Category: Solar

Intersolar Europe Presents The Latest Trends In Photovoltaics

The Future of Solar Power at the World’s Largest Exhibition for the Solar Industry Munich, May 18, 2011. Technological developments in the area of photovoltaics are advancing daily. As a result, the cost of solar power is falling and new concepts are being developed for generating electricity in the future. Photovoltaics plays a major role… Read more »

BTU International Appoints Dante Ballerini as Manager, Information Technology

BTU International, a leading supplier of advanced thermal processing equipment for the alternative energy and electronics manufacturing markets, today announced the appointment of Dante Ballerini as Manager, Information Technology. Ballerini comes to BTU with an extensive background in managing information technology in manufacturing environments. Prior to accepting the position with BTU, Ballerini was director of… Read more »

SunEnergy Americas makes an impact at NYSERDA Solar & Wind Workshop

Leading solar energy provider, SunEnergy Americas, attended the recent Solar & Wind Workshop held by the New York State Energy Research and Development (NYSERDA) organization. The company’s North American Project Sales Manager, Robert Holz, was a major contributor to the event’s solar energy program, joining representatives from the likes of EmPower Solar Energy Solutions, Renewable… Read more »

Targray Showcases Solar Product Portfolio at InterSolar Europe

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, May 16, 2011-Targray Technology International announces its upcoming participation at InterSolar Europe, the world’s largest exhibition for the Solar industry, taking place in Munich, Germany, June 8th – 10th. The Company will exhibit its highly differentiated and critical suite of solar manufacturing materials-which includes Solar Silicon, Silver Paste, Aluminum Paste, Encapsulant, Targets,… Read more »

BTU International Wins EM Asia Innovation Award for TRITAN Metallization Firing Furnace

BTU International, Inc. a leading supplier of advanced thermal processing equipment and processes for the alternative energy and electronics manufacturing markets, announces that it has been awarded a 2011 EM Asia Innovation Award in the category of Alternative Energy – Production Equipment for its TRITANTM Metallization Firing System. The award was presented to the company… Read more »

aleo solar exhibits at Solar 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina / Most stringent salt spray test passed

aleo solar AG today announced that it will be attending the Solar 2011 exhibition and participate in the accompanying National Solar Conference, in Raleigh, North Carolina, from Tuesday 17 May to Saturday 21 May 2011. Now in its 40th year, the National Solar Conference is the longest-running educational event for solar energy professionals in the… Read more »

The new online presence of Sputnik Engineering is modern, clear, and informative

Regardless of whether you are interested in SolarMax string or central inverters, or the data communication solution MaxComm – everything is available on the new website of Sputnik Engineering AG. To reduce time-consuming browsing, the new, clearly structured navigation on www.solarmax.com provides an easy route to finding the required information about each product. Technical data,… Read more »

Summer is fast approaching

Summer is fast approaching, but you won’t find us at PES heading off to the coast just yet, for this is our busiest time of year. And it seems, from the many conversations we had at the recent Solarexpo 2011, it’s also a very productive quarter for many of you. It was encouraging to witness… Read more »

3S Modultec client KISCO starts module production in record time

With the help of 3S Swiss Solar Systems, a member of Meyer Burger Technology Ltd [Ticker: MBTN], the Korean solar company, KISCO has completed the certification of its module production in Korea within a period of just a few weeks. This means that KISCO has not only achieved production start-up but also certification in record… Read more »

Carl Zeiss Reports Global Growth

Carl Zeiss has ended the first six months of fiscal year 2010/11 with a substantial improvement in sales and earnings over the previous year: revenues totaled EUR 2.143 billion, and earnings before income tax (EBIT) EUR 355 million. In addition to the full consolidation of the eyeglass business as the new Vision Care business group… Read more »

Sharp Electronics combines its solar modules with inverters made by Sputnik Engineering

The solar branch of the electronics corporation Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH increasingly draws on inverters from Sputnik Engineering. Since May Sharp uses SolarMax inverters of the Swiss manufacturer in its new “Sharp PV kits”. Up to this point in time, Sharp distributed its complete systems for rooftop installations internationally under the brand name “Hamburger Dach”…. Read more »

