PVfacts from 10.2012 - ISC Konstanz

PVfacts no. 01.2012 | »research, development & expansion«
PV
facts
10.2012
Fortschritte am ISC Konstanz
Progress at the ISC Konstanz
News from Worldwide listed by
Es tut sich viel am ISC. Ein Kind wächst einfach, es
spricht nicht darüber – 2007 gab es den letzten
newsletter. Für diejenigen, die nicht häufig am ISC
Konstanz sind, möchten wir hier über Entwicklungen
und Pläne berichten.
Market News:
Im letzten Jahr sind wir in der Solarzellenforschung
weiter gekommen (>19% Wirkungsgrad auf Cz, >17%
auf mc) – wir konnten exzellente Ergebnisse mit IBC
Solarzellen erreichen und haben völlig
Effekte entdeckt (z.B. „Degradation in dark“).
Das ISC wächst – inzwischen arbeiten am ISC Konstanz
42 Mitarbeiter in fester Anstellung. Der Netzwerk-
Gedanke führt auch zu Beteiligungen: Der ISC hat sich
an seinem spin-off Unternehmen neonsee beteiligt und
ist Mitglied bei dem Mikrosystemtechnik Institut HSG-
IMIT (Villingen Schwenningen).
Forschung
Am ISC forschen wir mit und für unsere Industrie-Partner
und im Rahmen öffentlicher Forschungsprojekte.
Hier möchten wir exemplarisch drei Projekte vorstellen,
die wissenschaftlich oder technologisch interessant
sind:
Im Rahmen des EU Projektes LIMA wurde am
ISC in weniger als einem Jahr eine Siebdruckbasierte
IBC Zelle mit 19,4% Wirkungsgrad
entwickelt (2 × 2 cm²).
Im Rahmen des BMU geförderten Projektes
enSol haben wir gemeinsam mit BOSCH eine n-
Typ Solarzelle mit 18,6% Wirkungsgrad (Cz,
15,6 × 15,6 cm², Siebdruck-Kontakte) entwickelt
(19,1% auf 10 × 10 cm² gesputterte
Kontakte). Bis Mitte 2011 sollen über 19%
Wirkungsgrad in einem industriellen Prozess
entwickelt sein.
Hocheffizienter Zellen aus SoG- („solar grade“)
Silizium wurden gemeinsam mit ELKEM Solar
und 6N-Silicon entwickelt: Mit mc Silizium
wurden η=16,6% / 16,3% mit 100% solar SoG
und η=16,8% mit 65% ELKEM SoG-Material am
ISC prozessiert.
Importance
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sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna
aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud
exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquid ex ea
commodi consequat.
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cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint
obcaecat cupiditat non proident, sunt in culpa qui
IMS Research: first signs of recovery for the PV market in 2H 2013
neuartige officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
31.10.2012: According to the latest report from UK market research company IMS
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Research, the global photovoltaic (PV) market will see the first real signs of recovery
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in the second half of 2013. In the third quarter of 2012, global revenue for the
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crystalline and thin-film module industry fell 7% quarter over quarter to $6.63 billion.
et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum
IMS Research expects this downward trend to continue for the next several quarters.
zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi.
However, after bottoming out in the first quarter of next year at well under $6 billion,
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the industry will see inital signs of growth in the second quarter. The industry, though,
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will not surpass $7 billion again until the fourth quarter of 2013, at the earliest. IMS
Research states that pricing pressures will continue to plague the industry, but it notes
Research
that overcapacity issues would have been much worse if Germany had not installed so
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much new PV capacity in the second quarter.
Source: IMS Research
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commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in
hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat:
vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at
vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim
qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit
augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi.
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option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod
mazim placerat facer possim assum. Lorem
ipsum dolor sit amet,
consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam
nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet
dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi
enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci
tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut
aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem
vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate
velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolor
.Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud
exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit
consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam
IV Messwerte für Si mit unterschiedlichem Anteil an SoG ELKEM
Material (oben: multikristallines, unten monokristallines).
IV characteristics for ELKEM material (upper part of table:
Publications

