SilexSolar Media Releases
MEDIA RELEASE 5 July 2010
Silex Solar to increase PV Panel Production Capacity.
Strong Demand for Australian-made Panels.
SilexSolar Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Silex Systems Ltd, has announced a significant expansion in PV Panel production capacity at its Sydney Olympic Park (SOP) manufacturing facility, in response to strong demand for its high quality, high efficiency Australian-made panels from the domestic rooftop solar panel market.
The increase in panel production capacity will be implemented in two stages, the first of which is planned for the fourth quarter of 2010 with the scheduled installation of state-of-the-art automated assembly equipment which will take the capacity from ~13MW p.a. currently to ~20MW p.a. by early 2011 (calendar). Depending on continuing demand, the second stage of equipment upgrades will occur in the middle of 2011 (calendar) to further increase the annual panel production capacity to approximately 35MW. The total capital expenditure for the two-stage upgrade will be in the order of A$2 million.
“This is good news for SilexSolar” Dr Michael Goldsworthy, Silex CEO said today. “With the Australian residential rooftop panel market growing strongly from 80MW in 2009 to a forecast 130MW in 2010, we have seen very strong demand for our Australian-made PV panels across the country. With margins in the global PV market tight, it is important that we increase our production capacity and improve solar cell efficiency in order to remain competitive” he added.
In parallel with the panel assembly line expansion, SilexSolar is also developing higher efficiency solar cell technology at the SOP plant in collaboration with the University of NSW and Suntech Power under a research program which was recently awarded $5 million funding from the Australian Solar Institute (refer ASX release dated 12 May, 2010). This project aims to increase solar cell efficiency from around 17% currently to approximately 20% by 2012, which would potentially increase the plant panel production capacity from 35MW p.a. to approximately 40MW p.a.
The SilexSolar plant is also planning to ramp up cell production towards the maximum existing capacity of up to 50MW p.a. Overseas sales of this excess cell capacity are anticipated to commence in the first half of 2011. If this is the case, the SOP plant will potentially generate revenues in the order of $100 million p.a. in 2011/12 FY.
“We are also actively pursuing larger commercial scale projects – in the range of 20kW to 200kW or more,” Rod Seares, SilexSolar General Manager said. “This market is relatively untapped in Australia to date, but presents significant opportunities for us and our prospective commercial project partners going forward. With State and Federal Government renewable energy policies continuing to strengthen, the prospects for Solar Power in Australia’s energy mix looks increasingly positive,” he explained.
SilexSolar is the only Australian manufacturer of crystalline silicon solar cells and panels, and has a strong commitment to Australian solar technology innovation, Australian-based manufacturing and green-job creation. SilexSolar’s plant in Sydney Olympic Park is the largest silicon solar cell manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere. With increasing cell efficiency and modest capital expenditure, the plant is estimated to have the capacity to eventually expand to approximately 200MW in cells and 50MW in panels annually.
Solar Systems Pty Ltd, another wholly owned subsidiary of Silex, is developing a unique concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) technology which is suitable for larger utility-scale solar power station projects. The first such project, a solar power station of 100~150MW planned for Mildura, Victoria, will potentially be the largest and most efficient solar power station in the world. More information on Solar Systems can be found on the website: www.solarsystems.com.au.
Further information of SilexSolar’s plans and activities can be found on the company’s website: www.silexsolar.com. Additional information on the Silex Group’s activities can be found on the Silex website: www.silex.com.au, or by contacting Dr Michael Goldsworthy on (02) 9532 1331 or Mr. Chris Wilks on (02) 9855 5404. Click here to download a PDF copy of the press release
MEDIA RELEASE 14 APRIL 2010
83% of Australians believe new houses should have in-built solar power systems,
according to new research
In new research* released today by SilexSolar, the only significant Australian-owned Australia-based manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and panels, and conducted by Galaxy Research, 83% of Australian homeowners indicated they believe all new houses should have in-built solar power systems by 2015.
“This supports our belief that state and local government should ensure building codes mandate installations of solar PV power in all new homes and offices,” said Dr Michael Goldsworthy, CEO of SilexSolar, which will be officially launched today by The Hon. Ian Macdonald MP, Minister for State and Regional Development.
“And whilst the cost of solar is projected to reach grid parity by around 2013 according to the Clean Energy Council, it is critical that governments close the financial gap for consumers and industry with best practice Feed-in Tariffs, similar to what the NSW Government is providing for consumers,” continued Dr Goldsworthy.
“But Feed-in Tariffs are not just important for consumers. They have the potential to make an even greater difference to society’s greenhouse gas emissions when applied to commercial and industrial developments. Solar is a peak load power provider and it is during the day when peak load occurs, so the two are perfectly matched.
“By having Feed-in Tariffs in place, governments can help reduce the need for new power stations being built and give the solar industry the kick start it needs to make solar Australians’ default power source.
“One of the major attractions of Feed-in Tariffs is that they allow domestic consumers to make money by contributing power to the grid from their own solar power systems,” said Dr Goldsworthy. “An average Sydney home can generate around $1,250 of revenue each year from a 1.5kW solar system. This makes the pay-back time for a typical domestic solar power system less than three years.
“The pay-back time for domestic solar power systems will continue to decrease, as IPART (the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal) anticipates electricity price increases of up to 64% by 2013 in NSW alone as a result of distribution network upgrade costs and the impact of a CPRS-style scheme. And even if the CPRS does not come to fruition as proposed, IPART still anticipates electricity price increases around 45% in NSW. This is a situation that has parallels across the country.”
A significant benefit of the launch of the Australian-owned and Australia-based SilexSolar is that it provides a pipeline for Australian IP to be commercialised locally, rather than it going overseas as has happened in the past. “Retention of Australian IP within Australia benefits the entire Australian economy and the development of solar power industry, as well as providing a local career path for our scientists,” said Dr Goldsworthy.
“Retaining our ingenuity and IP must be a priority for Australia and is an area ripe for a reinvigorated approach to be taken,” continued Dr Goldsworthy. “This is crucial if Australia to become a leader in solar power. The best support the Federal Government can give is in encouraging development and retention of solar power IP here in Australia through financial support and initiatives, as it is doing through the Solar Flagships program.”
SilexSolar has saved Australia’s only local solar panel manufacturing plant from shutting down, its parent company, Silex Systems, has rescued a peak demand 150 plus MW solar power demonstration power plant in Victoria from being abandoned and it is a clearly credible bidder for funding through the Federal Government’s Solar Flagships program.
“Australia has a wonderful opportunity to be a world leader in solar technology which will benefit all Australians. The Australian solar power industry grew 366% in 2009 and the solar PV industry is expected to generate more than USD$40 billion worldwide this year.
“In Australia, SilexSolar is the company that will drive the growth needed to bring the industry to the point of critical mass where it does not need government assistance and where solar becomes standard for Australian business and the entire community.”
[*A national study of Australian homeowners by Galaxy Research weighted to the latest ABS population figures, with a sample of 1,274, conducted in April 2010, determined that 83% said that they either ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ believe that by 2015 all new Australian houses should have in-built solar power systems.]
Media contacts for interviews, photos of the launch at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush, Sydney:
Karen O’Grady: 02 9377 1125 or 0406 503 323
karen.ogrady@bitecommunications.com
Craig Pearce: 02 9377 1104 or 0438 003 430 +
craig@bluegrass.com.au
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