Manufacturing

Solaire Generation has been selected to supply solar parking canopies for what it says is one of the largest solar power installations at a single commercial site in the U.S.

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd has said that due to “booming” demand, it will expand its crystalline silicon solar cell production capacity from 1.4 gigawatts (GW) to 1.8 GW by the end of the year. The company has also increased this year’s shipment target from 1.3 GW to 1.5 GW, which is “more than double total shipments for 2009”. The news comes as it announces its second quarter (Q2) results. ?

Trina Solar (U.S.) Inc., has signed a sales agreement to supply 35 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaics solar modules this year to SunEdison, a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. The modules are expected to be utilized by SunEdison for projects in North America and Europe.

The largest single major polysilicon production facility in Taiwan is underway following a deal between Germany-based centrotherm photovoltaics AG and Taiwan PolySilicon Corp. (TPSI). With an annual capacity of 5,000 tons, and an upgrade option of 8,000 tons, centrotherm’s subsidiary, centrotherm SiTec designed the facility.

The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has announced that following a 30-day consultation period, it has finalized the price for the new microFIT ground-mounted solar price category at 64.2 Canadian cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).??

Solarfun Power Holdings Co., Ltd., based in China, has signed a photovoltaics (PV) module distribution agreement with Japanese company, Fujimi Fine Technology Inc., a manufacturer of silicon wafers and distributor of semiconductor products.

Sky Solar Holdings Co., Ltd, and Sinoma International Engineering Co., Ltd, a cement engineering system integration service provider, have joined hands to establish a new photovoltaics (PV) company in Beijing, China.

LDK Solar Co., Ltd. is to invest in a 1.5-gigawatt (GW) solar cell and module facility in Hefei High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in China, following an invitation from the country’s the Anhui Provincial Government. The aim, says the company, is to establish a renewable energy manufacturing hub in the Province.

Germany-based Solon SE has reached an agreement with British project developer, 35 Degrees Ltd, to build a 1.3 megawatt peak (MWp) photovoltaics (PV) solar power plant near Bissoe in Cornwall, the U.K. Pending the necessary planning permits for the energy park, the company says it could be the first ground-mounted solar power plant ever built in the country.

SunPower Corp. has announced that it has signed an agreement with Arizona Public Service (APS) in the U.S. to design and construct a 15-megawatt (MW) (AC) solar photovoltaics (PV) power system at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona. Scheduled for completion next summer, it is expected to be the largest solar power installation at a U.S. government facility. According to the company, approximately 550 local jobs will be created during construction.