SolarSummary: October 28 November 4, 2002

by Kirsten Elder

Companies in the news

AstroPower: www.astropower.com

Baoding Yingli

BP Solar: www.bpsolar.com

Evergreen Solar: www.evergreensolar.com

Grundfos: www.grundfos.com

GT Solar Technologies: www.gtsolar.com

ICP Global Technologies: www.icpglobal.com

Konarka Technologies: www.konarkatech.com

PowerLight Corp: www.powerlight.com

SunPower Corp: www.sunpower.com

SunTechnics: www.suntechnics.de

New Products

Solar product manufacturer ICP Global Technologies, has introduced the iSun BattPak solar battery charger. The iSun BattPak can charge up to 10 AA and AAA batteries in the home, car or with the power of the sun with ICP Global’s iSun Portable Solar Charger. The iSun BattPak can quick-charge up to 10 AA or AAA NiMH and Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries in as little as 4 hours. (SolarAccess, 04/11/02)

Applications

The construction of the largest photovoltaic project worldwide has just started in Hemau, near Regensburg, Bavaria. SunTechnics Solartechnik GmbH located in Hamburg has been assigned to build a solar power plant with a total output of 4 MW. Four different types of BP Solar modules will be mounted on a former ammunition depot and connected to the public grid. All the modules have been purchased and are on their way to the construction site. Last year, SunTechnics finished the construction of the largest solar power plant in Germany at that time (1.6 MW). In September this year another solar power plant with a total output of 1.8 MW was built by SunTechnics which was the largest until now in Germany. The output of the new solar power plant in Hemau will be enough to power all 4,600 inhabitants of Hemau. The 20 million project will be finished at the end of this year. (Solarbuzz, 30/10/02)

In California, the Vallejo City Council will decide this week whether to approve an agreement with Amoco Technology Company to design, engineer and construct a solar facility to provide energy for the Columbus Parkway water pumping station. The 1,700-panel solar facility would be on a 1.3-acre site adjacent to the station and would meet 60 to 80 percent of the station’s energy needs. The city would also save an estimated $67,000 annually in energy costs related to running the station by going solar. (Vallejo News via Solarbuzz, 04/11/02)

APS, Arizonas leader producer of electricity, has dedicated the first phase of the Prescott Airport Solar Power Plant. Upon its opening, the plant will distribute 450 kW of solar-generated electricity directly into the grid system that serves APS customers. By March of 2003, Phase 1 will be complete with 1.5 MW available to APS customers. Within the next three to five years, APS plans to expand the facility’s capacity to 5 MW. The plant is financed in part by APS and participating customers who, as APS Solar Partners, pay $2.64 per month to have 15 kW hours of their electricity needs generated by solar power. There are about 3,000 Solar Partners in Arizona. (Business Wire via CNN Money, 30/10/02)

Markets

The Abantunga Community, north of Durban, South Africa has had a Grundfos SQFlex Solar System installed in their drinking water boring allowing 1,800 people to gain easy access to an abundance of clean water. The SQFlex installation consists of a solar driven submersible pump, which leads fresh ground water from the boring and into two large 4,000 litre tanks. From the tanks, which are placed 500 metres apart, people may tap as much fresh water as they may need. Previously the community depended on a pump powered by expensive and often unreliable electricity. (Solarbuzz, 01/11/02)

Philippine Press reports state that President Arroyo of the Philippines has signed a $200-million investment deal with California-based SunPower Corporation to build a 150 MW solar power plant in the country. SunPower Corporation, which will become the first solar manufacturer to operate in the Philippines, will initially build a 25 MW solar-powered electric generating plant. A 25 MW plant will be constructed each year until it reaches the total capacity of 150 MW. (Solarbuzz, 31/10/02)

Industry Reports & Events

Konarka Technologies has won the first National Clean Energy Venture Competition at the 15th National Renewable Energy Laboratory Industry Growth Forum. Konarka, based in Lowell, Massachusetts, beat 45 other competitors to take the top prize of US$7,000 cash plus incubation services valued at more than US$3,000. (SolarAccess, 31/10/02)

PowerLight Corporation, based in Berkeley, California, has been named one of Americas entrepreneurial growth leaders by Inc magazine, which just released its 2002 Inc 500 ranking of the fastest-growing US private companies. PowerLight ranked #38 in this years Inc 500 ranking. PowerLight achieved 380 percent revenue growth over the past three years, with revenue doubling each year since 1997. Founded in 1991, PowerLight designs, manufactures and installs large-scale solar electric products and services. (Clean Edge News, 30/10/02)

Corporate News

AstroPower, Inc. has reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2002. Product revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2002 were a record $22.5 million, an increase of 26.5 percent from the three months ended September 30, 2001. Product revenue for the nine month ended September 30, 2002 were $63.0 million, an increase of 34.9% from the similar period in 2001. Commenting on the quarter, Dr. Allen Barnett, President and CEO of AstroPower said, “We are pleased to have demonstrated strong revenue growth on both a year-over-year and sequential quarter basis, especially in a market that many are finding difficult. Although our results in the third quarter were an improvement over the previous 2002 quarter, we still have work ahead of us.” Dr. Barnett continued “For the fourth quarter of 2002, we reiterate our previous guidance of product revenues in the range of $26 – $30 million.” (AstroPower via Solarbuzz, 04/11/02)

Evergreen Solar, Inc. has announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2002. For the three months ended September 30, 2002, product revenues reached a record $1.5 million, an increase of approximately 245% from the third quarter of 2001 and up 36% from the second quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2002, product revenues were $3.4 million, an increase of $2.7 million from $782,000 for the same period in 2001. “Sales growth was driven by stronger demand from our European customers, with exports to Germany increasing nearly fourfold,” commented Mark A. Farber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Evergreen Solar. “We also made excellent progress with the expansion of our manufacturing capacity,” continued Farber. “Much of the panel assembly equipment for Line 2 has just been installed and will soon begin engineering qualifications. This equipment arrived on time and under budget.” (Evergreen Solar, 31/10/02)

GT Solar Technologies, a manufacturer of PV solar wafer, cell and module manufacturing equipment, is to deliver and install a turnkey GT-CELFAB photovoltaic cell fabrication line for Baoding Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd. of Baoding, China. This is GT Solar’s second order from Baoding Yingli. (SolarAccess, 01/11/02)

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