SEPA undertakes third annual solar fact finding mission for utilities
The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is currently in Japan along with 18 utility executives and managers, as part of its third annual Solar Fact Finding Mission, which takes place from 25 to 30 of this month.
U.S. researcher awarded grant to help build efficient organic solar cells
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has presented a South Dakota State University researcher with a grant of USD$400,000 USD$80,000 per year for the next five years, in order to build new high-performance organic solar cells with increased efficiency.
New world efficiency record set for thin film tandem junction silicon module, says Sunfilm
Sunfilm AG has announced it has set a world record of 9.6 percent total area efficiency for a thin film tandem junction silicon solar module of 2.6 meters x 2.2 meters. The record module, Model F, achieved a maximum stabilized output power of 546 Wp, says the company.
Yingli and Innovalight to collaborate on silicon ink project
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited has signed a technology, research and production collaboration agreement with Innovalight, Inc. under which they will attempt to raise the average efficiency of the multicrystalline cells produced on its commercial production lines.
Solar powered aircraft breaks number of world records as it prepares to land after two weeks in the air
QinetiQ will today bring Zephyr, its solar powered high-altitude long endurance (HALE) Unmanned Air System (UAS) back to earth after two weeks in the air. Celebrating, the company says it has smashed a number of long-standing official and unofficial world records.
Applied Materials announces restructuring due to negative impact on thin film market
Applied Materials, Inc. has announced its plans to restructure its Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) segment, to put a primary emphasis on opportunities in crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar and advanced energy, including light emitting diode (LED) technology. As part of the restructuring, Applied says it will discontinue sales to new customers of its SunFab fully integrated lines for manufacturing thin film solar panels.
Dow Corning and University of Toledo to collaborate on solar research?
Researchers at Dow Corning and the University of Toledo (UT) have signed a memorandum of understanding to engage in collaborative discussions on photovoltaic (PV) solar research and development efforts to help reduce the cost of solar energy, in order to make it a viable and economically competitive energy option globally.
Manz Automation expands CIGS thin film business model under 50 million agreement with Würth Solar
Manz Automation AG has signed a know-how licensing and strategic alliance agreement with Würth Solar GmbH & Co. KG. Under the 50 million agreement, Manz gains exclusive rights to the use to Würth Solars Copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS) production technology and exclusive access to their research results regarding CIGS modules on glass substrates.
SRC establishes USD$5 million industry-university partnership; PV research center to be established
The Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) has established a USD$5 million industry-university Energy research Initiative (ERI). It will initially address two areas: photovoltaics (PV) and systems and technologies to enable and optimize smart grids.
Imec reports record efficiencies for large-area epitaxial thin film silicon solar cells
Imec says it has realized large-area (70cm2) epitaxial solar cells with efficiencies of up to 16.3 percent on high-quality substrates. Efficiencies of up to 14.7 percent were also achieved on large-area low-quality substrates, thus demonstrating “the potential of thin film epitaxial solar cells for industrial manufacturing”.
