Wednesday 19 May 2010

Suntech, Silex Solar and UNSW Team Up

www.energymatters.com.au
12 MAY, 2010

SunTech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Silex Solar have announced a joint research project to boost the power conversion efficiencies of crystalline silicon solar cells. The three-year partnership yesterday received a 5 million grant from the Australian Solar Institute (ASI). In addition to the research grant, both Silex Solar and SunTech will contribute more than $6 million in direct funding and in-kind research resources over the next three years to support research operations.

"We are pleased to support the world-renowned team at UNSW in collaboration with its industry partners SunTech and Silex Solar through this ground-breaking project," said the ASI's Executive Director Mark Twidell. Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Chairman and CEO of SunTech, and a graduate of the University of New South Wales said his company's long-term research collaborations with Australian organisations including UNSW are central to driving solar power innovation. The research project is expected to complement SunTech's development of high-efficiency Pluto solar cell technology and aims to drive solar electricity generation past grid parity against retail electricity prices in more than 50% of the world's markets.

SunTech employs 380 full-time solar research and development engineers and professionals who work in China, Japan, Germany, the United States, and Australia. SunTech nearly doubled its R&D investments in 2009 to US$29 million, up from US$15 million in 2008. The Australian Solar Institute is a $100 million commitment by the Australian Government to support solar thermal and solar photovoltaic research and development. Silex Solar is Australia's only manufacturer of solar panels for the local home and commercial solar power market. The company acquired the shuttered BP solar panel manufacturing facility at Sydney Olympic Park last year and recently commenced production.

0 comments: