Technology and R&D

Pacific Blue Energy Corp. (PBEC) has announced it is preparing to begin the permitting process for 100 acres in Gila Bend, Arizona, the U.S., the purchase of which should be completed in the near future. As a result of the town’s solar overlay policy and strong support from town officials and staff, the company says it is on track to have the first phase of its 150 megawatt (MW) solar farm approved in two to four months, as opposed to the typical time frame of two years.

Purdue University, based in the U.S. is to lead a new research center to improve photovoltaic (PV) solar cells as part of a national effort to bring alternative energy technologies to the marketplace. Boosted by USD$5 million in funding from the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), a university-research consortium for semiconductors and related technologies, the research initiative is set to team companies with university research centers to work on alternative energy technologies.

Microsemi Corporation and Germany-based Spelsberg, in conjunction with its partner, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, have announced the development of a disruptive new technology for photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. The technology was demonstrated at this year’s Intersolar North America, held in San Francisco, the U.S.

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is currently in Japan along with 18 utility executives and managers, as part of its third annual Solar Fact Finding Mission, which takes place from 25 to 30 of this month.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has presented a South Dakota State University researcher with a grant of USD$400,000 — USD$80,000 per year for the next five years, in order to build new high-performance organic solar cells with increased efficiency.

Sunfilm AG has announced it has set a world record of 9.6 percent total area efficiency for a thin film tandem junction silicon solar module of 2.6 meters x 2.2 meters. The record module, Model F, achieved a maximum stabilized output power of 546 Wp, says the company.

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited has signed a technology, research and production collaboration agreement with Innovalight, Inc. under which they will attempt to raise the average efficiency of the multicrystalline cells produced on its commercial production lines.

QinetiQ will today bring Zephyr, its solar powered high-altitude long endurance (HALE) Unmanned Air System (UAS) back to earth after two weeks in the air. Celebrating, the company says it has smashed a number of long-standing official and unofficial world records.

Applied Materials, Inc. has announced its plans to restructure its Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) segment, to put a primary emphasis on opportunities in crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar and advanced energy, including light emitting diode (LED) technology. As part of the restructuring, Applied says it will discontinue sales to new customers of its SunFab fully integrated lines for manufacturing thin film solar panels.

Researchers at Dow Corning and the University of Toledo (UT) have signed a memorandum of understanding to engage in collaborative discussions on photovoltaic (PV) solar research and development efforts to help reduce the cost of solar energy, in order to make it a viable and economically competitive energy option globally.