Ceramics give the industry a bright future

The emerging solar technology industry faces increased pressure to drive down production costs, increase efficiencies and thus increase competitiveness in the marketplace. Jaime Schmitt, Phil McGraw and Kevin McAloon look at the growing use of ceramics in solar cell production, which is bringing grid parity for solar power closer than ever before. World energy consumption… Read more »

Powering into energy-efficiency market

With investment totalling £6m and a substantial contract win from a housing association under his belt, it’s no wonder former group managing director of Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE), Adrian Pike, is feeling positive about the future. He has taken an ambitious leap from the corporate world into the rapidly expanding solar and energy efficiency… Read more »

Solar photovoltaic electricity in the UK: lessons from the European experience

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) electricity is poised to become a significant and competitive supplier to the European electricity market. The UK has traditionally lagged behind markets like Germany, however, the introduction of a Feed in Tariff (FiT) is changing the scene. Whilst boosting the share of PV can contribute to reaching the UK’s ambitious renewable energy… Read more »

Economic Downturn Bites Into Germanys PV Industry

The reduction in Feed-in Tariffs and an overall declining economic climate along with a less than sympathetic Federal government are combining to make the going tough for Germany’s PV industry with many manufacturers now looking to increase their markets substantially abroad. PES reports on a difficult situation in the country that many others looked to… Read more »

Metallization still holds most promise for solar cell efficiency

In the complex series of processes that are undertaken to create a fully-functioning solar cell from an ingot of pure silicon, it is generally accepted that advances in the metallization process hold the key to greater cell efficiency. In this area DEK Solar focuses its talents exclusively on the process and is rapidly emerging as… Read more »

Enviable growth spurs on control technique specialists

Andy Green has worked for Emerson Control Techniques for 25 years, holding various positions including those of Systems Sales Director and General Manager. For the past three years, in the position of Industry Development Manager – Solar Inverters, he has channelled his knowledge of grid tie inverter applications in support of Emerson’s goal of becoming… Read more »

Setting the new supplier standard

Customer needs are continually evolving and business requirements are forever changing. Nowhere is this more apparent than with the renewable energy industry. For Luvata, an early pioneer in the photovoltaic (PV) industry, a lot has changed in just a few short years. In this frank interview, Jussi Helavirta, Executive Vice-President of Luvata’s Special Products division… Read more »

To stay ahead of the PV pack, select the right vacuum

A venerable German company with a longstanding reputation for the development of application- and customer-specific systems for the creation of vacuums and extraction of processing gases, Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum is well-known throughout the industry. Here, PES speaks to Kavreet Bhangu, Global Head of Market Segment Solar / SEMI / Coating, about how the company has… Read more »

Sunny future for solar camera applications

Germany-based PCO was founded in 1987 to develop and produce specialised fast and sensitive video camera systems, mainly for scientific applications. Nowadays the company’s extensive product range covers digital camera systems with high dynamic range, high resolution, high speed and low noise, which are sold in the scientific and industrial market all over the world…. Read more »

Module quality: a critical consideration

When installing off-grid solar PV systems that often last for a quarter of a century, quality and reliability are perhaps the two most two vital factors. But with a vast (and growing) portfolio on offer to the consumer, it can be difficult to make the right decision. PES asked Richard Lowe of Dulas to takea look at the technologies… Read more »

Producing Tomorrows Solar Technology Today

ROFIN is an acknowledged worldwide leader in the development and manufacturing of industrial lasers. With over 35 years’ experience in laser material processing the Switzerland-based company uses this invaluable knowledge to develop solutions for almost any laser application in solar cell manufacturing. PES spoke to Richard Hendel: Contacts Sales Manager Photovoltaic, about the company and… Read more »

Considering rooftop PV installations

Solar PV is leads the way in terms of applicable renewable technology with demonstrable benefits. But while photovoltaics have the potential to make a significant reduction to a building’s overall energy, they also carry with them sizeable installation and application considerations. PES investigates. Building design has changed dramatically in recent years with sustainable solutions becoming… Read more »

Staying ahead of the solar game

Since its formation in 2005 Sovello has distinguished itself through technological innovation, as well as demonstrating its forthright vision and its desire to be the world’s most sustainable solar company. Here, PES catches up with the company’s Konrad Sell, Specialist Corporate Communications manager … PES: Welcome to the magazine. We note you produce string ribbon… Read more »

Countdown to a crisis?

