Solar cell plant takes shape

Currently in pilot production in Palo Alto, Calif., Nanosolar Inc. has started ordering volume production equipment for use in a factory said to have a total annual cell output of 430 megawatts-or approximately 200 million cells-per year once fully built out. It will be located in the San Francisco Bay area. Nanosolar's first panel fab, designed for a broad array of novel product form factors using advanced processes, is expected to be in Berlin.

Recently, the California Public Utilities Commission proposed the California Solar Initiative, the largest solar energy bill in U.S. history. Worth $3.2 billion, it will establish an 11-year rebate program for new and retrofit installations of solar photovoltaic systems.