Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's)
center for PV research maintains an international communications system called the NCPV Hotline. The
Hotline increases knowledge and awareness of PV industry and research happenings. Hotline
participants receive important news items via email related to PV activities around the world. The contents
have been relatively uncensored, because we depend on the good judgment of the contributors to
separate fact from rumor.
Related Links
Current and Archived NCPV Hotline Issues
Disclaimer
Subscribe/Unsubscribe
Send email to Carol Riordan at NREL including your name, organization, and e-mail address
1
Ascent Solar Strategic Alliance with Kirloskar, India
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. announced that it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with
Kirloskar Integrated Technologies Limited, India under which the two companies will commence
integration, marketing and distribution of Ascent Solar’s flexible CIGS PV modules into products designed
to address multiple market opportunities in India.
Press at: http://tinyurl.com/yfe2b4s
Kirloskar: http://kirloskarapps.kirloskar.com/kirloskar/web/home.html
2
1366 Technologies Partnership with RENA
1366 Technologies announced it has partnered with RENA to incorporate 1366 Technologies’ Self-
Aligned Cell technology into a complete cell production process.
Press at: http://tinyurl.com/yey2afw
1366 Technologies: http://www.1366tech.com/v2/
RENA: http://www.rena.com/
SCHOTT Outlook
SCHOTT’s outlook is featured in the press at ENF.cn: http://news.enf.cn/en/news/news_13676.html
PVSC Registration
Registration is now open for the 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 20-25 June at the Hawaii
Convention Center.
Press at: http://tinyurl.com/ygk2wco
PVSC Hawaii: http://www.ieee-pvsc.org/PVSC35/index.html
3
In related solar news…
Nanosolar CEO
Nanosolar announced it has named Geoff Tate as CEO.
Press at: http://www.nanosolar.com/company/blog#152
http://tinyurl.com/y9cl4sg
http://tinyurl.com/yh9vnqx
and others…
4
SpectraWatt Funding
SpectraWatt has received $41.4 million in investor funding.
Press at: http://tinyurl.com/yzlm48h
SpectraWatt: http://www.spectrawatt.com/
SolarBridge Grant
Austin-based SolarBridge Technologies has received a $1.5-milliion grant from the Texas Emerging
Technology Fund to develop technology for residential and small commercial solar installations.
Press at: http://tinyurl.com/y9svg6x
SolarBridge: http://www.solarbridgetech.com/
Voltaix Financing
Voltaix has received $10 million in equity financing from MissionPoint Capital Partners.
Press at PVSociety: http://tinyurl.com/y898bmw
Voltaix: http://www.voltaix.com/
5
Solar in Italy
Greentech Media has posted “On Italy, PV, and Overheated Markets” at: http://tinyurl.com/ya5k7yf
Renewables in Colorado
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed a bill into law requiring that 30% of electricity be generated from
renewable sources by 2020. Press at: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14735606
Photovoltaics Summit
The Photovoltaics Summit is set for 3-5 May in San Diego, California.
Information at: http://www.photovoltaicssummit.com/
Solar Summit
See “Exciting new developments lead-up to the 3rd Solar Energy & Finance Summit USA” at CSP Today:
http://tinyurl.com/yf3ofje
Summit: http://tinyurl.com/yhlr4e7
6
Ventizz Capital Fund IV Acquisition of Sovello AG [Konrad Sell]
The owners of Sovello AG signed a contract with Ventizz Capital Fund IV, L.P. to sell 100% of their
interest in Sovello to the fund.
