Taipei - Applied Materials, Inc. today announced that Hareon Solar Corporation has selected Applied's SmartFactoryTM manufacturing automation software to improve productivity across Hareon's solar photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing operations in China. Hareon Solar will deploy Applied's software at its cell subsidiaries Jiangyin Hareon Solar Technology Co., Ltd.
The project aims at reducing the production costs of silicon-based thin-film modules and raising their efficiency. PEPPER is coordinated by Oerlikon Solar, the manufacturer of production facilities. The project started on 1st September and is scheduled to last three years.
SILFAB BRANCHES OUT INTO HYDROPOWER WITH 10% ACQUISITION OF IDROFIN'S SHARE CAPITAL
Princeton / San Jose - NRG Solar, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) and SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) today announced groundbreaking agreements to begin construction next year of the 250-megawatt (MW) California Valley Solar Ranch in San Luis Obispo County.
By March 2011, the French government wants to fix new solar electricity tariffs for the larger PV installations. Until then, a moratorium is in force for systems with a capacity exceeding 3 kW. The reason is that the government regards the present development of PV as too fast. This year, around 500 to 550 MW of photovoltaic capacity has been connected to the grid in France.
Biel - The Swiss manufacturer of solar inverters will open its new branch office in London on 1st January 2011. Sputnik Engineering continues to grow and its new sales location will place them closer to their customers and enables the company to respond more flexibly to the growing photovoltaic market in the UK.
With Governor Schwarzenegger's term coming to an end in California, its newly-elected governor, Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown Jr. was sworn in the first week of January. According to the Solar Home & Business Journal, Governor Brown's goal to add 20,000 MW to the electrical grid is an aggressive target, but one that keeps in line with Schwarzenegger's projections.
Photovoltaic Feed