- Industry Roundup
- Fab & Facilities
- Cell Processing
- Thin Film
- PV Modules
- Power Generation
Leading PV energy provider (PVEP), First Solar reported first quarter revenue of US$755 million in the quarter, a decrease of US$320 million from the fourth quarter of 2012 but exceeded slightly the top range of guidance.
Chinese polysilicon manufacturer firm Daqo has announced the resignation of its chief operation officer (COO) Qiangmin Zhou.
NextEra Energy’s 1GW plans for the Blythe solar farm in California, once expected to be the world’s largest solar energy power plant, have been cut in half to make the project viable.
Following a 22% increase in sales in 2012, First Solar expects that trajectory to continue in 2013.
Leading thin-film and PV project developer First Solar has rocked the solar industry with the acquisition of US-based monocrystalline start-up TetraSun.
First Solar has made a significant leap in total area module efficiency that has been verified by the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
By mutual agreement, First Solar and Jim Brown, First Solar’s executive vice president of global business have parted ways, according to an SEC filing issued today.
PV industry manufacturing overcapacity and a flood of used PV equipment on the market, due to bankruptcies and firms exiting the sector, were behind Spire Corporation reporting a 70% decline in PV related sales in 2012.
First Solar has said that it has contacted Abound Solar’s trustees to begin discussions whether it can recover materials from up to 100,000 panels made by the bankrupt cadmium telluride (CdTe) module manufacturer.
Record quarterly revenue and new record cell efficiency were overshadowed by First Solar delaying 2013 financial guidance until early Q2 2013.
New R&D test cells produced at First Solar’s Perrysburg, Ohio factory and R&D centre have reached a new record cell conversion efficiency of 18.7%. The record was verified by the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and announced by First Solar yesterday.
Germany-based industrial laser specialist InnoLas Systems GmbH said that the company achieved revenue of €40 million (US$52.9 million) in 2012, which was 60% higher than the previous year.
PV module encapsulant material supplier, STR Holdings hit by the pending loss of its largest customer, First Solar said that its restructuring efforts would result in a workforce reduction of approximately 160, or 32% of its global workforce.
A follow-up US$12 million in funding from the US Energy Department under the SunShot Initiative has been issued with the intention of reducing the time of lab to fab solar cell conversion efficiencies.
PV module encapsulant material supplier, STR Holdings warned that its business would be significantly impacted by an expected and imminent transition by First Solar to using an unidentified alternative supplier.
Sales of PV equipment and components by German-based suppliers fell 43% in the third quarter of 2012 compared to the same period a year ago, German trade association VDMA has said.
Thin-film manufacturer First Solar, in conjunction with developer Fundación Chile, has announced the acquisition of Solar Chile as part of its its endeavour to advance into new markets.
First Solar has hired former nuclear professional Tim Rebhorn for the newly created position of Senior Vice President, Project Development.
First Solar and Intermolecular are planning to develop what they describe as “disruptive new approaches” to boosting the solar cell conversion efficiencies of First Solar’s CdTe solar cell technology, extending a previous R&D collaboration established in mid-2012.
Thin-film manufacturer First Solar has released its new Series 3 FS-392 thin-film module, which has a 92.5W rating.
Thin film manufacturer First Solar has established an operating subsidiary in Cape Town, South Africa. The move follows a recent swathe of large utility-scale PV announcements in South Africa, as part of the country’s first round of renewable energy project bidding.
Thin film module manufacturer First Solar signed a 2MW solar module delivery agreement with Zhenfa New Energy Science and Technology.
Specialty metal and chemical products producer 5N Plus has opened a new recycling facility within the Kulim High Technology Park in Malaysia, completed under budget.
US-based Thin-film module manufacturer First Solar recognized five premier suppliers with its NOVA award at its second annual Supplier Recognition Day for their work in 2012.
Despite lower Q3 2012 revenue of US$839 million, down from US$957 million in the last quarter, First Solar said that CdTe thin-film module production increased 33% from Q2 levels reaching 490MW.