SolarSummary: March 4-10, 2003

by Kirsten Elder

Companies in the news

Advanced Energy Systems, Inc.
Evergreen Solar
ICP Global Technologies
Global Solar Energy
Sharp Corp.
Shell Solar
Solar Grade Silicon LLC (Komatsu/REC)
Tata BP Solar

New Products

W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KG, a subsidiary of the Germany-based precious metals and technology group Heraeus Holding GmbH, has developed an innovative coating material for thin film solar cells. Under the product name ZAO for aluminium-doped zinc oxide the “Thin Film Materials Division” of W. C. Heraeus has introduced a so-called “sputter target” to the market, a substrate used for coating, which is effective and cost-efficient at the same time. It has been designed to pave the way for thin film solar cells into the economically attractive mass production market, where it will be used for the coating of transparent conductive metal oxide. The company has said that the new high performance material has already been qualified by important producers of solar cells and modules. (Solarbuzz.com, 10/03/03)

Tata BP Solar India Ltd plans to develop a financing scheme to promote its newly launched Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Laminates in the country. The new technology could be used as a replacement for building materials like glass and at the same time generate power which could be consumed locally within the building. Tata BP Solar says that its unique manufacturing process for BIPV developed by the company means it can offer BIPV at a price 20 percent cheaper compared to those currently available. The company is going to apply for both process and design patent for the special lamination process and design construction of the BIPV laminates. (Financial Express via Solarbuzz.com, 05/03/03)

Applications

Germany’s environment and economy ministries have agreed to cap renewable energy subsidies paid by energy-intensive firms who blame the government’s green energy policy for their high electricity costs, which they say makes them less globally competitive. Discussion between the ministries will now focus on the question of the need for a German electricity market regulator. The environment ministry supports the case for a regulating authority, believing that high costs stem from the lack of electricity market competition, rather than subsidies for green power. The establishment of a regulatory body would be a U-turn for the government, which so far has opted for negotiated rather than regulated access to power and gas networks. All other European Union energy markets are overseen by state regulators. (Planet Ark [Reuters], 10/03/03)

The Australian solar industry is preparing for problems in the market following a government decision to limit the grants for new PV systems. Only 14 residential PV systems per month will receive support across the country following an announcement from the Australian Greenhouse Office that grants will be capped at Aus$100,000 per month until the end of this financial year in June. The agency says the decision to curtail support is due to overwhelming demand for support. “This does not even cover the applications already submitted under the program,” explains Ric Brazzale of the Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy. “This means Australia’s solar power industry will effectively come to an immediate grinding halt.” (Refocus Weekly, 05/03/03)

The World Wildlife Fund, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. and the engineering firm Kreider & Associates, together with the government of Ecuador, have joined forces to develop and launch a conservation partnership aimed at developing renewable energy in the Galapagos. The Galapagos Sustainable Energy Initiative aims to create a renewable, non-polluting energy supply for the Galapagos through a series of projects and investments (estimated at $25 million) in the islands’ power supply, transportation, fishing and tourism sectors. (Solarbuzz.com, 08/03/03)

Investments & Finance

A $7.6 million solar energy initiative has been launched in Southern India between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and two leading banks. Syndicate Bank and Canara Bank have begun offering new loans in which UNEP is ‘buying down’ the financing cost of solar PV home systems. As a result, Indian households will be able to purchase systems at an interest rate of approximately 5 percent compared to the normal consumer lending rates of 11-12 percent. (Solarbuzz.com, 04/03/03)

Policy and Incentives

18 building projects in England and Wales have been approved to share 2 million of funding for the installation of solar PV panels. These projects are the third set of proposals approved under the UK DTI’s 20 million Photovoltaic Demonstration Program, launched a year ago. The projects will have a combined output of 565 kWp, enough to meet the electricity needs of 140 homes. 50 percent of the projects will be installed by BP Solar. Other winning companies were Solar Century, Imagination Solar Limited, Ecosol UK Ltd, PV Facades Ltd and Solar Energy Installations. (Solarbuzz.com, 10/03/03)

