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AQT Solar advised that using a low cost and production friendly sputter deposited copper-zinc-tin-sulfide (CZTS) thin-film solar cell, it had achieved high efficiencies. The company noted that the same manufacturing-ready processes and platforms used for its CIGS 2.0 solar cells was dually acceptable for CZTS and dubbed the term CIGS 3.0 for its future CZTS products.
It appears Soltecture’s efforts last year to rebrand have been rewarded. The company has partnered with New York-based, altPOWER, to develop BIPV projects in the US. Solecture will be offering its thin-film modules having produced the first 100MW modules last year.
With any emerging technology it is to be expected that there will be both winners and losers. According to a new report from Lux Research, few of the CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) thin-film manufacturers stand out, while others will find partners or wither away. According to the market research firm, 2011 was a breakout year for CIGS module shipments and installations, generating 1.2GW of demand. Lux is forecasting the CIGS market to reach 2.3GW in 2015, generating US$2.35 billion in revenue.
Updated: According to a report published by greentechsolar, CIGS maker MiaSolé has let 10% of its workforce go, with most of the layoffs taking place in the engineering and equipment design divisions. The report claims that a company spokesperson verified the layoffs, but did not specify on the extent of the reduction in the workforce.
Solar distributor Donauer Solartechnik is, like several others in the industry, aiming to capitalize on emerging markets by opening a branch in Muscat, Oman. This branch will be the first step in the establishment of a sales and service network and will be directed by investor Saleh Ahmed Al Badi, chairman and president at NAS Oman international LLC, with whom Donauer has a joint-venture agreement.
Interim Nanosolar CEO, Geoff Tate has been replaced and returns to retirement, less than 2 years after taking the job, according to a statement from the CIGS thin film start-up. Nanosolar said that another recent management addition, Ms Eugenia Corrales takes over the CEO position. Corrales was said to have been recruited by Tate and had managed all Operations, as well as Engineering, Purchasing and Planning functions.
Solar Frontier has defied the thin-film doom merchants by successfully bidding for the role of module supplier for enXco’s 100MWp+ PV plant in California. The agreement refers to the supply of up to 150MWp of Solar Frontier’s CIS modules, and the project, when completed, will be the largest thin-film CI(G)S plant in the world.
TFG Radiant Investment Group has significantly increased its shareholding in struggling flexible CIGS thin-film producer, Ascent Solar. Acquiring the existing shareholding of Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS for US$4 million, or approximately US$0.50 per share, TFG Radiant has raised it stake in Ascent from approximately 21% to 41%.
Singulus Technologies said it was the supplier of 3 selenization tools, believed to be its CISARIS system are being used at the recently opened Avancis CIS thin-film production plant in Saxony, Germany for CIGSSe absorber formation. Technical acceptance of the tools had taken place in November 2011, according to the equipment supplier as well as earning itself an award from Avancis as one of the three best suppliers for on-time delivery as well as fast commissioning.
Flamac, a unit of SIM vzw, advised that it will work with imec to develop new semiconductor materials for solar cell applications. The collaboration will see the companies produce materials that are alternates for the standard CIGS solar cells.
