12.16.2011
Hamburg, Germany

Conergy has won a contract to construct a 9 megawatt solar park in Pak Thong Chai in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima some 250 kilometres northeast of Bangkok. This will be Conergy’s fourth solar park in the country. Back in April, Conergy secured a major contract for a 12.4 megawatt solar plant in Nakhon Pathom, four hours away, and now a further large-scale project is following in the same region on behalf of local investor CH. Karnchang Public Company Limited.

Conergy will be responsible both for the planning, engineering and for supplying the components for the 79,000 square metre park. and is also acting as general contractor. In cooperation with local partner Ensys Co. Ltd, Conergy will be installing over 64,000 thin-film modules on 120 kilometres of Conergy SolarLinea mounting systems. 27 Conergy IPG 300C inverters in Conergy CIS central inverter stations will be feeding around 13,000 megawatt hours of clean energy into the Thai grid on completion of the project this coming summer.

“All around the world, ongoing climate change is increasingly entailing natural disasters, as has happened recently in Thailand,” says Alexander Lenz, President Southeast Asia & Middle East at Conergy. “These floods represented a great challenge for us – a challenge, however, that we have mastered and that is not stopping us from building further solar parks here. On the contrary. There is hardly a more convincing argument than these floods for solar as a sustainable and clean form of energy. Moreover, thanks to the comprehensive worry-free insurance, the investors of the existing parks have been protected against such flooding damages as well as the resulting interruption of the energy production.”

The Thai government has already initiated the move towards sustainable energy and plans to have achieved a solar market volume totalling 500 megawatts of installed capacity by 2020. In future, small plants on private houses might possibly also benefit from the state-guaranteed feed-in tariffs besides the large solar plants – a promising outlook for the Asian Conergy team, which saw its sales increase by more than 60% in the first nine months of 2011.

“I’m very proud of our Southeast Asia Team,” says Marc Lohoff, Corporate Vice President and President for Conergy Asia Pacific & Middle East. “The fact that they managed to secure this major order in spite of the unfortunate events in the country due to recent flood illustrates our strong position in this region – as well as in India, Australia and the Middle East. Our customers trust in our top-quality solutions and our knowhow, because they know that we realise highly efficient systems even in the most difficult environments and can even provide insurance if appropriate.”
Further details about: Conergy

http://www.solarbuzz.com/industry-news/conergy-awarded-9-mw-solar-plant-thailand

Another day, another cell efficiency record as selective emitter technology from Schmid has been used to support a claimed new cell efficiency record by customer, Sunrise Global Solar of 19.2%. The cells were verified by the University of Konstanz and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.

Importantly, the cells were produced on standard volume production equipment, based on industrial grade 6” mono-crystalline wafer material with conventional screen printed aluminum backside.

“In Schmid’s combined printing and etching process, the high phosphorous doping layer on the cell is selectively etched and only remains in those places where contacts are subsequently printed – for this purpose a wax mask is applied by an inkjet-type printer,” noted Dr. Christian Buchner, Vice President of Schmid’s Cell Business Unit. “The utilization concept of the selective emitter increases the efficiency of the solar cell by up to 0.6 percent absolute.”

“The digital inkjet printing technology and the optical characterization techniques utilized create an outstanding level of precision and process stability. Moreover, with the extremely low investment requirement and with a view to minimizing the running costs involved, this technology is well positioned to withstand the continually rising cost pressure in solar cell production – the technology capabilities of the Schmid Group have once again been proven,” added Dr. Buchner.

Sunrise CEO, Hsu Kuei-Chang commented, “Module makers are consistently seeking differentiating characteristics, as a result of our continued leadership in high efficiency cells, our customer partners are ecstatic that we can supply them world beating efficiencies on a mass produced and cost competitive level”.

The use of selective emitter technology, primarily developed by a number of PV process equipment suppliers has been a key enabler of recent cell efficiency gains using conventional production equipment with minimum investment in new technologies.