The State Governor of Boston has approved taking $17 million from the state’s renewable energy trust fund to help close a state
budget deficit. However he said he will more than offset the loss by filing legislation that would require the state to buy at least 10 percent of its energy from new renewable sources over the next 15 to 20 years the equivalent to at least $10 million worth of ”green power” each year. (Boston Globe via Solarbuzz.com, 06/03/03)

Connecticut’s Clean Energy Fund has joined the growing list of Renewable Energy public benefits funds in danger of being raided to help alleviate haemorrhaging state budget deficits. Gov. John Rowland’s recent budget proposal for 2004-2005 called for revenue transfers that could entirely eliminate that state’s Clean Energy Fund. Critics contend this would deal a severe blow the state’s Renewable Energy industry, reversing progress toward a more sustainable, cleaner environment. (SolarAccess.com, 10/03/03)


Industry Reports & Events

Solarbuzz Inc. has released its annual online report on the Global PV Industry. The report, Marketbuzz 2003, sets out the status of worldwide PV industry, the solar energy market in 2002 and its prospects for 2003. It provides insights in to the reconciliation between PV market demand and cell shipments to track movements in the industry supply/demand balance. (Solarbuzz.com, 04/03/03)

An international survey conducted by the European Commission shows that Renewable Energy is a top priority for European citizens, according to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). It also documents that research in Renewable Energies such as solar and wind is significantly more popular over other energy-related research in the European Union. (SolarAccess.com, 10/03/03)

Corporate News

Sharp Corp. has announced it will begin assembling solar battery panels in either Britain or France by the end of the year. Under the plan, Sharp, based in Osaka, will export solar battery components manufactured at a plant in Nara Prefecture to assemble them into panels at a factory in Europe. The factory is expected to have a capacity to assemble each year panels capable of generating between 15,000 and 20,000 kilowatts, equal to power use by between 5,000 and 6,700 homes. (Kyodo News via Solarbuzz.com, 07/03/03)

Evergreen Solar has announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2002. While the detailed financial information reveals the company is still losing money, Evergreen president and CEO, Mark Farber, is pleased with the continuing progress to develop its string ribbon process while working to more than double its output. “While the overall economy was sluggish, Evergreen was able to increase revenues. Additionally, we reduced our manufacturing costs and improved our product gross margins. While there is still plenty of room for future improvement, we firmly established string ribbon technology in commercial scale manufacturing during 2002”, he said. (SolarAccess.com, 06/03/03)

Canada-based ICP Global Technologies has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Global Solar Energy, a US developer of next-generation flexible copper indium gallium diselenide solar cells. The licensing agreement includes international rights for the exclusive use of Global Solar’s technology for various solar products. The partnership is anticipated to rapidly increase product development and faster paced improvements to each of the companys existing technology and applications. (SolarAccess.com, 04/03/03) The agreement has Global Solar geared up to more than triple its manufacturing capacity to meet demand from its new contract with ICP. (Arizona Daily Star via Solarbuzz.com, 05/03/03)

US-based Advanced Energy Systems, Inc., a designer, manufacturer and installer of Solar Powered Inverters, is to auction off its assets after filing for bankruptcy last autumn. The company holds certain patent rights to significant photovoltaic system designs as assets. The auction will take place in two stages: The first will be a Sealed Bid Auction for all of the intellectual and proprietary property; the second will be a Public Auction of all other assets consisting of testing and design equipment, computer systems, solar panels and other facility equipment. (Solarbuzz.com, 10/03/03)

Solar Grade Silicon LLC (a 50:50 joint venture of Advanced Silicon Materials LLC [ASiMI], a subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd., Japan, and Silicon Technologies AS, a subsidiary of Renewable Energy Corp., Norway) has announced full production of polycrystalline silicon at its Moses Lake facility. The initial start up has been successful with all polysilicon CVD reactors available modified to produce 2000 metric tons annually of solar grade polysilicon for the PV industry. SGSilicon is the first production plant to be wholly dedicated to the supply of feedstock to the PV industry. Extensive modifications were made to the process to manufacture a cost-effective feedstock. (Solarbuzz.com, 07/03/03)

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