We spend most of our time talking about solar panels that install on rooftops and ground mounts. But as The New York Times reports, another market is gaining traction: solar for mobile devices. The paper says mobile solar chargers have been on the market for a while, but form and function – and price –

Frontsheet Film for Solar Modules Receives TÜV Approval
Airtech International, Inc. says its Solairtech SA-2200 frontsheet film for flexible photovoltaic solar modules has received TÜV Mark Approval. The approvalsprovide flexible PV solar module makers another option when seeking performance and frontsheet cost reductions in designing or building flexible, thin film PV solar modules. Solairtech SA-2200: SA-2200 offers manufacturers of flexible, semi-flexible, and lightweight rigid, thin-film PV solar

Technologies May Cut Metallization Costs 50%
The following article is from Lux Research. Metallization of solar cells – laying down metal electrodes to collect the electricity generated by the sunlight – is costly, largely because of the high and rising cost of the silver that’s typically used. But emerging technologies such as copper metallization, nickel phosphide and non-contact printing techniques are

3M Completes Manufacturing Expansion for Ultra Barrier Solar Film
3M has announced the completion of its manufacturing expansion for its 3M Ultra Barrier Solar Film in Columbia, Missouri. As the leader in transparent ultra barrier film technology, this expansion will support the growing demand for high efficiency flexible photovoltaic (PV) modules. “This manufacturing expansion helps us support our customers’ manufacturing scale-up plans by providing

Ionomer Encapsulant Reduces Cost, Increases Strength CIGS Modules
Axuntek Solar Energy Co., Ltd. offers a IEC-certified Copper Indium Gallium (di)Selenide (CIGS) thin film solar cell modules using DuPont™ PV5400 series ionomer encapsulant. These frameless solar modules, which are the first adoption of DuPont™ PV5400 into CIGS technology, take advantage of the ionomer’s excellent clarity and low moisture ingress, which combine to create a

MiaSole Continues Global Expansion Into India Solar Market
MiaSole, a manufacturer of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic solar panels, today announced the appointment of Preetha Nair as Country Manager India. This latest executive hire reinforces MiaSole’s continued strategic global expansion, with particular emphasis on high growth solar markets such as India. Nair has an extensive history in clean energy and trade

AQT Selects Sapphire Automation to Integrate Solar Cell Manufacturing
AQT Solar, a developer of low-cost thin-film solar cells, today announced it has successfully transitioned to a fully automated WIP Management System to complete the integration of its Sunnyvale production facility. AQT partnered with Sapphire Automation to drive greater operational efficiencies and further improve equipment utilization and planning. AQT anticipates that this platform will further

eIQ Energy Introduces new vBoost 600 DC Parallel System For Solar
eIQ Energy introduced the latest and highest-capacity addition to its vBoost DC Parallel System – the new vBoost 600 DC-to-DC converter module, which reduces the installed cost and improves the efficiency of solar power arrays. The new vBoost 600 modules boost the output of solar panels to a predictable, constant voltage while providing up to

First Solar to Build 26 Megawatt Avra Valley PV Solar Project for NRG
NRG Energy and First Solar announced an agreement for First Solar to construct 26 MW (AC) Avra Valley solar project near Tucson, Ariz. Electricity from the Avra Valley solar project will be sold to Tucson Electric Power under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The project will utilize First Solar’s advanced thin-film photovoltaic technology, mounted on

Abound Solar Ramps Up Production On Next Generation Modules
Abound Solar, a manufacturer of thin-film cadmium telluride photovoltaic modules, today announced that the company will cease production of its first-generation solar module to accelerate the manufacturing process and equipment changes needed for the production launch of its next generation high-efficiency module. Abound Solar’s new high efficiency “AB2″ 85-watt module represents a 12.5 percent solar