PVfacts no. 01.2012 | »research, development & expansion«
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facts
10.2012
News from Europe listed by Importance
FeedIn News:
German aerospace company MBB plans to develop a 100 MW PV project in southern
Spain
29.10.2012: German aerospace company Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) plans
to build a 100 MW photovoltaic (PV) project in the southern Spanish region of Murcia.
Local news source Murcia.com reports that the company’s head of development,
Hans Schmitz, presented the project, named Huerto Solar Caracava, during a press
conference held in the Municipality of Caracava de la Cruz, which is where the power
plant will be installed. The municipality said it is fully committed to the project and will
facilitate the permitting process. MBB said it plans to invest approximately €100 million
($123 million) in the project. In recent months, several developers have announced
new large-scale PV projects in Spain despite the fact that the government no longer
offers incentives to new renewable energy projects. These projects, to be developed
outside of any incentive scheme, will sell their output at market rates. The majority of
these newly announced projects are to be located in the regions of Murcia and
Extremadura.
Source: Murcia.com
Company News:
Sunways improves solar cell performance
31.10.2012: Germany-based solar cell and inverter manufacturer Sunways AG, a
subsidiary of Chinese PV company LDK Solar, has improved the efficiency of its
commercially available solar cells. Sunways said its monocrystalline solar cells have
achieved a peak efficiency of 19.4%. Its multicrystalline cells, meanwhile, have
achieved a peak efficiency of 17.9%. The results were confirmed by independent
entity, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE CalLab). Sunways said
it achieved the increased efficiency through various improvements to the
manufacturing process and changes to key solar cell properties. These include
improvements to the front metalization and surface structure that resulted in reduced

PVfacts no. 01.2012 | »research, development & expansion«
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facts
10.2012
shading and reflection losses.
Source: Sunways AG
Serbian government and Securum signed binding agreeement for 1 GW solar park
31.10.2012: Luxembourg-based holding company Securum Equity Partners has
signed a binding agreement with the Serbian government to develop 1 GW of
photovoltaic (PV) projects in Serbia. First announced in May, the €1.755 billion
($2.266 billion) OneGiga project will consist of one hundred 10 MW PV power plants
spread across Serbia. The PV systems will be built by Serbian EPC contractor MX
Group South East Europe, a subsidiary of Malta-based MX Group International Ltd.,
and the resulting 100 companies will be managed by Naxxar Company Management,
part of Malta-based Naxxar Holding. In addition to the OneGiga project, Securum
plans to build its own 60 MW module factory in Serbia as well as an 80 MW inverter
factory using technology provided by Fimer SpA. In June, MX Group shut down
module production in Italy. Soon after, the company informed trade unions that it
closed the Italian factory because the Serbian government had cancelled a 1 GW
supply contract. In May, the Serbian government said construction on the two-to-fiveyear
project could begin as early as this year.
Source: Securum Equity Partners
Conergy loss
24.10.2012: Germay-based solar company Conergy AG announced it has lost more
than half of its share capital: at the close of September 2012, Conergy’s equity stood
at €72 million ($94 million). The company will therefore soon hold an extraordinary
general meeting. Conergy explains that a contract termination with wafer supplier
MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. led to its current situation. Conergy CEO Philip
Comberg assures shareholders that no capital measures are planned and that
business operations remain unaffected. In late September, Conergy terminated a
$600 million wafer supply agreement with MEMC that was due to last until 2018. As a
consequence, Conergy has now forfeited a $21 million cash security deposit it paid
MEMC in 2007. This one-time negative impact on earnings will be recorded this year.
The contract termination means Conergy will now be able to purchase wafers at a
more competitive price.
Source: Conergy AG
Ikea to be energy independent by 2020
24.10.2012: Home furnishings retailer Ikea has launched a new global strategy
focused on sustainability, energy independence and energy efficiency. Under the
People & Planet Positive strategy, Ikea aims to become energy independent by the
end of the decade, offsetting 100% of its electricity consumption with renewable

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facts
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energy by 2020. To achieve this, Ikea will invest €1.5 billion ($2.0 billion) in solar and
wind power projects between 2009 and 2015. These projects will enable Ikea to get
roughly 70% of its energy from renewable sources – the company has not yet said
how much it will invest in renewables to push this figure up to 100%. To date, Ikea has
installed more than 250,000 solar panels on its buildings worldwide. The company is
more than halfway through its plan to install 38 MW in the US; and last summer, Ikea
launched a three-year project to install thin-film PV systems atop its 11 stores in China.
Source: Ikea Group
Q-Cells transferred to Hanwha
23.10.2012: German solar cell and module manufacturer Q-Cells SE has been
officially transferred to its new owner, Hanwha Chemical Corp., an indirect subsidiary
of South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group. According to Henning Shorisch, the
insolvency administrator assigned to Q-Cells, more than 80 percent of Q-Cells 1,500
employees will retain their jobs. Including Q-Cells assets, Hanwha now has an annual
cell production capacity of over 2 GW, making Hanwha the third largest solar cell
producer in the world. Hanwha’s cell production operations are located in Europe,
China and Southeast Asia. In August, Hanwha reported it would acquire Q-Cells for
about $50 million; plus it said it would take over about $270 million worth of Q-Cells’
debt.
Source: Q-Cells SE
Siemens exits solar business
23.10.2012: German technology company Siemens AG plans to exit the solar
business. The company will dissolve its Solar & Hydro Division and will sell off all of
the division’s solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) business assets. Siemens is already
in discussions with unidentified potential buyers, and it notes that it will continue to
operate its solar thermal and PV business units until they are divested. The Solar &
Hydro division, which employs roughly 800 people, generated revenue in the low tripledigit
millions last year. Siemens will continue to offer some products for solar thermal
and PV power plants, including steam turbines, generators, grid technology and
control systems, which are produced outside of the Solar & Hydro Division. Siemens
will focus its renewable energy activities on wind and hydropower going forward.
Source: Siemens AG
SMA cuts over a thousand jobs as European solar markets falter
22.10.2012: German inverter producer SMA Solar Technology AG plans to cut over a
thousand jobs in an effort to offset the sharp decline in sales it expects to record in
2013. Noting that it expects key European solar markets to collapse next year due to
massive reductions in incentives, SMA predicts full year 2013 sales will be in the

