Solar ♦ news digest
a diverse range of financial products and services. Its principal markets are South Africa, the United Kingdom and Australia. Investec’s strategic goal is to develop business on an international scale.
Opel Technologies restructures its board
On an interim basis, CEO Leon M. Pierhal will direct Opel Solar’s marketing activities with the support of the sales and marketing staff
Opel Technologies and Opel Solar, a supplier of HCPV solar panels and solar tracker systems and a semiconductor device and process developer, has made changes to its Management Team.
Francisco (“Frank”) Middleton, Chief Operating Officer, has retired from the Company.
Middleton came out of retirement to join Opel six years ago to develop the Company’s HCPV technology and universal solar tracking systems.
Over the years, Middleton has seen the rise of Opel’s worldwide acceptance within the CPV and tracker businesses. Now that Opel is enjoying market-leading success and continuing growth, especially with its solar trackers, he believes it is a perfect time for his transition back into retirement.
The Company’s Management and the Board remains optimistic that the Company’s efforts will result in strong growth in both its solar and semiconductor lines of business.
“The businesses of Opel retain great potential,” said Leon M. Pierhal, Chief Executive Officer of Opel Technologies. “We are experiencing tremendous sales momentum in the area of our universal solar tracking systems. At the Annual General Meeting, I discussed refocusing Opel Solar to meet the increasing worldwide demand for tracking systems. Over the recent months, Opel has been actively responding to numerous proposal requests for utility scale projects requiring solar trackers for different types of PV technologies. In fact, our pivot to tracking systems has generated such activity that to meet the demand, Opel has shifted resources from our CPV business in order to devote the required attention to solar trackers,” Pierhal stated.
In addition, the ODIS group continues to grow to meet its goals. “ODIS continues to successfully forge ahead in its POET development program to achieve its expected milestones,” added Pierhal.
Javier Berrios is taking on an expanded role as Vice President of Engineering and New Product Development. He will continue in his current engineering capacity within the solar business. Berrios’ deep background in photonics will be of strategic importance to support the ongoing compound semiconductor multi-junction POET development and ODIS’s semiconductor business plan.
Abound Solar comes on leaps and bounds with 82.8W CdTe modules
The manufacturer of thin-film cadmium telluride solar cells says its module represents a 12.2 percent aperture efficiency and is being verified by the U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL
Photovoltaic module manufacturer Abound Solar is producing 82.8W modules at its Longmont, Colorado, USA factory.
The first 82W module was produced in early January 2012 on existing production equipment, and several hundred modules reaching that wattage have been manufactured thus far. Abound Solar expects to begin mass production of 82W modules in the second half of 2012 and 85W modules in the first half of 2013.
“We are very proud of this achievement and I think it underscores the tremendous capabilities of CdTe thin-film technology as a leading solution for competitive, reliable solar power made in the U.S.A.,” said Craig Witsoe, President and CEO of Abound Solar. “Abound’s R&D team continues to innovate, and we expect to continue increasing our module efficiency and performance. We believe thin-film will soon outpace other forms of PV in regards to cost-efficiency.”
Abound Solar produced its one-millionth module in December 2011. Expansion of the Longmont, Colorado factory is currently underway, with further
March 2012
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