Sunrise expects to have fully ramped its first high efficiency cell fab of 330MW within the next two months.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/schmids_selective_emitter_technology_supports_sunrise_global_solars_record

In the heart of downtown Toronto, the greenest hostel in North America greets travelers from all over the world. Dynamic Solar Tech was instrumental in helping the Planet Traveler hostel earn this distinction.

Dynamic Solar Tech was able to preserve rooftop space for guests while integrating solar power into the building by designing a solar awning. Planet Traveler asked for a photovoltaic installation over the exit from the bar to the patio outside. Originally, a wood awning was going to be built to hold the solar panels but Dynamic Solar Tech saw an opportunity to create something special. The solar awning serves a dual purpose: providing shade and protection from the elements while providing approximately 6,000 kWh of solar energy per year. As the exterior walls of the bar are primarily floor-to-ceiling glass, the summer sun used to make the room uncomfortably hot. The shading that the solar awning now provides allows users to use the space quite comfortably even without the use of air-conditioning, a luxury that was impossible before the awning. Another feature of the solar awning is the use of industrial sealant to seal the seams between the solar panels. This provides a uniform surface for the elements to slide off. The awning is also visually appealing, enhancing the image of the hostel, and serves as a conversation piece for guests, a perfect ice-breaker for visitors meeting from around the world.

The 6,000kWh of electricity generated per year is approximately enough to power the hostel all year round – a testament to the energy-efficiency of the building – however, while the solar electricity could meet most of the needs of the hostel, all of the electricity generated is actually sent to the grid. The hostel generates income from this through Ontario’s Feed-in Tariff program. This enables the hostel to achieve an excellent return on investment while helping the environment.

The panels are from Solgate a manufacturer located in Woodbridge that’s been in Ontario for over 6 years – well before there was much of a solar industry to speak of. To invert the power from DC to AC, we chose Enphase Microinverters for optimal energy harvesting and per-module monitoring for the best window in to the performance of the system.

Planet Traveler is just one example of the groundbreaking solar solutions offered by Dynamic Solar Tech, a leading Canadian solar integrator. See the photos below to learn more about the process of installing this innovative solar solution.

n a move that could herald a wave of tier-1 China-based PV manufacturers switching priority away from capacity expansions to focus on the ramp of high-efficiency cells and modules, China Sunergy (CSUN) is shifting capital spending to its Quasar selective emitter monocrystalline-based cell technology. CSUN management gave clear plans during a conference call to discuss third-quarter results regarding the ramp of the Quasar technology which will replace a significant amount of existing but idled capacity by the end of 2012.

CSUN’s CEO Stephen Zhifang Cai highlighted in the call that not only did the overcapacity issue continue at the production level but it is prevalent throughout the supply chain. This has resulted in CSUN running cell production at only 60% utilization rates, while module production was down to 30% utilization, following actions that were taken to prevent inventory build in September, including US$26.8 million of inventory provision in the last quarter. A reorganization and reduction in head count was also being initiated, Cai noted.

However, Cai also explained that the company had instigated a significant increase in capital expenditures for the fourth quarter – to the tune of over US$50 million – that would primarily be used to ramp its Quasar cell technology to 140MW in the first quarter of 2012. The company is also planning to shift around 25% of its modules using the high-efficiency cells.

CSUN has spent US$13.8 million on CapEx in the third quarter, primarily for previously planned capacity expansions.

“In October [2011] we made our first commercial sale of Quasar modules to our customer in Switzerland and as first of many more to come,” commented Cai in the conference call. “Our new Quasar cell production line is consistently trending out cells with an average efficiency rate of 18.6%.

The Swiss customer mentioned by Cai was Sunergic S.A., to whom CSUN had delivered 0.30MW of the Quasar modules in mid-October, 2011.

CSUN had previously noted in the first quarter of 2011 that its Quasar cell pilot line had entered into production in May and had demonstrated a highest efficiency rate of 18.58% and a batch average of 18.35%.

“Our capacity for Quasar cell production is expected to reach 140 megawatts in the first quarter of the next year. And that we hope that next year about a quarter of our production will be of this high-tech cell. Most of the capacity expansion in that near future will be for Quasar cells, but we are slowing down our capacity expansion outside of [moduling] for the time being,” added Cai.