PVfacts no. 01.2012 | »research, development & expansion«
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facts
10.2012
range of €0.9 billion ($1.2 billion) to €1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) – down from €1.3 billion to
€1.5 billion in 2012. SMA predicts it will achieve a small positive operating result next
year, but it cannot rule out a loss. SMA will phase out approximately 450 employees
worldwide and will let go about 600 temporary staff. Separately, SMA announced that
Lydia Sommer has joined the company as its new Chief Financial Officer and a
member of the company’s managing board. Sommer, who previously held various
management positions at Siemens Group, has taken over responsibility for finance
and legal from Pierre-Pascal Urbon. Urbon will continue in his role as speaker of the
managing board and will focus on business strategy and internationalization.
Source: SMA Solar Technology AG
Polish module producer Solar-Energy SA starts production
19.10.2012: Polish photovoltaic module manufacturer Solar-Energy SA revealed that it
began module production at its factory in Bozepole Wielkie, in northern Poland, in late
summer. A representative of the company told PHOTON that the factory was opened
several months before the December deadline imposed by the EU, which provided the
project with 32.3 million PLN ($10.2 million) in funding through the European Regional
Development Fund. The new factory has an initial production capacity of 35 MW but
could be expanded to 70 MW in the future. The factory will produce polycrystalline
silicon modules and will primarily serve the growing domestic market. Module
production equipment was supplied by Swiss machine tool and systems company
MAG. Established in 1975, the European Fund was set up to help reduce imbalances
between communities within the Europe.
Source: PHOTON, MAG
Management shakeout at Germany's Centrotherm Photovoltaics
10.10.2012: Struggling German solar equipment supplier Centrotherm Photovoltaics
AG announced major changes to its management and supervisory boards. Hans
Autenrieth, a company cofounder and former management board member, who has
been acting as a consultant since June, has rejoined the management board.
Autenrieth will reassume responsibility for sales and marketing activities as part of the
company’s ongoing reorganization process. Meanwhile, former Chief Restructuring
Officer (CRO) Jan von Schuckmann will replace Robert Hartung as CEO. In addition
to relinquishing his role as CEO, Hartung will step down from Centrotherm’s
management board. Hartung, however, will join the company’s supervisory board.
Peter Fath, who has been Chief Technology Officer (CTO) up til now, will also step
down from the management board but will continue to work with the company in an
undefined role. Finally, Peter Augustin, most recently the CEO of Centrotherm
Thermal Solutions GmbH & Co. KG and Centrotherm Cell & Module GmbH, is to take

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facts
10.2012
over responsibility for the expansion of the core Solar Cell & Module business and for
the further diversification within the Semiconductors & Microelectronics area.
Alongside Autenrieth, Augustin will join the management board. Centrotherm has
been implementing a restructuring program since it filed for insolvency in July. …
Source: Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG; Summary: PHOTON
Market News:
Portugal's installed PV capacity reaches 177 MW at the end of July
25.10.2012: Portugal had 177.6 MW of installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity at the end
of July 2012, according to the latest statistics from the Portuguese government. Just
over 66.4 MW of that total came from small-scale systems. In the first seven months of
2012, 22.3 MW of PV capacity was added in Portugal, with the vast majority – 16.2
MW – coming online in July. Overall, Portugal has 10.4 GW of installed renewable
energy capacity, most of which comes from wind and hydroelectric power plants.
Portugal introduced a moratorium on renewable energy projects last year.
Source: Direcção Geral de Geologia e Energia (DGGE)
EIB to provide Poland with an additional €230 million for grid improvements
24.10.2012: The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to lend Enea SA, a
subsidiary of Polish energy provider Enea Capital Group, €230 million ($300 million)
over 15 years to fund a grid modernization and extension project in northwest Poland.
Among other things, the modernization project will stabilize the grid and prepare it for
an influx of new renewable energy generation projects. Poland is currently debating a
potential renewable energy law that would increase national renewable energy targets
and introduce incentives for photovoltaics. Prior to this latest loan agreement, the EIB
had already provided Poland with €230 million for the upgrading and extension of
Polish electricity grids.
Source: European Investment Bank
UK government to invest £20 million in energy storage
23.10.2012: The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced it
will invest £20 million ($32 million) to encourage the development of innovative energy
storage technologies. In light of the growing importance of energy storage in the low
carbon economy, the DECC has launched two energy storage competitions: The first
competition will award a total of £17 million to teams that can design and later test
large-scale energy storage demonstration projects. The second competition will
distribute a total of £3 million in grants to research organizations focused on improving
existing energy storage technologies. Applications for the first competition must be

