Solar Energy Investing

SustainableBusiness.com reports LDK Solar and GT Solar International have signed an agreement for the purchase of polysilicon CVD reactors to be used in the manufacturing of polysilicon for solar wafers in the China plant.  The companies are confident that this agreement will be able to increase the manufacturing capacity to meet the rising demands of the solar industry.

TradingMarkets.com reports DuPont Photovoltaic Solar has launched in India to provide crystalline silicon and thin film modules for the solar industry.  A photovoltaic lab is planned to be established by 2010 to provide further research.  DuPont expects sales to exceed $1 billion within 5 years for products in the photovoltaic product line.

TradingMarkets.com reports Simtek Corp., a design and manfacturing company of semiconductor products, including silicon memory chips, has been removed from the NASDAQ.  Several other companies were removed as well.

TransWorldNews reports Quality Stocks News is highlighting GT Solar International Inc.  The company manufactures solar grade polysilicon, solar wafers, and solar cells for photovoltaic technology.  They have recently experienced a revenue increase of 272% from last year.

US News and World Report reports that while uncertainties about polysilicon costas and subsidy programs continue, sales have picked up in the solar industry.  LDK’s shares are up 20% at the end of the 2nd quarter, earnings have doubled from a year ago.  JA Solar also saw a double increase in revenue, the company expects 23% increase in revenue above current expectations.

Solar Industry reports Day 4 Energy Inc. has develeoped a manufacturing process for a photovolotaic module with an 18% conversion efficiency rate on multicrystalline silicon materials.  This technology will allow for a lower price and the manufacturing process will reduce production costs by 25%.

Marketwire reports W. Granger Souder Jr. has been appointed Vice President and General Council of Xunlight Corp.  Xunlight is a thin-film silicon solar module developer.

Reliable Plant reports First Solar plans to make photovoltaic cells cost effective to compete with coal-fired generation.  The company refuses to speak with journalists, but their tactic is the way they manufacture photovoltaic cells. They use a combination of cadmium and tellurium instead of silicon, this has allowed cells to bemade as large as a poster, whereas before, cells weren’t beyond the size of a postage stamp.

Earth2Tech reports Xunlight just received $4.9 million in funding from Ohio’s Research Commercialization Program.  This funding comes after a $1 million public grant from Ohio’s Alternative Energy Program.  The funding will be used to secure in-state thin-film solar jobs.  Xunlight has built a pilot plant for its roll-to-toll solar technology and has 100kW of capacity to print its silicon-based cells.

StreetInsider.com reports Trina Solar Limited is planning to use the proceed of notes to allow for future manufacturing expansion of solar ingots, wafers, solar cells, research and develoment, amongs other things.  They will offer $120 million aggregate principal amount and an additional $18 millon aggregate principal amount of the notes to cover overallotments.  The notes will mature in July 2013 at an annual rate of 4.00% interest.