How the global crunch on natural resources is threatening to derail Europe’s PV industry There could be trouble brewing for Europe’s PV industry in the wake of a decision over mineral mining, taken in Beijing. The Chinese Government wants to severely restrict the mining of rare metals in the country, and the problem for us… Read more »

Tackling the quality challenge

With more than 26 years’ sales and business management experience, James Payne is the Managing Director of Upsolar Germany GmbH. He has worked with some of the world’s largest companies including Bombardier Transportation and Xerox, although he started his business career selling Apple Computers which eventually led him to start his own Apple-Authorised Dealership at… Read more »

Bentek Solars Circuit Breaker Bi Polar Re Combiners Receive Ul 1741 Listing And Csa 222 Certification

Bentek Solar, a leader in Balance of System (BOS) design and manufacturing for commercial and utility scale solar PV products, has received UL 1741 listing and CSA 22.2 certification for its Bi-Polar Circuit Breaker Re-Combiners. The Bi-Polar Circuit Breaker Re-Combiners were designed and manufactured specifically for bi-polar inverters and provide both positive and negative circuit breakers in one NEMA… Read more »

aleo solar exhibits at Solar Industry Summit – UK 2011 and passes salt spray test

aleo solar AG [ISIN: DE000A0JM634] will be attending the Solar Industry Summit – UK 2011 conference in London from Thursday 12th May to Friday 13th May 2011. At the conference, industry representatives will be discussing the current situation and prospects of the UK solar energy market. also solar also announced that its aleo S_18 module… Read more »

Meyer Burger with strategic important order from Monocrystal – a worldwide leading manufacturer of sapphire crystals and wafers in optoelectronics

MB Wafertec a group member of the Meyer Burger Group successfully concluded an important order of approximately CHF 4.5 million with Monocrystal, Russia, a long-standing partner and worldwide leading technology company in the industry of optoelectronics. Monocrystal will receive high precision wire saws equipped with diamond wire technology for the slicing of synthetic sapphire into… Read more »

SOLON and Tata Steel Europe develop innovative photovoltaic product for lightweight roofs with the Sustainable Building Envelope Centre (SBEC)

SOLON SE, one of Europe’s leading photovoltaic manufacturers, Tata Steel Europe and The Sustainable Building Envelope Centre (SBEC), have joined forces to address the growing demand for an intelligent combination of photovoltaic system and metal roof covering. The resulting product, which consists of a photovoltaic system from SOLON and a pre-finished steel roofing product based… Read more »

Meyer Burger receives antitrust clearance by the German Federal Cartel Office in conjunction with its takeover of Roth & Rau AG

Meyer Burger Technology Ltd [Ticker: MBTN] published today that the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) gave its antitrust clearance for the takeover of Roth & Rau AG and associated merging of the two companies. Peter Pauli, Chief Executive Officer of Meyer Burger Technology Ltd, said: “We are very pleased that the Federal Cartel Office came… Read more »

centrotherm photovoltaics achieves significant revenue and earnings growth on strong new order inflow in Q1 2011

In its Silicon & Wafer segment, centrotherm photovoltaics achieved revenues of EUR 29.3 million with the sale of silicon production technology and systems (prior-year period: EUR 43.3 million). Segment operating earnings (EBIT) were reported at EUR 2.2 million (prior-year period: EUR 7.0 million). The segment order book stood at EUR 259.5 million as of March… Read more »

Applied Materials’ HCT B5 Wire Saws Selected by GCL-Poly for Solar Manufacturing

Applied Materials, Inc., the leading equipment supplier to the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, announced today that GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd., China’s largest producer of polysilicon wafers for solar PV applications in 2010*, has placed a significant order for Applied’s HCT B5TM wire saws. The systems, which represent more than 2.5 gigawatts of wafering capacity, are scheduled to begin shipping… Read more »

Trojan Battery Expands Agm Line To Support A Wider Range Of Solar Applications

Trojan Battery Company, the world’s leading manufacturer of deep-cycle batteries, today announced expansion of its AGM product line for the renewable energy(RE) market space with the launch of the U1-AGMand 22-AGMmodels. The new deep-cycle AGM batteries address the power needs of renewable energy off-grid and grid-tied solar home systems, solar lighting, industrial and backup power… Read more »