Most Viewed Articles for the Week of August 4, 2008

It's a good week in news when a a new solution for handling ultrathin wafers is revealed, companies move forward on building a new DRAM fab, and researchers believe they can explain the mechanism behind the long-studied molecular switch. More

Scanning Probe Microscope Works Out Solar Cell Profiles
Alexander E. Braun, Senior Editor — Semiconductor International, 7/31/2008

Scanning probe microscope techniques can be used to study nanostructured organic photovoltaic cells, giving insights into film behavior and processing needs. Knowing about the chemistry of different film materials being considered for solar cells is not enough. Data about their nanostructures is vital to obtain the maximum efficiency when they are brought together in the finished cell. More

Spire Wins Contract for Tianwei Factory Expansion
Business Wire, 8/6/2008

Spire Corp. announced that it has received a contract from ChengDu Tianwei New Energy PV Module Co. Ltd. (Tianwei) to provide multiple systems for stringing and tabbing solar cells and performing the critical end-of-line test and certification. More

Sichuan Yongxiang to Begin Trial Run of Polysilicon Line
China Energy Newswire, 8/5/2008

Sichuan Yongxiang Polysilicon Corp. will put a line that can produce 800 tons of polysilicon each year into trial production, which is part of the first phase of the company's polysilicon project. More

VLSI Standards Opens Solar Cell Calibration Lab
Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor — Electronic News, 8/5/2008

Semiconductor metrology-based services provider VLSI Standards Inc. has completed its solar calibration laboratory in San Jose, and is releasing a solar reference cell to be used by solar manufacturers to monitor and calibrate solar simulators, which are critical in determining the efficiency of production solar cells and panels. More

Applied Materials Promotes Gilad Almogy to Senior Vice President
Business Wire, 8/5/2008

Applied Materials announced the promotion of Gilad Almogy to senior vice president and general manager of the Display and Thin Film Solar Products Business Group. More

Plant Energy Storage System Offers Solar Storage Innovation
Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor — Electronic News, 8/1/2008

In what MIT researchers say is a revolutionary leap that could transform solar power from a marginal, boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source, researchers report that they have discovered a way to store energy for use when the sun doesn't shine, thereby overcoming a major barrier to large-scale solar power. "This is the nirvana of what we've been talking about for years," MIT's Daniel Nocera said. More

Solar, Wind Tax Credits Stalled
Frank Davies, Mercury News Washington Bureau — San Jose Mercury News, 8/1/2008

Renewable-energy companies and investors in solar and wind projects suffered another defeat on Capitol Hill recently, as Congress failed again to extend tax credits that expire at the end of the year. More

DuPont PV, Toppan to Boost Production of PV Materials
Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor — Electronic News, 7/30/2008

Under a technology licensing agreement, Tokyo-based Toppan Printing will commercialize backsheet for photovoltaic modules using a new technology from DuPont Photovoltaic Fluoromaterials, which contains DuPont's Tedlar polyvinyl fluoride polymer in a single step. More

Intel Makes Third Solar Move
Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor — Electronic News, 7/29/2008

Marking its third foray into the solar energy arena this year, Intel invested $12.5M in semiconductor and thin-film materials supplier Voltaix, which allows the company to accelerate its manufacturing capacity expansion. More

Solar Possible 'Ray of Hope' for Hynix's Oregon Site
Richard Read — The Oregonian, 7/25/2008

Gov. Ted Kulongoski and other Oregon officials think the solar industry is a good fit for the Hynix DRAM plant in Eugene, Ore. State economic officials are racing to match the Hynix Semiconductor plant, which will wipe out 1400 jobs in Eugene when it closes, with one of several companies considering solar manufacturing in Oregon. More

Applied Breaks Ground for Taiwanese Manufacturing Center Expansion
Business Wire, 7/22/2008

The expansion, with a total investment estimated at ~$17M, will increase the company's ability to meet the demand for both its AKT flat panel display equipment and SunFab thin-film solar manufacturing equipment. The new facility is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. More

ET Solar Donates PV Systems to Tibetan Villages
PR Newswire, 8/7//2008

ET Solar Group Corp. (Nanjing, China) said it has installed PV power-generation systems at eight remote Tibetan mountain villages not connected to the grid. The company also donated televisions so the villagers will be able to follow the Olympic Games. More