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Exit strategy: Veeco’s departure from CIGS thin-film PV equipment space raises questions, concerns

sunfeed — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:00:31 +0000

Veeco’s decision to bail out of the copper indium gallium (di)selenide thin-film PV systems business may not have been a total shocker, but the OEM’s move still caught many in the industry off guard. The transformation from “integrated equipment provider to the rapidly growing CIGS solar market” to “don’t let the door hit you on the way out of the market” seems to have accelerated over the past quarter.

Power-One 2Q results better than expected: PV inverter sales top US$180 million

sunfeed — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:00:31 +0000

An increase in revenue from the previous quarter, meant that Power-One’s second quarter results were better than many expected, considering the weak demand for solar installations in the first-half of the year. PV inverter revenue has increased 27%, compared to the same period a year ago and 18.7% from the first quarter of 2011, to US$180 million.

JinkoSolar signs sponsorship deal with Bayer Leverkusen football club

sunfeed — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:00:31 +0000

German football club Bayer 04 Leverkusen has signed a three-year sponsorship contract with solar giants JinkoSolar. The deal provides Jinko with advertising space at the club’s BayArena and also grants it exclusive rights to install solar panels on the stadium itself.

PV demand pick-up remains elusive, says Jeffries analyst

sunfeed — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:00:30 +0000

Having undertaken a scan of the geographical map for PV demand, Jeffries analyst, Jesse Pichel believes the long anticipated second-half year boom is proving elusive to see. In a research note to investors, Jeffries noted that demand improved in June, but July appears to have flatlined, despite increased factory utilization from major PV module suppliers. Pichel raised the alarm that inventory could be building again, after being consumed in the April-June timeframe.

Solantro Semiconductor receives investment for BIPV nano-inverter

sunfeed — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:00:30 +0000

Ontario’s Solantro Semiconductor has received a CAN$2 million grant from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to help fund the development of its integrated circuit-based nano-inverter BIPV product. The finance will be used to compare the performance of alternating-current building-integrated photovoltaic (AC-BIPV) systems to conventional direct-current BIPV (DC-BIPV) systems.

Nitol Solar appoint Valery Rostokin as CEO

sunfeed — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:00:30 +0000

Russia-based polysilicon producer Nitol Solar has appointed Valery Rostokin as its new CEO. Rostokin replaces Dmitriy Kotenko, who has stepped aside to take up a position on the board of directors and as the company’s strategic development advisor.

Beckhams, Extreme Weather, Biofuels and Other Green Stories of the Week

sunfeed — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:00:30 +0000

Relaxnews – Fri, Jul 22, 2011

Some of the major green and environmental stories of the past week (July 16-22), including extreme weather in the United States, famine in Africa, the Beckhams as bad role models and the effect of biofuels on food prices are rounded up below.

African famine - changing weather patterns and increasingly frequent cycles of drought have led to a severe famine affecting thousands across Somalia and the horn of Africa. (CNN)

Beckhams bad role models - with the world’s population expected to reach seven billion this year, some environmental campaigners have labeled the Beckhams as “bad role models” following their decision to have a fourth child — Harper Seven. (Guardian)

Biofuel demand drives prices - the demand for biofuels in the United States is the driving force behind the high food prices being experienced around the world this year, claims a new study. (UTV)

Cairn vs. Greenpeace – the ongoing battle between Greenpeace and Cairn Energy reached a new level when Cairn took the environmental organization to court to prevent it publishing any documents it had obtained in a recent occupation of Cairn’s offices. (BBC news)

Fish bones against toxic waste - fish bones are being touted as the solution to one of America’s largest toxic waste problems — lead contamination. The fish bones are being used to transform lead waste into a form that the human body cannot absorb, thereby reducing the risk of contamination. (New York Times)

Fuel cells of the future – futuristic fuel cells able to store and distribute green energy on demand have been invented by Japanese company NEC Corporation. It is hoped the fuel cells will reduce the strain on power companies and reduce electricity consumption levels. (Independent)

Heat wave - extreme weather patterns continue across the globe with a heat wave in the United States that has so far killed at least 22 people; temperatures have reached in excess of 37 Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). (New York Times)

Maritime emissions cut – the international Maritime Organization agreed, late on Friday July 15, on the first ever energy efficiency design standards intended to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of new vessels. (The Business Times)

Nissan Leaf - car manufacturer Nissan has announced details of the 2012 version of its electric car the Nissan Leaf; updates include a battery heater and increased charging station compatibility. (Earth Techling)

Palm oil auditors appointed – Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of palm oil, has appointed around 12 independent auditors to ensure that the palm oil firms operating in the country do so in a green and environmentally friendly manner. (Reuters Africa)

House Passes Energy Bill

sunfeed — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:00:29 +0000

July 29, 2011 – I know that you thought Congress was only addressing the national debt, but they certainly can multi-task. On July 15, the House of Representatives passed the 2012 fiscal energy-water appropriations bill. US DOE is to get $24.7 billion, 3% less than this year. Of that, $1.3 billion is for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, 59% less than President Obama requested. The bill contains clauses that prevent the Obama Administration from using the bill’s funds to close Yucca Mountain’s nuclear storage facilities. The Senate now has to pass the bill, but they also have been busy with the national debt.

PV Reading

sunfeed — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:00:26 +0000

25th: 1089.7 kWh

26th: 1095.5 kWh

27th: 1109 kWh

28th: 1122.8 kWh

30th: 1144.1 kWh

Veeco exits CIGS thin-film PV systems business, sees commercial timeframe, cost as unacceptable

sunfeed — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 05:59:09 +0000

In another sign of trouble in the PV capital equipment business, Veeco has decided to exit the CIGS solar systems business. Announced as part of the company’s second-quarter financials, the move results in a combined negative impact and backlog removal of approximately $71 million on its Q2 results. The company will transfer its R&D facility, pilot line, technology, and personnel to the planned PV Manufacturing Consortium in Albany, NY.