Press at: http://tinyurl.com/ykhtbdx
http://tinyurl.com/ylomkel
Ventizz: http://www.ventizz.de/en/index.php
Q-Cells Update
Q-Cells has posted an update at: http://tinyurl.com/yf8l88u
PV-Tech: http://tinyurl.com/yzlr7kt
RECHARGE News: http://www.rechargenews.com/energy/solar/article209387.ece
http://tinyurl.com/ye8ya6j
SunPower Featured
SunPower is featured in the article at Geentech Media at: http://tinyurl.com/y9h86e4
7
aleo solar Update
ENF.cn and Solarbuzz cover an update on aleo solar AG at:
http://news.enf.cn/en/news/news_13724.html
http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsEUCO935.htm
aleo solar: http://www.aleo-solar.de/en/aleo-solar-download-the-sun.html
PV Installations in Italy
See “Italian 2009 PV installation figures still climbing!?” at PV-Tech’s blog at: http://tinyurl.com/yfjcv94
Bulgarian FIT
According to this press, the Bulgarian State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission has published a
proposal to lower the country’s solar feed-in tariff rates.
Press at PV-Tech: http://www.pv-tech.org/news/_a/bulgarian_officials_propose_fit_cuts/
PV Scalability
See “PV – A Question of Scale” at RenewableEnergyWorld: http://tinyurl.com/ycpn2p3
Structural Adhesives
See “Structural adhesives: A bonding alternative for solar panels” at Photovoltaics World:
http://tinyurl.com/ygz92cy
Solar Forecasting
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego are developing forecasting tools to give electricity
distributors advance warning of meteorological changes affecting solar output.
Press at PVSociety: http://tinyurl.com/ycpojjn
8
Old Farmland for Solar Sites
See the story on old farmland for solar sites at the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/y9bwbde
9
Sharp Production Capacity
With an initial production capacity of 160 MW, Sharp has started volume production at its 1-GW a-Si thin-
film plant in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
Press at PV-Tech: http://tinyurl.com/yfrkla9 and http://tinyurl.com/ycw7q2n
10
New Chinese Polysilicon Production Plant Using PPP Process Technology and Equipment
Package [Dan Feinberg]
Ledian Tianwei Silicon Technology Co. Ltd. has started up its polysilicon production plant in Leshan,
Sichuan Province, China. The company contracted with Poly Plant Project, Inc., purchasing PPP’s
process technology and equipment package.
Press at: http://tinyurl.com/yezraun
Poly Plant Project: http://www.PolyPlantProject.com/
T-Solar Plans
According to this press, T-Solar is considering an IPO to finance international expansion.
Press at PV-Tech: http://tinyurl.com/y8u73d9 and http://tinyurl.com/ylp75rh
http://tinyurl.com/ylp64we
T-Solar: http://www.tsolar.eu/en/index.html
Oerlikon Update
See an update on Oerlikon at: http://tinyurl.com/y9m9ql3
11
PV Crystalox Solar Results
PV Crystalox Solar PLC and its subsidiaries announced preliminary results for the year ended 31
December. Press ENF.cn: http://news.enf.cn/en/news/news_13770.html
PV Crystalox: http://www.pvcrystalox.com/index.html
Sungevity Featured
Greentech Media features Sungevity at: http://tinyurl.com/yddfub8
See also “Sungevity Enters Solar Lease Space” at RenewableEnergyWorld: http://tinyurl.com/yertvv2
Sungevity: http://www.sungevity.com/
Odersun COO
Odersun AG announced the appointment of Mr. Frank Prein as its COO.
Press at: http://tinyurl.com/ybxm2rl
12
Spire Simulator to Saflex
Spire has shipped its 100th Spi-Sun Simulator 4600 SLP to Saflex Solar Encapsulants, a unit of Solutia.