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facts
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submitted by Dec. 13, 2012. The second program will have two application windows:
the first will close on Dec. 13, 2012, while the second will close on March 27, 2013.
Source: UK Department of Energy and Climate Change
Flanders region reaches 1.89 GW of installed PV capacity
22.10.2012: As of the end of September 2012, the Belgian region of Flanders had
over 350,000 photovoltaic (PV) systems representing 1,897 MW of installed PV
capacity. According to Flemish energy regulator VREG, 4,600 new PV systems were
installed in the region in the first nine months of 2012, accounting for 217 MW of new
capacity. The number of new PV installations in the region is down sharply from last
year, when nearly 81,000 PV systems representing 783 MW of capacity were
completed. The parliament of Flanders recently approved a decree to cut the value of
green certificates for PV installations to €90 ($117) per MWh starting in August 2012,
five months ahead of schedule. Additionally, the life span of green certificates was
reduced by half: power producers now receive the incentive for just 10 years. Green
certificates were previously priced at €210 ($274) per MWh and were good for 20
years.
Source: Vlaamse reguleringsinstantie voor de elektriciteit- en gasmarkt (VREG)
Israel approves net-metering scheme for PV
18.10.2012: Israeli Public Utility Authority (PUA) has started a net-metering scheme
for residential photovoltaic (PV) systems in order to promote self-consumption in
Israel, according to the Jerusalem Post. The article does not provide information on
the tariffs paid for excess electricity exported to the grid but it notes that PV system
owners will not have to go through a complicated authorization process to qualify for
the program. A few weeks ago, Israel lowered feed-in-tariff rates for medium and
largesized PV power plants.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Germany EEG surcharge to rise 47% next year
16.10.2012: Germany’s four transmission system operators (TSOs) announced that
the EEG surcharge on electricity will increase by 47% next year, growing from about
3.6 euro cents (4.7¢) per kWh currently to nearly 5.3 euro cents (5.9¢) per kWh in
2013. The TSOs state that one of the primary reasons for the sharp increase in the
surcharge is the huge amount of money paid out for renewable energy incentives. The
TSOs report that 0.35 euro cents of the 1.7 euro-cent increase in the EEG will be used
to offset PV incentives alone. Late last month, renewable energy association BEE
predicted the EEG would increase to 5.2 euro cents in 2013. At the time, BEE argued,
however, that newly added renewable systems should only cost electricity ratepayers
about 0.2 euro cents (0.26¢) per kWh, which would bring the portion of the EEG

