A collection of company news, government announcements and contributions from the industry.

1. ARISE Technologies Corporation announces second quarter fiscal 2007 results (Aug. 9)

2. Carmanah Appoints Roland Sartorius as Chief Financial Officer (Aug. 9)

3. ARISE Technologies Corporation announces Bischofswerda site purchase agreement (Aug. 9)

4. SCHOTT and WACKER Set Up Joint Venture to Produce Solar Wafers (Aug. 2)

5. Q-Cells AG increases presence on the US market (July 23 )

6. REC ASA - Significantly expanding mono-wafer capacity (July 17)

7. 6N Silicon Raises $6 Million in Venture Capital Financing (July 10)

8. SolarWorld Group builds GigaFab to meet international demand (July 7)

9. SkyPower Corp. and SunEdison Canada LLC Awarded Second Ontario Solar Power Supply Contract (July 3)

10. ersol enters the gigawatt range (June 27)

11. Q-Cells AG opens branch in Japan (June 27)

12. 195W model expands the Company’s Spruce Line™ of solar panels (June 21)

13. Carmanah Provides Solar Elevated Runway Guard Lights to US Air Force (June 20)

14. REC ASA - Adding 50 MW module capacity (June 20)

    
    

Some Solar Facts:

Average solar module pricing (U.S.) $4.87 USD per watt, $5.40 CAD. The cost of a full 'solar system' (including installation, invertor, storage, etc.) is approx. double this figure. This translates roughly to a cost of $0.30 per kW-hr (USD).

The basic feedstock for PV cells is solar grade silicon (polysilicon), which is a slightly lower grade of silicon that that used in the semiconductor market. In fact, a significant amount of silicon used in the manufacture of crystalline cells comes from discarded semicondutor silicon. The cost of this raw silicon is approximately one third of the total cost of the PV cells, which are bundled into 'modules'.

PV silicon production worldwide in 2003 was 6,000 tons. Pressure to increase manufacturing capacity in the PV market has contributed to the doubling of solar grade silicon since 2002. Several large manufacturers are entering into the silicon market, in part, to mitigate this pricing increase and to ensure supply. Other companies are locking in silicon supply and/or pricing through large purchase contracts. The supply and price of raw silicon is a significant factor in the cost of PV cells.

Other manufacturers are experimenting with different approaches (thin film, multi-crystalline vs. mono-crystalline) and feedstocks to mimic the conversion of sunlight into energy sources. Sunlight to energy conversion is also an important factor. Most pv cells have an efficiency of 10 - 20%. Scientists are continually aiming for higher efficiency ratings and will soon be closing in on 40%.

PV solar systems account for less than 1% of worldwide electricity generation.

The sun delivers more energy to the earth's surface in one hour than human activity uses in a whole year.

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