Press at PV-Tech: http://tinyurl.com/ycbr8ue
Spire: http://www.spirecorp.com/
PV Market in 2009
See “The PV Market in 2009 – How Much Did It Really Grow By?” at PV-Tech: http://tinyurl.com/yh796gf
UK Solar Market
SolarPlaza has posted “UK solar market awaits major boost” at: http://tinyurl.com/yzov9tn
Czech PV Market
See “Czech PV market in danger due to new Ministerial Decree” at SolarPlaza: http://tinyurl.com/ycvs5h9
Bulgarian PV Market
SolarPV.TV has posted “Bulgarian Solar PV Market 2010 and beyond” at: http://solarpv.tv/interviews.html
SEMI PV Group European Crystalline Cell Technology and Manufacturing Group [Carlos Lee]
Eight European crystalline solar cell manufacturers are the charter members of the SEMI Crystalline Cell
Technology and Manufacturing Group. Press at PV Society: http://tinyurl.com/ye9xc8f
http://www.semi.org/en/Press/CTR_035592
PV Manufacturing
Download the March 2010 issue of PV Manufacturing from i-Micronews at:
http://www.i-micronews.com/newsletterpv.asp
Photovoltaics World
The March 2010 Issue of Photovoltaics World is on line at:
http://www.electroiq.com/index/photovoltaics.html
13
Intersolar North America
Intersolar North America has confirmed that more than 80% of exhibitor space has been sold for the July
13-15 exhibition in San Francisco, California. Pres at PV-Tech: http://tinyurl.com/ye2k9cd
MENASOL 2010
CSP today has posted “UNESCO partners with MENASOL 2010 and will be discussing the role of solar in
the region” at: http://tinyurl.com/ygwe9r4
http://tinyurl.com/yfle7gt
http://www.newsolartoday.com/solar-conference/
Siemens Featured
CSP Today features Siemens AG in the press at: http://tinyurl.com/ydhfglk
14
LOGT PV Project in China
Lite-On Green Technologies announced it has signed with local governments in Jiangsu Province,
eastern China to establish grid-connected thin-film PV systems with a total capacity of 41 MWp in the
province. Press at DigiTimes: http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100330VL200.html
LDK Results
LDK Solar Co., Ltd. reported its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter ended 31 December.
Press at: http://tinyurl.com/ye2l95j
LDK Solar: http://www.ldksolar.com/
15
SolarPV.TV Weekly News
The latest edition of SolarPV.TV Weekly News is on line at: http://solarpv.tv/
Suntech Featured
Greentech Media features Suntech in the press at: http://tinyurl.com/y8qr2qd
PRIMA Project
IMEC has started work on a collaborative research project to improve the efficiency and cost of solar cells
through the use of metallic nanostructures.
More on the PRIMA project at: http://tinyurl.com/yevcewv
PRIMA: https://projects.imec.be/prima/
16
SunPower Power Plants in Italy
SunPower Corp. and Sol.In.Build Srl, a subsidiary of Veronagest SpA, announced an agreement to build
7 PV power plants totaling 16.5 MW in the Sicily region of Italy.
Press at: http://tinyurl.com/yddeg3b
SunPower: http://us.sunpowercorp.com/
Veronagest: http://www.veronagest.com/
Inverter Shortage
See “Inverter Shortage Hobbling European Solar Installations” at: http://tinyurl.com/ykajl2u
17
CEC Grants to NREL for PV Grid Integration
The California Energy Commission awarded NREL $2,785,000 in California Solar Initiative Research,
Development, Deployment and Demonstration grants. The grants are part of the commission’s first
solicitation for projects that focus on integrating PV into the utility grid. More on the projects in the press
at: http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2010/826.html
PV in Italy
SolarPV.TV covers PV in Italy in an interview with Angello Nogara, Assosolare, at:
http://tinyurl.com/y97x7c3
Intersolar India
Intersolar India will be held in Mumbai this year on 14-16 December.
Press at PV-Tech: http://tinyurl.com/ybfaadb
Intersolar India: http://www.intersolar.in/index.php?id=2&L=1
Oko-Test Marks
Oko-Test marks are highlighted in press from solar companies, for example: http://tinyurl.com/yhdbtt3
http://www.glassonweb.com/news/index/11113/
http://tinyurl.com/ykw3kcf
Sunways Results
Sunways reported 2009 financial results.
Press at Solarbuzz: http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsEUCO941.htm
Sunways: http://www.sunways.eu/de/
18
Camstar eBook
Camstar Systems, Inc. announced its eBook, “Taking the Solar Industry Beyond Grid Parity” at:
http://tinyurl.com/yb5ongn http://www.camstar.com/sites/solar/ebook-solar.htm
CSP Markets
For information on EER’s “Global Concentrated Solar Power Markets and Strategies: 2010-2025” see:
http://tinyurl.com/ycvj25y
19