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facts
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surcharge used to offset renewable energy incentives to 2.3 euro cents per kWh. BEE
and other industry players have argued that the substantial rate increase is largely the
result of an increase in subsidies to the industrial sector and a decline in prices in the
electricity market. The TSOs say, however, that only 0.14 euro cents of the rate hike
was caused by subsidies to heavy industry. German Minister of Economy Philipp
Rösler said that such rate hikes are unsustainable. Rösler believes significant
measures must to taken to ensure the EEG does not rise so drastically in the future.
Source: German TSOs, German Ministry of Economics and Technology
PV covered 3.9% of Spanish electricity demand in August
15.10.2012: In Spain, electricity produced by photovoltaic (PV) sources covered 3.9
percent of national electricity demand in the month of August. According to Spain’s
National Energy Commission (CNE), the country’s 58,700 PV systems – representing
4.3 GW of installed capacity – generated 0.841 TWh of electricity in August. Earlier
this month, Spanish grid operator REE reported that PV systems covered 3.8% of the
country’s electricity demand in September and 3.7% of demand during the first nine
months of 2012. CNE reports that in August, the monthly cost of PV incentives topped
€311 million ($400 million).
Source: Spanish National Energy Commission CNE
Italy's installed PV capacity tops 15.9 GW as incentive program nears its close
15.10.2012: Italian energy agency GSE reports that Italy now has over 15.9 GW of
installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity. A further 672 MW has been registered to receive
PV incentives but has not yet come online. Taking into account both installed and
registered PV systems, the annual cost of PV incentives in Italy has reached €6.458
billion ($8.363 billion). This means that just €242 million ($313 million) remains before
Italy’s incentive program reaches it final cap of €6.7 billion. After this cap is reached,
Italy will no longer offer incentives for new PV installations.
Source: Italian energy agency GSE
Romania's installed PV power to reach 43 MW by the end the year
12.10.2012: The general director of the Romanian National Energy Regulatory
Authority (ANRE), Zoltan Negy-Bege, predicts that Romania’s cumulative installed
photovoltaic (PV) capacity will reach 43 MW by the end of 2012 and 140 MW by the
end of 2013. Meanwhile, data complied by Romanian grid operator Transelectrica
reveals that 117 PV projects – representing 521 MW of capacity – have signed
gridconnection
contracts with the grid operator. An additional 202 PV projects –
representing 1,211 MW of capacity – have submitted grid-connection requests. Few of
these projects, however, have signed power purchase agreements with local utilities.

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facts
10.2012
Source: Actmedia, Transelectrica
PV supplied 6.3 percent of Italy's electricity demand in September
08.10.2012: Italian grid operator Terna SpA reports that in September 2012, Italybased
grid operator Terna SpA reports that in September 2012, electricity produced
by PV systems in Italy covered 6.3 percent of the country's electricity demand,
compared with 8.4 percent in August. According to Terna's monthly report on the
country's electricity system, power generated by PV sources grew from 1,403 GWh in
September 2011 to 1,666 GWh in September 2012, an increase of 18.7 percent.
Source: Terna SpA; Translation and summary: PHOTON
Greece's cumulative PV capacity topped 1 GW by the end of August
05.10.2012: According to Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator S.A.
(HEDNO), the PV capacity installed in the non-interconnected Greek Islands reached
106 MW by the end of August, raising the cumulative PV installed capacity of the
country to 1.043 MW. Mainland Greece had 937 MW of installed grid-connected PV
capacity by the end of the same month, according to Operator of Electricity Market SA
(LAGIE). As for the non-interconnected islands, 6.5 MW of new PV capacity was
installed during the month of August. Crete accounts for more than the half of the
islands' installed capacity, with 70.3 MW.
Source: Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator S.A. (HEDNO); translation
and summary: PHOTON
French government raises FIT for rooftop PV systems up to 100 kW
02.10.2012: The French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy
has announced a new feed-in tariff for rooftop PV systems with “simplified integration”
with power up to 100 kW. This week, Minister Delphine Batho will propose to the
French energy council and to the French Energy Regulation Commission (CRE) a
feed-in tariff of 18.4 euro cents per kWh, which represents a 5.1-percent raise
compared to the third-quarter tariff of 17.5 euro cents. The ministry also established
that the FIT rates cannot be reduced by more than 20 percent annually. PV systems
installed on buildings with a simplified integration and building-integrated PV (BIPV)
systems for nonresidential buildings will also receive a 10-percent bonus on the FITs,
“depending on the origin of the components of the PV modules.” Batho also confirmed
a new call for tenders for large-scale PV plants over 250 kW by the end of 2012, which
will prioritize projects with innovative technologies that “contribute to the development
of the local economy.” Of course, there was also the regular quarterly call for tenders
for PV systems with power between 100 and 250 kW.
Source: French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy;
Translation and summary: PHOTON

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facts
10.2012
PV covered 3.8% of Spain's energy demand in September
01.10.2012: In September, Spain’s 4 plus GW of installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity
covered 3.8% of the country’s electricity demand, according to Spanish grid operator
Red Eléctrica de España. From January to September, PV accounted for 3.7% of
Spain’s electricity mix. Meanwhile, solar thermal covered 1.7% of demand in
September and represented 1.4% of the country's overall mix during the first 9 months
of the year. When lumped together, renewables jointly accounted for 30% of Spain's
electricity mix in September. …
Source: Red Eléctrica de España; Summary: PHOTON
Germany see sharp decline in new PV installations
01.10.2012: Photovoltaic (PV) deployment in Germany slowed significantly in August,
according to the German Federal Network Agency. Germany added just 330 MW of
new PV capacity in August 2012, down from 612 MW in the same month last year and
543 MW in the preceding month, July 2012. Overall, Germany added 5.24 GW of new
PV capacity in the first eight months of 2012, bringing the country’s total installed PV
capacity to well over 30 GW. The low August figures were expected: German
Environment Minister Peter Altmaier revealed in mid-September that approximately
320 MW on PV had been installed in August. Altmaier mentioned the low August
figure during a parliamentary debate in the Bundestag to illustrate that he has
successfully slowed down PV development in Germany.
Source: Federal Network Agency; Summary: PHOTON