Commenting to PV-Tech on CSUN’s technology shift, Finlay Colville, analyst at Solarbuzz said, “Sunergy’s announcement to expand Quasar cell production lines represents an early indicator of a technology-buy cycle, albeit very much customer and process-flow specific. Ramping Quasar capacity in excess of 100MW during first-half 2012 and targeting 25% of module production next year to come from Quasar cells does come however with high levels of risk.”

However, the risks are worth taking, according to CSUN’s CEO. High-performance modules are a known way to eke-out better margins, especially when margins on standard modules with average efficiencies are almost non-existent due to the overcapacity in the volume end of the market.

“Although, our short-term financial results continue to be poor, we believe we are doing all the right things to succeed in the long run,” noted Cai in his prepared remarks during the call. He added that, “minimizing cost and our expenses, cutting output, conserving cash and developing our Quasar technology, so that what we sell is clearly differentiated from the competition.”

“Gross profit on the Quasar modules could be above $0.04 higher per watt, compared to our current modules. This technological advantage is hugely important to improving our gross margin in the medium and the long-term,” Cai said.

Colville however, remained cautious, noting that, “The process flow for Quasar cells does involve several changes from the standard cell lines and while Sunergy may indeed be seen as the trend-setters in altering front-end cell equipment in years to come, they will have to fast-track mass production optimization in-house very quickly.”

The market analyst also highlighted that Cai’s comments on gaining back lost margin by shifting production to Quasar-based modules was all about generating a sufficient delta on ASPs using Quasar modules to absorb the higher CapEx (process tool throughput limited today) and manufacturing costs.

Such criteria would therefore ultimately determine whether Quasar is more successful than Sunergy’s previous efforts to roll out selective emitter technology to the market.

“The higher power panels may be essential simply to win business, rather than win at a price premium or Quasar modules may be used as a closing strategy to help shift lower power modules from inventory,” concluded Colville.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/china_sunergy_shifting_production_priority_to_quasar_cell_technology?utm_source=PV-Tech&utm_campaign=15cccb83b4-PV_Tech_Newsletter_November_21_201111_21_2011&utm_medium=email

November 22, 2011 — PCB maker Schweizer Electronic AG has started 4 photovoltaic cell and module manufacturing lines, starting its diversification of business strategy into solar energy products.

The company founded its “Energy” business division in Spring 2011.

Schweizer opened the 4 high-efficiency module production lines in Asia, each with 100MW capacity as well as the set-up own sales channels for solar parks in China. The investment volume for the first production line amounts to $50-60 million.

SCHWEIZER says it is “investing anti-cyclically,” in order to participate in a photovoltaics buying upswing in coming quarters. “Now is the right point in time to enter the solar business,” said Dr. Marc Schweizer, CEO of Schweizer Electronic AG.

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http://www.electroiq.com/articles/pvw/2011/11/schweizer-enters-pv-market-with-4-fab-lines-in-asia.html?cmpid=EnlEIQDailyNovember232011

An aerial view of Kulim Hi-Tech Park where Panasonic’s new manufacturing facility will be based.

Panasonic has unveiled plans to build a new US$584-million PV manufacturing facility at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah, Malaysia. From wafers to modules, the 70,000m2 site will produce equipment for the entire PV chain and is further indication of Panasonic’s desire to invest in the burgeoning renewables sector.

Building work is scheduled to begin immediately and, when completed in late 2012, capacity will stand at 300MW. The Kulim Hi-Tech Park development is Panasonic’s first PV manufacturing site overseas – in October it abandoned plans to convert a television panel plant in Western Japan into a PV factory because of the rising yen – and takes the company’s total production capacity to 900MW.

Panasonic hopes to make Malaysia the manufacturing home for its latest HIT panels, which are targeted at the residential solar sector. These modules will be sold as both an individual product and as part of a system combined with storage batteries.

The Kedah facility will create around 1,500 jobs for the local workforce.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/panasonic_to_build_300mw_pv_manufacturing_plant_in_malaysia?utm_source=PV-Tech&utm_campaign=4611981747-PV_Tech_Newsletter_November_28_201111_28_2011&utm_medium=email

China’s Trina Solar, one of the world’s leading makers of photovoltaic products, will boost its production capacity 26.3 per cent to 2.4 gigawatts annually by the middle of 2012.

