Solar

Solar energy articles from the PES, renewable energy magazine and website.

PPG to make SOLARPHIRE PV glass at Fresno plant

PPG becomes only West Coast manufacturer of low-iron glass for solar industry

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 1, 2012 - PPG Industries' (NYSE:PPG) flat glass business announced that it will expand production capability at its Fresno, Calif., plant to accommodate the manufacture of SOLARPHIRE(R) PV glass, an ultra-low-iron glass used to make components for the solar power industry.

Richard A. Beuke, PPG vice president, flat glass, said the production of Solarphire PV glass at the Fresno Works will make PPG the first and only manufacturer of low-iron glass on the West Coast and dramatically enhance the company's ability to serve the region's burgeoning solar power market.

"For decades, PPG has been the industry leader in low-iron gla

• The efficiency of CIGS modules from the Manz CIGSfab steadily nearing the laboratory values attained by the ZSW in Stuttgart
• Acquisition of the CIGS "innovation line" from Würth Solar in January 2012 accelerating technological development
• Manz is expanding its lead over the competition with the most qualified CIGS team in the industry

Reutlingen, February 2, 2012. The high-tech engineering firm Manz presented the latest advances to its integrated production line for the manufacture of CIGS thin-film solar modules, the Manz CIGSfab, at the fourth Thin-Film Conference held by the solar industry magazine PHOTON. This includes achieving the previously attained increases to module efficie

Centrosolar customers can rely on decades of solar yields, without having to put up with reductions in performance: TÜV Rheinland has certified that the modules produced by the Hamburg-based company are resistant to voltage-related performance degradation. This effect, which is referred to as PID (potential induced degradation), is one of the main causes of reduced performance of photovoltaic modules over the course of their life cycle.

Centrosolar commissioned the acclaimed testing institute TÜV Rheinland to perform the analysis. During this test, the modules are subjected to a negative voltage of 1,000 volts for seven days at room temperature. The test qualifies as passed once the performance of the modules is reduced by no more than five pe

The European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) and the International Photovoltaic Equipment Association (IPVEA) present the PV Production Forum 2012 during the 27th EU PVSEC in Frankfurt, Germany. Jointly organized by IPVEA and EU PVSEC, the third edition of the PV Production Forum provides an international platform for photovoltaic manufacturing technologies. The 27th EU PVSEC will host the global PV community at the Messe Frankfurt, Germany, fairgrounds, from 24 to 28 September 2012. The five-day EU PVSEC Conference shall be held from 24 to 28 September 2012, and the four-day EU PVSEC Exhibition runs from 25 to 28 September 2012.

The PV Production Forum 2012 addresses best practices and case studies that can assist production mana

In this newly created position, Dr. Patrick Hofer-Noser will be responsible for renewable energy systems as Meyer Burger continues to strengthen its efforts in the Cleantech energy sector.

Meyer Burger Technology AG (SIX Swiss Exchange: MBTN) today announced that Dr. Patrick Hofer-Noser will assume responsibility for renewable energy systems as of April 1, 2012. With this newly created function which will report directly to the CEO, the Meyer Burger Group will actively support and ensure the ongoing development of sustainable energy resources and promote its cooperation within technical and political circles.

Dr. Patrick Hofer-Noser has been Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and member of the Executive Board since 2010 and President of Clea

Page 1 of 217