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facts
10.2012
News from North America listed by
Importance
Company News:
ATK aims to develop solar electric propulsion systems for NASA spacecraft
25.10.2012: ATK Space Systems Inc., which was awarded a $6.4 million contract last
August to develop solar array systems for NASA spacecraft, has provided new details
about its MegaFlex solar technology. In August, NASA’s Space Technology Program
awarded “Game Changing Technology” contracts to two California-based technology
companies for the development of advanced solar array systems for space-based
applications. Over the first 18-month phase of the NASA project, ATK and Deployable
Space Systems (DSS) will each design, analyze and test a scalable solar array
system capable of generating more than 30 kW of power. During Phase 1, ATK will
also attempt to demonstrate that its MegaFlex technology can be scaled to meet
power demands of 350 kW or greater. MegaFlex is based on ATK’s UltraFlex solar
technology, which has already been used to power several NASA spacecraft including
the Mars Phoenix Lander in 2008 and the manned Orion Multi-purpose Crew Vehicle.
During Phase 2, ATK, DSS and potentially other teams will prove flight readiness
through an in-space demonstration of an advanced, modular and extendable solar
array system. After Phase 2, follow-on applications will range from high power
communications satellites to solar electric propulsion systems. ATK believes that the
very low mass and small stowed volume of its MegaFlex system makes it an excellent
candidate for powering future spacecrafts’ electric propulsion systems.
Source: ATK Space Systems Inc., NASA
Solar Junction sets new solar cell efficiency record
16.10.2012: US concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar cell manufacturer Solar
Junction reports that its CPV solar cell has set a new world record for conversion
efficiency for a commercial-ready solar cell. Solar Junction’s CPV cell has a power
conversion efficiency of 44% at 947 suns, as confirmed by the US Department of
Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This beat’s the
company’s previous record of 43.5% at 418 suns as well as rival Semprius’s record of
just over 41% at 1,100 suns. Earlier this year, Solar Junction received a SUNPATH
award from the DOE as part of a $21.5 million program aimed at increasing the
company’s CPV cell manufacturing capacity. The funding has enabled Solar Junction

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to improve cell efficiency and reduce production costs. Semprius, which opened a 5
MW pilot CPV module plant in North Carolina last month, has also received funding
from the DOE to help it improve its CPV technology.
Source: Solar Junction
NREL produces black silicon solar cell with 18.2% efficiency
15.10.2012: Using nanotechnology techniques, scientists at the US Department of
Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have produced black silicon
solar cells with a conversion efficiency of 18.2%. The cells rely on an anti-reflective
nanostructured surface that eliminates the need for additional anti-reflection layers –
this could bring down cell manufacturers’ production costs significantly. The
nanostructured surface is created using “nano-islands” of silver on a silicon wafer: The
wafer is briefly immersed in a chemical composition to make billions of nano-sized
holes in each square-inch of the silicon wafer surface. The holes and silicon walls are
smaller than the light wavelengths hitting them, so the light doesn’t recognize any
sudden change in density at the surface and therefore does not reflect back into the
atmosphere as wasted energy. The researchers will now investigate how the nanotech
techniques could be integrated into commercial-scale production processes. The
scientists will also attempt to increase the black silicon solar cells’ efficiency to over
20% and will work toward using the techniques on much thinner cells to save on the
amount of semiconductor material used.
Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Market News:
US Department of the Interior finalizes roadmap for solar energy development on
public lands
15.10.2012: US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has finalized a program that will
spur solar development on public lands in the US Southwest. The Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), developed by the Department of the Interior
(DOI) in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE), will, among other things,
ensure faster permitting of utility-scale solar energy projects on public lands in
Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The PEIS establishes
17 Solar Energy Zones (SEZs) on 285,000 acres of public lands in these six states.
These zones have access to existing or planned transmission lines and were
designed to have minimal impact on biological, cultural and historic resources in the
region. Developers siting projects within these zones will receive a number of
incentives, including financial incentives and faster and easier permitting. The PEIS
identifies an additional 19 million acres outside the zones that could potentially be