The bold strategy cuts against the grain, but if successful, it would put Trina Solar in a better position when the market resumes a robust expansion.

With economic instability in Europe — the world’s largest market of solar cells — the supply-demand balance for solar power products is softening , and China’s major photovoltaic makers are all now in the red. Rivals such as Suntech Power Holdings Co. have frozen plant and equipment investments and shifted their focus from expansion to profitability.

But Trina Solar has chosen to invest US$200 million to boost capacity for solar panels and solar panel modules at its main plant in China, focusing on products made using value-added solar cells with high power-generating efficiency. It hopes greater economy of scale will reduce manufacturing costs.

These products directly compete with the solar products of rival Japanese makers, so Trina Solar’s actions are bound to affect their strategies. Trina Solar conducts most of its business in China and Europe but is now hurrying to expand into other markets, including Japan.

(Nikkei)

Copyright 2011 Asia Pulse Pty Limited
All Rights Reserved

http://www.electroiq.com/photovoltaics/2011/11/1551166090/china-s-trina-solar-gambles-on-boosting-pv-capacity.html?cmpid=EnlEIQDailyNovember292011

Toronto, ONTARIO – (November 28, 2011) – Solgate Inc., Canada’s first large-scale solar PV manufacturer, announced today the expansion of their distribution channels. The company is very excited to work with new installers, distributors and project developers.

Established in 2005, Solgate Inc. has supplied panels to an impressive list of worldwide solar projects through our Canadian based, state of the art manufacturing facility. We’re excited to offer our expertise and relationship building experience to interested industry players, as well as offer our high quality Ontario FIT content certified PV modules.

“We are excited to partner with organizations seeking high quality competitively priced solar panels”, said Vadim Lyubchenko PhD, the CEO and founder of Solgate Inc. “Solgate’s panels have a proven track record of delivering profitable returns to project owners. We ensure we build not just for today, but for the long haul. Solgate is seeking to introduce our technology to new strategic partnerships and into opportunities from project developers, installers and EPCs,” added Vadim Lyubchenko.

“We are proud to offer aggressive pricing for such a high quality product to the Ontario market”, said Vadim Lyubchenko. “No orders are too big or too small; Solgate will work with you and your team to customize orders for your project.”

About Solgate Inc.
Founded and privately owned by Vadim Lyubchenko, since 2005, Solgate Inc. is a solar panel manufacturer located in Woodbridge, Ontario. In the past six years, Solgate Inc. went from manufacturing in a 3,700 square feet facility, producing 3.5 MW annually and nine employees; to a state of the art 28,000 square feet facility manufacturing 22 MW annually with the help of fifty employees and growing. Solgate is proud to deliver high quality modules that meet Ontario FIT content requirements.

We invite you to join Solgate at CanSIA’s Solar Canada 2011 Conference & Exposition at Booth #1023 to meet us in person and discuss current and future opportunities with our team members.

For any further information on how to become a Solgate Inc. distributor or for other business opportunities please contact:

Victoria Lyubchenko
Marketing Coordinator
(905)850-5540 ext. 226
victoria@solgatesolar.com
www.solgate.ca

Newton Peres
Management of Business Development
(905)850-5540 ext. 223
nperes@solgatesolar.com
www.solgate.ca

Solar Capitol? It Could Be Vineland, NJ

by Lauren Craig, November 20th, 2011

China-based vertically integrated producer and provider of PV modules, ET Solar, is now introducing the market to anti-reflective modules.

ET’s anti-reflective modules offer higher electricity production, more stable performance and lower unit cost than conventional glass based modules. Furthermore, the dense coating on the surface of the anti-reflective modules effectively delivers higher light absorption and slows the power degradation, which compares favourably to conventional glass based modules.

The anti-reflective modules are offered under ET Solar’s 25-year linear power performance warranty, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty and global technical support.

Anti-reflective PV modules are now available from ET Solar.