COMPANYNEWS AQT opens CIGS facility


AQT SOLAR, a developer of low-cost CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-diselenide) thin-film solar cells announced the opening of their facility in Sunnyvale, California. The facility has already begun production to fill current customer orders of 20 MW, with substantial purchase orders in the pipeline. AQT’s rapid path from inception to production in two years is fast in the solar industry, and illustrates how its technology and business model, dubbed CIGS 2.0, are charting new territory in the market.


AQT’s new facility, fueled by a recent $10 million round of funding, currently houses a 15 MW manufacturing line, and can easily scale up to 60 MW of production capacity.


The manufacturing line’s modular design allowed for quick on-site deployment and is a result of the company’s partnership with Intevac, a leader in high-productivity manufacturing equipment. The small footprint of each highly-automated machine provides an efficient use of space within the 20,000 square foot facility. As a result, AQT can produce up to 60 MW in an area many times smaller than its nearest competitors.


“Starting commercial production so early in our company’s lifecycle is a confirmation of our business model, the leverage we receive from world class partners like Intevac and our


breakthrough CIGS production process,” said Michael Bartholomeusz, CEO of AQT.


Power facility for South Africa


“We have set aggressive production goals for the remainder of 2010 and beyond and are excited to kick it off in California, the heart of the solar industry.”


AQT’s first installation, Sol Pacifico, is scheduled to break ground in 2011. The 2 MW project, which will potentially grow to 9 MW, will support a large high-end resort development in Baja Mexico. “This project represents a concerted effort at renewable and responsible resort development,” said Antonio Cordova, project manager, Sol Pacifico. “Our vision was of a sustainable and eco-friendly project and we are excited to work with AQT to make this vision a reality.”


AQT expects to move the company’s headquarters and research and development from its original location to the current site in August of this year. It expects to add 40 green jobs over the next six months in Silicon Valley.


AQT Solar is currently engaged in site evaluation for its second high-volume facility and expects to break-ground on this site early next year.


New leader for Dow in China


DOW CORNING has named Jenny Geng as commercial manager for its solar business in greater China. Geng will oversee marketing and sales strategies for Dow Corning’s silicon-based solutions across the solar value chain. She will be based in the new China Business and Technology Center in Shanghai.


“Dow Corning continues to invest heavily in the Chinese solar market – both in the resources to serve growing customer demand and in the internal leadership necessary to manage that growth sustainably,” said Gaetan Borgers, global solar industry director. “Jenny’s marketing,


sales, and management experience make her an excellent addition to our leadership team in this region.”


Geng joined Dow Corning in 2003 and was most recently global major market leader for Dow Corning’s textile industry, with responsibilities including leading the global marketing team as well as managing portfolios and market communications. She has also served as Asia marketer for Dow Corning’s paper industry. Prior to joining Dow Corning, Geng has had more than a decade of experience in various commercial roles in differing industries.


PAVING the way for solar power projects in South Africa, Concentrix Solar, a supplier of CPV systems is going to inaugurate its first power facility in South Africa at the Aquila Private Game Reserve in Touwsrivier on September 1, 2010. The firm says this is the first step in developing large-scale solar power projects in South Africa.


CPV systems are perfectly suited for the use in South Africa with its energy shortage, water scarcity and high temperatures. Concentrix says its systems can be easily and quickly implemented and do not need cooling water or suffer from heat degradation at hot ambient temperatures.


Hansjörg Lerchenmüller, CEO of Concentrix Solar commented, “In addition, this facility will initiate the transfer of know-how and serves to develop local skills in South Africa with immediate effect.”


15


Concentrix is going to inaugurate a 60 kilowatts (kW) facility at the Aquila Private Game Reserve in Touwsrivier, Western Cape.


With this installation, the Aquila Private Game Reserve is able to cover all energy requirements during daylight hours and makes a positive contribution to environmentally friendly tourism. Also, the firm is actively pursuing a project development of a 50 megawatts (MW) utility-scale power plant in the Western Cape.


Concentrix says that with a direct solar irradiation, South Africa is best suited for the use of its CPV technology, particularly due to its high efficiencies and two-axis tracking.


www.solar-pv-management.com Issue VI 2010


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64