Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has posted two world solar cell efficiency records in as many months raising the mark on a mass-produced, crystalline silicon solar cell to 19.4 percent.

A new record efficiency level has been set for Copper-Indium-Gallium-(di)selenide (CIGS) photovoltaic devices at 16.36 percent by California-based company XsunX.

Kaco new energy has opened a two gigawatt (GW) inverter manufacturing plant in London, Ontario. Over 100 jobs are expected to be created.

Under a new agreement, Helios Solar Works will manufacture and supply photovoltaic modules to Arista Power, which is currently expanding its solar presence.

3Sun, Italy’s largest solar module factory, has been inaugurated in Catania, Sicily. A new joint venture (JV) by its owners has now been formed to install 500 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic systems using the modules produced.

GT Solar International, Inc. has received new orders worth USD$81.7 million for its polysilicon production equipment.

Phase II of Gesolar’s workshop has gone into production. The potential for over 200 new jobs has been created and an extra 180 megawatts (MW) of annual production capacity added.

Jusung Engineering Co., Ltd. and MEMC Singapore Pte. Ltd.have entered into a strategic partnership agreement to establish a solar cell production facility.

Due to oversupply in the photovoltaic market in 2010, the global inverter market is expected to decline by over 10 percent, to below $6 billion this year. The long-term outlook is, however, positive.

Suntech has terminated a solar wafer supply agreement with MEMC. It will also discontinue investment in thin film subsidiary CSG Solar AG. Overall, the company will incur expenses of around USD$236 million.