Japanese semiconductor manufacturing equipment components manufacturers in China Ferrotec plans to increase the output of solar cell manufacturing equipment, the company will be in this capital equipment investment of 850 million yen.
It is understood that the company will be the year the equipment manufacturing crystalline silicon production capacity increased to 50 per month, representing an increase of about 40 percent at present. To this end the company will invest in capital equipment of 850 million yen. At the same time to cope with the increase in demand for solar cells, plans related to the 2008 business year will increase to 07 annual sales of 2.2 times to 10.2 billion yen.
It is learnt that, Ferrotec Shanghai plant will increase production of polycrystalline silicon and silicon manufacturing equipment manufacturing equipment. Year plan will be high purity, good power generation efficiency silicon manufacturing equipment to increase the monthly output of 10 to 40.
Source: 世华财讯 Jul. 26, 2008
Aferrotec Japan Plans To Increase In China's Output Of Photovoltaic Equipment
Toshiba's Solar Power Generation Business "Is Still In The Feasibility Stage Of Business"
Some media reports for the "Toshiba will cooperate with the United States in Japan sales SunPower solar system," the content, Toshiba said in a statement: "The current business is still in the feasibility study stage." For the company from July 18, 2008 from the sale of the system reported to be negative, said: "Sales have not formulated any specific plans" (the company).
On the other hand, SunPower CEO, Thomas H. Werner on television on the relationship between the company and Toshiba, said: "through the combination of Toshiba's electronic technology with our high conversion efficiency of solar cells, the market share from 0% to 10% . "
SunPower unit developed a conversion efficiency of the highest commercial crystalline silicon solar cell modules of the conversion efficiency of about 22 per cent (see this site reported 1, this site reported 2). In addition, the company in May 2008, the large size of 12 cm square to the solar cell modules, and created a 23.4 percent conversion efficiency record. July 17, 2008 issued by the settlement report shows that in 2008 the second quarter (April to June) in sales from 200 million the first quarter of 7370 U.S. dollars soared 40 percent, reaching 300 million 8280 U.S. dollars. Than the same period last year increased by 120 percent, far more than the entire solar cell industry an average of about 40 percent of the growth momentum.
Source: 日经BP社 Jul. 24, 2008
Energy experts sound alarm over oil
AMMAN, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Energy experts cautioned here the fossil fuel of oil is facing the danger of exhaustion and that the world is in urgent need of developing alternative energy resources, local daily Jordan Times reported Sunday.
"Oil is finished, it's over with, it's done," said Paul Sullivan, economics professor with the National Defense University in Washington said during a seminar on energy, security and development at the University of Jordan.
Most of the major oil discoveries in the last century were made in the 1960s and 1970s, and any further discoveries will not come easy, he said.
"The next potential areas of oil will probably be in the Arcticor very deep water," said Sullivan, adding that the extractions under such conditions would be "very expensive."
In addition, he said political uncertainty in the world's current major oil producers, such as Nigeria's difficult political and economic situation, instability in the Gulf region and the disputed Iran nuclear issue, drives new energy innovation.
The expert said he believes, however, there is a silver lining in the recent hike in oil prices, adding that many engineers and inventors now focus on developing alternative energy resources in line of current surging energy cost.
Nawaf Tell, director of the Center for Strategic Studies with the University of Jordan, echoed Sullivan by saying that it is the time to look into energy alternatives.
In addition to the government's recent push towards nuclear power, Tell said Jordan's energy portfolio should include wind and solar energy as well as a renewed focus on energy efficiency.
Sullivan suggested oil-barren Jordan should consider an energy technology of "solar tower," a two-km-high concrete tower affixed with solar panels.
Using solar panels and massive wind vanes, wind generated by a temperature difference in the solar tower could generate enough electricity for 2 million people, he said, noting that applying such technology would cost the kingdom between 300 million to 500 million U.S. dollars.
Moreover, Sullivan said Jordan has another potential energy source, underground shale oil, which has the potential to produce some 40 billion barrels of oil.
Source: Xinhua Jul. 20, 2008
