Solar Energy Investing

FoxBusiness.com reports that Applied Materials, Inc has released a new wire that specializes in creating ingots into wafers that can decrease the price of photovoltac by 18 cents per watt. Experts say this system has a higher capacity than other systems and requires less floor space.

MLive.com reports Evergreen Solar Inc. will open a new factory in Midland, Michigan.  The building is expected to open in the spring to manufacture String Ribbon which is used in solar wafers.  The company received a $1.8 million state tax credit last year which was said to create 101 new jobs for the factory, but nothing is posted at this time on the company’s website.

Statesmanjournal.com reports southeast Salem, OR will host an $80 million solar cell manufacturing plant. Sanyo Solar of Oregon is building the factory in two phases, the last of which is expected to be finished in 2010. The new plant will bring employment to at least 200 workers.

App.com reports a New Jersey winery is hoping to produce wine as renowned as Napa Valley. While awaiting certification as an eco-friendly facility the winery is able to produce it’s own power through spring and summer from solar panels installed across the vinyard.

Resource Investor reports a common myth in the solar industry is that silicon is inexpensive because it is the most common element in the Earth’s crust.  The competition amongst companies is now to find an inexpensive process to manufacture metallurgical grade silicon to use for PV solar cells.  Using compounds has proven to produce the most efficient thin-film PV cells.

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.

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.

iStockAnalyst reports the Florida Public Service Commission approved FPL to charge customers for new solar power plants.  By adding .31 a month to customers’ bills for 25 years, this will recover $688 million to begin construction on the plants later this year.  Three new facilities are planned for Martin, DeSoto, and Brevard Counties.

iStockAnalyst reports a $1.2 billion contract has been signed by Evergreen Solar and IBC Solar AG, a German solar panel distributer.  Evergreen also opened a new $165 million plant to build 780,000 solar panels by next near.  That is enough panels to power 23,000 homes.  The plant expectes to create 160MW a year from solar panels when it reaches its full capacity.

Solar Industry reports Pall Corp. has provided eight new technologies to advance the solar industry.  These technologies include a resource recovery system to seperate silicon particles frm ultra-pure water - this will allow for 95% recovery of deionized water.