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December 16, 2009...First Solar Inc. reports that in 2009 it has manufactured and shipped more than 1 gigawatt of its photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. Thus, the company, a maker of CdTe solar cells, became the first PV company to attain over 1GW produced and in a single year. First Solar estimates that one gigawatt of solar modules produces enough electricity to serve the needs of approximately 145,000 average American homes and saves roughly 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
First Solar has increased its manufacturing capacity from approximately 75 megawatts (MW) per year at the beginning of 2007 to more than 1GW per year today. The company boasts that the it is the largest PV producer in the world.
"This proof that the solar industry can achieve the manufacturing scale necessary to fight climate change is especially timely in light of the Copenhagen conference that began last week," said Bruce Sohn, First Solar president. "Our efforts in scaling our technology are critical to creating a more sustainable energy infrastructure and reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
First Solar says it has continually lowered the cost of manufacturing solar modules, and it reported breaking the $1 per watt barrier earlier this year. Company News Release
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SemiLEDs to Boost 4-inch LED Epiwafer Production at Taiwan Facility
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 16, 2009...After recently opening a new production facility in Foshan, Guangdong Province, China, SemiLEDs is apparently getting ready for a production ramp at its 4-inch LED chip line in Taiwan, according to MOCVD equipment maker, Aixtron.
Semileds reportedly oredered Aixtron's Close Coupled Showerhead CRIUS MOCVD system in a 7x4 inch configuration. Aixtron says that the system will be delivered in the fourth quarter 2009 and installed at the company's 4-inch LED chip line at its production facility in Taiwan.
Dr. Chuong Tran, President and COO of SemiLEDs, commented, "We have chosen the Aixtron CRIUS system equipped with the Dynamic Reactor Height Adjustment feature, which facilitates growth at elevated pressures, providing an advantage for our proprietary MVP structure. Plus, we particularly appreciate their responsive back-up service ensuring we can meet our production obligations.”
Dr. Christian Geng, Vice President Greater China of Aixtron, added, “We are looking forward to this 4-inch project as it is the first Close Coupled Showerhead Reactor to complement the existing manufacturing line of Planetary Reactor systems at SemiLEDs.”
Aixtron News Release RFMD Ships Pre-Production GaN-Based CATV Hybrid Amplifiers to U.S.-Based CATV Equipment Provider
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 14, 2009...RF Micro Devices of Greensboro, North Carolina USA, has begun pre-production shipments of gallium nitride (GaN)-based CATV (cable TV) amplifiers to major U.S.-based CATV equipment provider.
RFMD points out that operators of hybrid fiber coax (HFC) networks are installing fiber capacity deeper into their networks ("fiber deep" networks) to address the increasing demand for higher throughput video and broadband services. Accordingly, CATV equipment providers hope to reduce the cost of fiber deep networks through the use of semiconductor devices capable of higher RF output levels than those of state-of-the-art GaAs-based devices.
RFMD contends that its GaN-based devices can reduce the number of amplifiers required in emerging architectures, also known as N+1 architectures, and achieve up to 20-percent cost savings in fiber deep networks. RFMD says its initial GaN shipments to this CATV customer are for optical nodes, and subsequent shipments are also expected to be used in line extender amplifier applications. The company expects to begin volume production in the first half of calendar 2010.
"We are excited to announce pre-production shipments of our GaN-based CATV hybrid amplifiers to this major CATV customer," said Alastair Upton, general manager of RFMD's Broadband Components business unit. "With our GaN semiconductor expertise and our world-class CATV manufacturing capability, RFMD is uniquely positioned to bring the next generation of high-performance CATV amplifiers to the CATV equipment market."
Company News Release
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VT Silicon Selects TowerJazz for First Fully Integrated 4G RF Front End IC
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 14, 2009...VT Silicon, a fabless semiconductor company has reportedly selected TowerJazz
to be its manufacturing partner for what the company says is the first silicon 4G RF Front End IC to meet the operating requirements of 4G mobile devices. VT Silicon reportedly chose TowerJazz’s SiGe process instead of a more expensive GaAs to enable higher integration at a significantly lower cost. VT Silicon's 4G RF front end IC offers the company’s patented Linearity Enhancement Technology (LET™) and a novel RF Front End topology to achieve the power, efficiency, and linearity required by today’s battery-powered 4G broadband mobile devices.
TowerJazz's Silicon Radio Platform includes a SiGe transistor that can operate at up to 200GHz, which it says is competitive with GaAs, and offers as much as 40% lower die cost. The SiGe BiCMOS technology allows the RF Front End to be integrated in a wireless device on a single piece of silicon. Furthermore, the CMOS technology allows mixed-signal and digital functions on the same chip for programmable control of RF functions, advanced sensors, and serial digital communication. VT Silicon says that the inegration eliminates the need for a number of expensive discrete GaAs devices ultimately results in a reduced bill of materials.
Vikram Krishnamurthy, CTO, VT Silicon commented, “Our design, an industry first, takes full advantage of this silicon process to provide highly intelligent digital communications, programmability, and control of all RF functions.” VT Silicon News Release Enbridge and First Solar Agree on 60 MW Renewable Energy Expansion at Sarnia
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 9, 2009...Enbridge Inc. of Calgary, Canada and First Solar, Inc. of Tempe, Arizona USA have entered into an agreement to expand the Sarnia Solar Project from 20 megawatts of capacity to 80 megawatts (MW). The total system cost of of the project is expected to be CDN $300 million for the expansion. When completed in the second half of 2010, it is expected to be the largest photovoltaic solar energy facility in North America. Enbridge and First Solar announced in October an agreement for Enbridge to acquire the initial 20 MW solar energy project that First Solar developed at the Sarnia, Canada site. The 20 MW project achieved full commercial operation on December 7, 2009.
Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, First Solar will construct the thin-film solar project for Enbridge under a fixed price engineering, procurement and construction contract. First Solar says that the 60 MW phase of the project is expected to begin construction in December and be completed by December 2010. With a 80 MW peak capacity, Enbridge expects the Sarnia Solar Project will generate enough power to meet the needs of over 12,800 homes. Under a long-term contract, First Solar will provide operations and maintenance services to Enbridge. The power output of the facility will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority pursuant to 20-year Power Purchase Agreements under the terms of the Ontario Government’s Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program. First Solar News Release Sanyo Ends Red And Infrared Laser Diode Production
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 9, 2009...Photonics Products Ltd., the authorized distributor of Sanyo laser diodes, reports that due to the recent merger between Sanyo and Panasonic, Sanyo will stop producing red and infrared laser diodes after September 30th 2010. The last time buy date for all affected product lines will be March 31st 2010.
Photonic Products has negotiated an agreement with Sanyo whereby it is able to guarantee order coverage for up to two years, providing final orders are placed by March 31st 2010. Photonic Products will also source and recommend suitable alternatives from leading manufacturers which will provide equivalent performance and reliability at a comparable price. During the transition period, the Sanyo's engineers will work with customers to evaluate and approve alternative laser diodes to prevent disruption to production schedules and minimize any inconvenience.
Sanyo will reportedly continue manufacturing 405nm blue-violet laser diodes, which are available in with up to 85mW optical output power and with the stability required for critically demanding industrial and medical applications. Photonic Products will continue to distribute Sanyo blue-violet laser diodes. Photonic Products Inc. News Release
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