First Solar-TetraSun: what’s the strategy?

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:14:05 +0000

Précis:

PVInsider had the opportunity to hear from First Solar Director of Business Development for Japan, Karl Brutsaert about the company’s recent surprise acquisition of the Silicon Valley start-up TetraSun.

By Susan Kraemer

Founded by Denis De Ceuster, a former SunPower technologist, TetraSun, the little known start-up has blasted through efficiency records, and is manufacturing cells with efficiencies exceeding 21%.

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Thin Film Intelligence Brief 4 – 16 April 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:42:38 +0000

Précis:

First Solar enters CSi market with TetraSun deal

Companies and organisations mentioned: First Solar, TetraSun, JX Nippon Oil & Energy, Miasole, Hanergy Group, Reel Solar, Mayfield Fund, Nth Power, Solexant, PG&E, Lux Capital, KSK Energy Ventures

Thin Film Intelligence Brief 4 – 16 April 2013

First Solar to enters CSi market with TetraSun deal

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PV Insider LATAM

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Solar v. wind: which is likely to come out on top in the global stakes of grid scale power?

Jason Deign — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 02:48:29 +0000

Précis:

If you look to mature renewable energy markets such as Europe or America you could be inclined to think wind has got the edge over solar. But how will emerging renewable energy markets with tightening budgets compare the pros and cons of each?

By Jason Deign

The aim of a balanced energy mix is to ensure the lights stay on come wind, rain or shine. In renewable energy terms, these elements roughly equate to wind power, hydro and solar PV. But their mix in most markets is far from balanced.

While hydro is arguably the longest standing and most established renewable energy source, most current policy initiatives favour the newer technologies.

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PV Insider LATAM

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