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used for solar energy development. To protect natural and cultural resources, the
roadmap excludes nearly 79 million acres of public lands from solar development and
lays out best practices to ensure environmentally responsible development. Since
2009, the DOI has approved 18 utility-scale solar energy projects on public lands in
the Southwest, although 1 has been terminated at the developer’s request. If
completed as planned, the 17 authorized projects would result in approximately 3.8
GW of PV and 1.6 GW of solar thermal capacity. According to the DOI, if fully built out,
the SEZs could host up to 23.7 GW of installed solar capacity. The US Solar Energy
Industries Association and the Large-scale Solar Association praised the DOI and the
DOE for crafting the roadmap, adding “We hope that this decision results in a
permitting process that brings more solar online to serve the American people.”
Source: US Department of the Interior, US Solar Energy Industries Association
Commerce sets final duties on Chinese solar cell imports
11.10.2012: The US Department of Commerce has issued its final determinations in
the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations into crystalline
silicon solar cells imported from China. Commerce determined that Chinese producers
and exporters have sold solar cells in the US at dumping margins ranging from 18.32
to 249.96 percent, generally in line with Commerce’s preliminary determination. The
final antisubsiby duties, however, are much higher than the preliminary rates
announced in March. Commerce determined that Chinese producers and exporters
have received countervailable subsidies of between 14.78 and 15.97 percent – up
from preliminary rates of 2.90 to 4.73 percent. Commerce also confirmed that critical
circumstances exist, which means that antidumping and countervailing duties for most
companies will be effective from 90 days prior to the preliminary AD and CVD
determinations, issued May 16 and March 19, respectively. A request to increase the
scope of the investigation filed by petitioner SolarWorld Industries America was
denied. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to confirm or
reject the duties by Nov. 23, 2012. If the ITC determines that Chinese solar cell
imports do in fact injure or threaten the US solar industry, the official order to collect
duties will be issued on November 30.
Source: US Department of Commerce

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News from Asia listed by Importance
Company News:
Intersolar China 2012 cancelled due to weak solar market
24.10.2012: Solar Promotion International GmbH has cancelled the Intersolar China
2012 solar exhibition due to ongoing consolidation within the solar industry and
negative economic trends facing the photovoltaics (PV) sector. The conference
element of the event, Intersolar China Conference, however, will still be held in Beijing
from December 11 to 13. Solar Promotion International plans to bring the entire event
back next year, although it has not yet released precise dates.
Source: Solar Promotion International GmbH
Kyocera to exercise patent rights for three-busbar technology only in Japan
22.10.2012: Japanese solar panel producer Kyocera Corp. intends to exercise patent
rights for a recently patented three-busbar technology used in solar cells. Without
providing specifics, a spokesman for the company told PHOTON that Kyocera will
soon send warnings to cell manufacturers in Japan that use the three-busbar
technology without permission. “We believe that roughly 60% of the modules in the
crystalline solar cell market use three-busbar electrodes, and that many
manufacturers will be affected by the patent acquisition,” said the spokesman in a note
released to PHOTON. The press office specified that the patent, granted in early
September, only covers solar cells produced or sold in Japan: “The patent in question
is applied to all crystalline solar modules which are made in Japan or sold in Japan.
As long as they are made in Japan, it doesn't matter where they are sold. Likewise, it
doesn't matter where they are made as long as they are sold in Japan.”
Source: PHOTON
Market News:
China lifts ban on nuclear energy and reiterates renewable energy targets
26.10.2012: The Chinese government has published a white paper outlining how it will
secure its energy supply going forward. In addition to emphasizing the country’s
aggressive renewable energy goals, the document lifts China’s ban on nuclear energy.
The State Council, China’s cabinet, says it plans to gradually restart construction of

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nuclear reactors; however, it will only allow a few new reactors to be built, and only
then in coastal areas. China’s moratorium on nuclear power plants was implemented
in March 2011 following the Fukushima disaster in Japan. However, China needs
nuclear energy if its hopes to fulfill its goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 40%
to 45% by 2020. According to the white paper, China aims to have 40 GW of installed
nuclear power capacity by 2015, which is three times as much as the country has
today. Using nuclear energy and renewable energy sources, China now aims to
increase its installed non-fossil fuel generating capacity to 30% by 2015. This would
enable the country to cover 11.4% of its primary energy consumption with non-fossil
fuel energy sources.
Source: Chinese Government
China accuses US of trade protectionism, warns of lasting damage to global solar
industry
12.10.2012: Responding to the US Department of Commerce’s (DOC) decision to
apply stiff antidumping and countervailing duties to Chinese silicon solar cell imports,
China’s Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) accused the US of trade protectionism and
warned that trade barriers would slow global clean energy development and hinder the
world’s ability to limit global climate change. Mofcom spokesman Shen Danyang said
China was greatly disappointed by the DOC decision and said he hopes the US soon
corrects its practice of implementing punitive trade measures. Danyang also called for
further government and industry cooperation between China and the US. The US
International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to confirm or reject the
antidumping and countervailing duties proposed by the DOC by November 23. If the
ITC determines that Chinese solar cell imports do in fact injure or threaten the US
solar industry, the official order to collect duties will be issued on November 30.
Source: Chinese Ministry of Commerce
Japan adds 885 MW in first half of fiscal 2012
11.10.2012: Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) reports that 885
MW of new photovoltaic (PV) capacity was installed in Japan from April through
September 2012. The majority of the new capacity – 583 MW – was added after July
1, when Japan launched its feed-in-tariff (FIT) program. In addition to the 885 MW
already added this fiscal year, METI has approved 1.48 GW of new PV projects –
these projects have received approval to begin construction but have not yet been
completed. In September alone, METI approved 476 MW of PV projects – 338 MW of
non-residential projects and 138 MW of residential. Noting that the figures represent a
“good start” to Japan’s FIT, METI says it expects the incentive program will bring a sharp
increase in the number large-scale non-residential projects in Japan.
Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

