Manufacturing

Solar Summit 2011: Will Solar See a Sematech Soon?

Solar Summit 2011: Will Solar See a Sematech Soon?

Michael Kanellos: March 8, 2011

It worked when it was Japan versus the U.S.

Solar Summit 2011: Is U.S. PV Manufacturing Doomed to Failure?

Solar Summit 2011: Is U.S. PV Manufacturing Doomed to Failure?

Shyam Mehta: March 7, 2011

Which U.S. plants have been shut down? Why? Will new ones be constructed? Will they succeed? Should we even care?

Solar Summit: VC Investing in Solar 2011

Solar Summit: VC Investing in Solar 2011

Eric Wesoff: March 7, 2011

The maturation of VC and PE investing in solar

Rooftop CPV Startup Soliant Suspending Operations

Rooftop CPV Startup Soliant Suspending Operations

Eric Wesoff: March 1, 2011

Four CEOs, $29 million in VC, $4 million from the DOE, a product redesign, and a name change cannot keep the rooftop CPV firm funded.

Unirac’s 30% Share of the North American PV Rack Market

Unirac’s 30% Share of the North American PV Rack Market

Eric Wesoff: February 28, 2011

As module prices drop, innovation in BoS and racking becomes even more important.

Flash: VC Investor Speaks Truthfully About HelioVolt

Flash: VC Investor Speaks Truthfully About HelioVolt

Eric Wesoff: February 28, 2011

NEA’s Scott Sandell lets down his guard in talk with reporter.

First Solar 2010 Results and 2011 Guidance

First Solar 2010 Results and 2011 Guidance

Eric Wesoff: February 24, 2011

2010 sales of $2.564 billion; 11.6% efficiency at $0.75 per-watt cost; 2 gigawatts of production guidance for 2011.

SiGen and a Crop of Startups Target Thinner Silicon Wafers

SiGen and a Crop of Startups Target Thinner Silicon Wafers

Eric Wesoff: February 24, 2011

No more wire hangers, I mean wire saws. Less kerf loss. Less silicon used. Are 20-micron wafers in reach?

Varian Brings Ion Implantation to China’s Solar Firms

Varian Brings Ion Implantation to China’s Solar Firms

Eric Wesoff: February 23, 2011

High efficiency silicon soon to be in China. SunPower, Suniva and Sanyo’s lead to narrow?

PV Materials Roundup: New GTM Research Report Highlights Recent Vendor Trends

PV Materials Roundup: New GTM Research Report Highlights Recent Vendor Trends

Shyam Mehta: February 23, 2011

Findings from GTM’s latest research report, plus news from 5N Plus and Corning.

Off Grid Solar Makes Some Questionable Claims

Off Grid Solar Makes Some Questionable Claims

Eric Wesoff: February 23, 2011

The solar industry faces enough challenges without the inflated claims of dubious manufacturers and installers.

Solyndra and Solar Versus the Republicans

Solyndra and Solar Versus the Republicans

Eric Wesoff: February 21, 2011

House Energy and Commerce Committee investigates DOE on Solyndra and other loan guarantees.

MiaSolé Raises $106M for CIGS Thin Film in Down Round

MiaSolé Raises $106M for CIGS Thin Film in Down Round

Eric Wesoff: February 18, 2011

MiaSolé raises most of a $125 million new VC round at a valuation of less than half of what it was in 2008.

Why the U.S. Needs Manufacturing

Why the U.S. Needs Manufacturing

Michael Kanellos: February 18, 2011

1366 Technologies CEO also says don’t think of his technology like deli meat. Think thin layers of ice.