Manufacturing

In response to the growing U.S. photovoltaics (PV) market, China-based silicon ingots, wafers, and cells and modules manufacturer Solarfun Power Holdings Co., Ltd. has said it plans to double shipment volumes to the U.S. next year to between 100 to 150 megawatts (MW).

SunPower Corp. has announced that Etrion Corporation, an independent solar power producer, has signed a €48 million definitive sale and purchase agreement to acquire the equity in the first two phases of the Montalto di Castro solar photovoltaic (PV) power park, which it says is the largest in Italy at 28 megawatts (MW). It hopes to increase this to 72 MWs by the end of the year.

Astronergy is to increase its production capacity from 30 megawatts (MW) to 75 MW this year. The announcement comes as the company signs a follow-up purchase agreement for Oerlikon Solar’s thin film equipment. The company says the order will help it to reach its goal of producing 400 MW of thin film solar photovoltaics (PV) modules “within the near future”.

Under the development project ‘Access to Modern Energy Services Ethiopia’, realized by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH, SMA Solar Technology AG has said it will deliver 100 battery power inverters to supply medical clinics with solar-generated alternating current (AC) in the country: 50 have already been delivered.

U.S.-based China manufacturing company, Worldwide Energy and Manufacturing USA, Inc. has opened a 129,000-square-foot, 100 megawatt (MW) photovoltaics (PV) solar module production facility and research and development center in Nantong, China. Initial operations are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year, with 120 employees.

UK power company HomeSun has announced its plans to install £1 billion worth of free solar panels on 100,000 British homes over the next three years. The news comes as recent reports reveal that the U.K is the fastest growing country for photovoltaics (PV) installations this year.

An inauguration ceremony is being held today to mark the completion of Q-Cells SE’s 5.3-megawatt (MW) solar power station, located close to Spremberg in the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany. The project, which covers a 19-hectare brownfield site, cost around €16 million. Construction began in mid-June.

SilexSolar Pty Ltd has announced it is to expand its photovoltaics (PV) panel capacity at its Sydney Olympic Park (SOP) manufacturing facility in Australia, from 13 megawatts (MW) to 35 MW by the middle of next year. The company cites strong demand for its Australian-made panels from the domestic rooftop solar panel market as the primary reason.

Jabil Circuit Inc., one of the world’s largest providers of electronic manufacturing services, and whose customers include companies from every industry, including consumer products, automotive, telecommunications and solar, has come under fire following a report published in July by the U.S.’s National Labor Committee (NLC) regarding working conditions in its Chinese factory, based in Guangzhou, Guangdong.

The date by which Italian photovoltaics (PV) installations should enter into operation to continue to enjoy the incentive rates contained in the second energy bill – the one currently in force and which is due to expire at the end of the year – has been postponed, according to Qualenergia.it.