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News from Developing Countries by
Importance
FeedIn News:
South Africa expands renewable energy procurement program by 3.2 GW
30.10.2012: The South African Department of Energy (DOE) has confirmed it will
procure an additional 3,200 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2020 under South
Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP). This
will be on top of the 3,725 MW already called for by the program. According to
Engineering News, South Africa’s Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters confirmed the DOE
has received approval for the REIPPP extension from the National Energy Regulator
of South Africa. With the addition of the 3,200 MW, the REIPPP program will now be
able to offer 4,365 MW of new capacity through future bidding rounds – only about
1,165 MW of the initial capacity remains unallocated following the first two REIPP
bidding rounds. The delayed third bidding round (of five) in scheduled to close in May
2013. A total of 1,075 MW of the newly added capacity will be reserved for
photovoltaic (PV) projects, while 400 MW will be reserved for solar thermal projects.
The 28 first-round REIPPP bidders are expected to meet financial close by early
November. Financial close for these bidders was originally scheduled for June but was
delayed due to an “oversight” relating to guarantees required by public utility Eskom,
which will be purchasing the power generated by the REIPPP projects. First-round
projects consist of 634 MW of wind (8 projects), 631.5 MW of PV (18 projects) and
150 MW of CSP (2 projects). Second-round projects include 562.5 MW of wind (7
projects), 417.1 MW of PV (9 projects), 50 MW of CSP (1 project) and 14.3 MW of
small hydro (2 projects). South Africa aims to have 8,400 MW of installed PV capacity
by 2030 – most of this capacity is expected to be developed through national
procurement programs.
Source: Engineering News

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Market News:
China raises targets for PV distributed generation
18.10.2012: China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) will raise China’s target for
installed photovoltaic (PV) distributed generation capacity in an effort to support the
domestic solar industry “after the United States imposed heavy duties on their
products.” NEA has recently issued a notice for the next round of distributed PV
generation projects – under the plan, each province has been allotted 500 MW.
According to NEA, the new target could lead to a total capacity of 15 GW, almost
doubling the target set by the 12th Five-Year Plan.
Source: China Daily
Mexican PV installed capacity to reach 14 MW at the end of 2012
17.10.2012: According to new data released by the office of the Mexican Secretary of
Energy (SENER), developing Mexico’s renewable energy potential could generate
over 30 billion MXN ($2.3 billion) in GDP and create over 10,000 new jobs. SENER
believes Mexico could potentially develop 1,500 MW of photovoltaic (PV) capacity and
15,000 MW each of wind and geothermal capacity. According to SENER, Mexico will
reach 14 MW of installed PV capacity by the end of this year.
Source: Mexican Secretary of Energy
Mexican President Calderon inaugurates country's largest PV system to date
16.10.2012: Mexican President Felipe Calderon has inaugurated a 1.5 MW
photovoltaic (PV) system in the municipality of Mulegé, in the northwestern Mexican
state of Baja California Sur. According to the office of the president, the system is the
largest operational PV installation in the country. The pilot system will be used by
Mexican energy authority Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) to evaluate the
potential of solar energy in Mexico. The president also said he plans to ask the
Mexican energy secretary to develop a pilot project to promote residential PV. Only a
few megawatts of PV have been installed in Mexico to date; however, Mexico-based
developer Sonora Energy Group de Hermosillo broke ground on a 46.8 MW (DC) PV
power plant in August. The large-scale power plant, located in the northern state of
Sonora, is expected to begin producing power in the second quarter of 2013. The
Sonoran project has a 20-year power purchase agreement with CFE.
Source: Presidencia de la República