Microvision establishes first global R&D center in ... - I-Micronews

MAY 2011 issue n°112
THE DISRUPTIVE SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES MAGAZINE
PHOTOVOLTAIC
centrotherm photovoltaics & Kinetics Germany consortium signs major order
to construct fully integrated factory in Algeria
The consortium signed an agreement with state utility Société Nationale de l'Electricité et du Gaz (Sonelgaz) to construct
an almost fully integrated solar module factory in Algeria.
This factory will impress by covering the entire
solar value chain, ranging from ingot production
and solar cell manufacturing through to solar
module end-products, although it will not include the
production of silicon as a raw material. The high degree
of integration in the production of solar wafers, cells
and modules allows low production costs to be
achieved, thereby resulting in high-quality modules at
competitive prices.
The order volume for the consortium consisting of
centrotherm photovoltaics and Kinetics weighs in at
around EUR 290 million, with the largest proportion of
this amount being attributable to centrotherm
photovoltaics. In line with centrotherm photovoltaics'
company policy, the order will only be reported in the
order book if certain internal criteria are satisfied, such
as a pre-payment. As part of this turnkey project,
centrotherm photovoltaics will deliver all of the
photovoltaic systems on a turnkey basis, ranging from
multi-crystalline ingot furnaces and ingot manufacturing
through to module production, and it will provide
support to Sonelgaz all the way through to system
commissioning. Kinetics will be responsible for
engineering services, construction management, the
turnkey production of the building, and the technical
fittings for the building.
The first high-performance modules should be
produced by 2014 at the plant, which is to be
constructed at Rouiba, 30 km east of the capital Algiers.
These modules are primarily intended to supply the
domestic market. The largest solar module factory in
the African continent's second largest country will
deliver an annual production capacity of around 116
MWp and is to be constructed on a land area of around
43,000 m² – which corresponds to the size of
approximately six football fields.
With more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year,
Algeria is one of the countries with the highest solar
radiation levels in the world. According to information
provided by Algerian sources, around 6 to 8 percent of
electricity demand in Algeria is to be covered from
renewable energy by 2020, and even as much as up
to 35 percent by 2040.
www.centrotherm-pv.com
SunPower and Total Partner to create a new global leader in the solar industry
SunPower and Total announced that the two companies have entered into a broad strategic relationship to shape the
future of the solar industry.
Total Group will launch a friendly tender offer
through a wholly owned subsidiary for up to 60
percent of SunPower's outstanding Class A
Common shares and 60 percent of SunPower's
outstanding Class B Common shares at a price of
$23.25/share for each class. The offer price represents
a 46 percent premium over the April 27, 2011 closing
price of SunPower's Class A common stock and a 49
percent premium over the April 27, 2011closing price
of SunPower's Class B common stock, and values
SunPower's equity at $2.3 billion. In addition, Total will
provide SunPower with up to $1 billion of credit support
over the next five years. Following closing of the
transaction, which has been approved by the boards
of both companies, SunPower will continue to operate
with its current management team.
us.sunpowercorp.com
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New world record for mass produced conventional silicon solar cell - 19.2 percent
efficiency
Sunrise Global Solar Energy has set a new world efficiency record for mass produced conventional solar cells.
Apeak efficiency rate of up to 19.2 percent has
been reached for the first time in standard
volume production by combining Sunrise’s
unique processing know-how and the selective emitter
technology from Schmid, one of its technology
partners.
Sunrise Global Solar Energy (Sunrise) has achieved
a conventionally processed cell conversion efficiency
of 19.2 percent for the first time in industrial mass
production. Sunrise achieved this result through its
cooperation with Schmid GmbH + Co (Schmid). The
measurements were confirmed by the University of
Konstanz and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy
GT Solar announced that it has received a $93.9
million order from Taiwan-based polysilicon
producer Powertec Energy Corporation for a
complete suite of polysilicon production equipment
and technology including SDR 400 reactors,
hydrochlorination, filament and product processing
Systems, verifying the claims of the two companies.
Alongside the selective emitter technology from
Schmid and advanced processing steps optimized by
Sunrise, the cell efficiency record was otherwise
achieved in a standard single-sided screen-printed
solar cell structure – thereby setting a new global
standard for conventional solar cells. The production
runs of record solar cells which achieve a peak rate of
19.2 percent are based on industrial grade 6” monocrystalline
wafer material (Czochralski drawing) with
conventional screen printed aluminum backside.
The increased rate of efficiency reached by Sunrise
was made possible by the use of the selective emitter
equipment.The equipment will be installed in
Powertec’s new polysilicon facility which is expected
to begin production in 2012. The order will be included
in GT Solar’s backlog for its current Q1 FY12, which
ends on July 2, 2011. The SDR 400 CVD reactor has
proven capability of producing over 400 metric tons
technology developed internally by the Schmid Group
and combined with the highly optimized fabrication
steps by the Sunrise team, which has a track record
of pushing the boundaries of solar cell efficiencies.
Digital printing of etch masks on solar cells.
www.schmid-group.com
GT Solar receives $93.9 million order for polysilicon production equipment and
technology Powertec Energy Corporation
annually (MTA) of polysilicon and continues GT Solar’s
leadership position for developing the most energy
efficient reactors in the industry.
www.gtsolar.com
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