Evergreen Solar, Inc. (ESLR) Solar Energy

[naturechase]

www.evergreensolar.com

Evergreen Solar, Inc., incorporated in August 1994, develops, manufactures and markets solar power products enabled by its String Ribbon technology. The Company’s revenues are primarily derived from the sale of solar modules, which are assemblies of photovoltaic (PV) cells that have been electrically interconnected and laminated in a physically durable and weather-tight package. The Company sells its products using distributors, systems integrators and other value-added resellers, who often add value through system design by incorporating its modules with electronics, structures and wiring systems. Its products are sold primarily in the United States and Europe. The Company manufactures and markets solar power products, including solar cells, panels and systems. It markets and sells all solar panels manufactured by Sovello under the Evergreen Solar brand, as well as manages customer relationships and contracts. The Company ceased its manufacturing operations in Marlboro, Massachusetts, on December 31, 2008.


The Company’s solar panels include wafers, cells and panels. A crystalline silicon wafer is a flat piece of crystalline silicon that can be processed and assembled into a solar cell. Its rectangular wafers measure 80 millimeters by 150 millimeters and are approximately 190 microns thick. A solar cell is a device made from a silicon wafer that converts sunlight into electricity by means of a process known as the PV effect. Each of its solar cells produces approximately 1.8 watts of power. A solar panel is an assembly of solar cells that have been electrically interconnected and laminated in a durable and weather-tight package. The most common solar panels typically range from 160 to 210 watts per panel while some specialty panels are smaller or larger. Evergreen Solar, Inc’s solar panels produce up to approximately 210 watts of power.


The Company competes with BP Solar International Inc., First Solar, Inc., Kyocera Corporation, Mitsubishi, Sanyo Corporation, Sharp Corporation, Solar World AG, SunPower Corporation, SunTech Power Holdings Co., Ltd, Trina Solar, and Yingli

[greencat]

Crickets!!!!

Evergreen Solar and Those Annoying Crickets

Who knew that crickets could cost a solar company so much trouble and money?

Evergreen Solar's (ESLR) CEO, Richard Feldt, appeared in front of the Devens Enterprise Commission in Massachusetts this week to argue that the company would be in compliance with the area's noise regulation if it weren't for the crickets that reside around the company's solar panel factory, reported a local weekly.

Neighbors of the factory, which began operating last year, have complained about the noise from the operation. The company needs to demonstrate compliance before it could receive a final occupancy permit.

Feldt presented a study showing that crickets have been the culprits, not the factory activities. He asked the commission for a possible extension of a deadline on Halloween to prove the company's point. Apparently, he wants to wait until the cold weather hits. "In other words, the crickets must die," wrote the reporter of the story (this is not a comment from Feldt).

Evergreen is spending thousands of dollars to outfit its factory with noise-silencing equipment and a monitoring system

Solar Roundup: First Solar Sells Project, Evergreen Plagued By Crickets -- Seeking Alpha

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Evergreen Solar (ESLR) plans to stop producing panels at its factory in Devens, Mass., and shift that work to China, the company said this week.

The Marlboro, Mass.-based company has been producing silicon wafers and cells, and assembling them into panels at the Devens factory.

But running the factory proves expensive, especially when its operation in China will be able to do it for less, the company said.

Evergreen decided to shift some of its manufacturing to China earlier this year. It is contracting with Jiawei Solar to produce cells and turn them into panels.

Evergreen will manufacture the wafers for the cell production in China, and do so in a leased factory being built by Jiawei, the company said when it announced the final agreement with Jiawei. The companies plan to build 100 megawatts of annual production capacities initially. Manufacturing is set to start in spring 2010.

Evergreen plans to shift panel production from Devens to China in mid-2010.

Before inking the deal with Jiawei, Evergreen had considered building its own factory to make wafers, cells and panels in China. But lining up financing for the factory proved difficult. Outsourcing some of the manufacturing would cut costs significantly, the company said.

The company shipped 31.3 megawatts of solar panels from Devens in the third quarter of this year, a 35 percent boost from the second quarter, Evergreen executives said Wednesday.

The company said it could restart panel production at Devens if demand in the United States picks up.