Product Reviews

  • Sixtron Advanced Materials

    New Product: ‘Silexium’ coating from Sixtron reduces light-induced degradation of c-Si solar cel

    01 February 2010, 16:09

    Product Briefing Outline: Sixtron Advanced Materials has introduced a patent-pending antireflective passivation coating technology that it says will greatly reduce the light-induced degradation (LID) problem for crystalline-silicon solar cells. The company claims to have demonstrated an 88% reduction in LID on cells treated with its silane-free ‘Silexium’ coating. The Silexium films can be used with high-performance mono-crystalline boron doped p-type Cz (Czochralski) silicon solar cells without the use of silane gas.

  • New Product: Rehm’s Visu2 software enables greater efficiency and yield solar cell metallization

    27 January 2010, 17:31

    Product Briefing Outline: The RFS and RFS-D Fast Firing Systems and the RDS 2100 and 3000 drying ovens feature Rehm Thermal Systems Visu2 software, which drives a range of advanced process features and thermal control to enable PV manufacturers to move their processes to greater levels of efficiency and yield. Visu2 incorporates process and product traceability tools, remote diagnostics and an extensive product library within an intuitively designed interface that is claimed to dramatically accelerate set up time and reduces operator training.

  • The Schmid Group Tabber Stringer

    New Product: Schmid’s Tabber Stringer provides high precision combined with minimum handling

    27 January 2010, 17:04

    Product Briefing Outline: The Schmid Group has launched a new Tabber Stringer created in cooperation with the Wolf company. The system is designed to offer high precision performance combined with minimum handling and a soldering method that is claimed to reduce the risk of cell damage during processing and handling.

  • SunPower Tracker

    New Product: SunPower ‘T20 Tracker Evolution’ delivers maximum energy with 128-cell, 400-watt mo

    27 January 2010, 17:01

    Product Briefing Outline: SunPower has introduced the next generation of its T20 Tracker, which it claims is the most powerful solar tracker on the market today, incorporating SunPower’s high-efficiency 128-cell, 400-watt solar panels for maximum energy output.

  • Solar Metrology SMX-ISI

    New Product: In situ XRF tool for CIGS from Solar Metrology caters to high-volume production

    21 January 2010, 09:52

    Product Briefing Outline: Solar Metrology, a provider of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis tools, has expanded its SMX XRF tool portfolio for film composition and thickness measurement of CIGS photovoltaic depositions with the addition of the System SMX-ISI.

  • Kaneka Hybrid TF Module

    New Product: Kaneka launches ‘Hybrid’ micro-crystalline thin-film module in U.S.

    21 January 2010, 09:44 | Comments (1)

    Product Briefing Outline: Kaneka has introduced a newly developed ‘Hybrid’ PV module to the US market. The Hybrid PV module uses tandem junction cells, employing a micro-crystalline thin-film silicon layer and the thin-film amorphous silicon layer. The new module is said to achieve a maximum 42% higher energy conversion efficiency than Kaneka’s conventional thin-film amorphous silicon PV module. The nominal power of the Hybrid PV module is 110Wp.

  • Kaneka Hybrid TF module

    New Product: Kaneka launches ‘Hybrid’ micro-crystalline thin-film module in U.S.

    21 January 2010, 08:51

    Product Briefing Outline: Kaneka has introduced a newly developed ‘Hybrid’ PV module to the US market. The Hybrid PV module uses tandem junction cells, employing a microcrystalline thin-film silicon layer and the thin-film amorphous silicon layer. The new module is said to achieve a maximum 42% higher energy conversion efficiency than Kaneka’s conventional thin-film amorphous silicon PV module. The nominal power of the Hybrid PV module is 110Wp.

  • Saflex PVB

    New Product: Saflex claims 33% less material usage with new thinner PVB-based encapsulant

    20 January 2010, 10:07

    Product Briefing Outline: Saflex, a unit of Solutia, has launched a new thin gauge polyvinyl butyral (PVB) based encapsulant designed specifically for photovoltaic applications. The new product, Saflex PA41, is claimed to significantly reduce encapsulant usage by 33%, while maintaining module durability and processing performance. The global launch of Saflex PA41 comes shortly after successful completion of IEC 61646 certification, with testing on thin-film modules. Saflex also partnered with module manufacturers to confirm that handling, processing, and throughput of Saflex PA41 met or exceeded expectations compared to thicker gauge PVB encapsulations.

  • New Product: Despatch Industries ‘UltraFlex’ dryer and firing furnace employs ‘Microzone’ te

    20 January 2010, 09:59

    Product Briefing Outline: Despatch Industries has introduced the ‘UltraFlex’ dryer and firing furnace with ‘Microzone’ Technology. This new tool is designed to provide next generation capabilities in performance, profile flexibility and reduced cost of ownership.

  • New Product: DEK Solar enhances PV3000 metallization line with drying technology from Heller

    20 January 2010, 09:55

    Product Briefing Outline: DEK Solar and Heller Industries have unveiled the results of a recent collaboration that enhances DEK’s PV3000 metallization line. The alliance between the screen printing and thermal technology specialists has enabled a significant breakthrough in solar cell production, incorporating precise thermal control, improved VOC management and reduced power consumption, within a compact footprint.

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Publications

  • Photovoltaics International 14th Edition

    Photovoltaics International 14th Edition

    Published in November 2011, the 14th edition of Photovoltaics International provides a variety of technical papers from some of the industry’s stalwarts. Features include: TÜV Rheinland on junction box testing; Laser Zentrum Hannover on laser edge isolation of mc-Si cells; Calisolar on the importance of traceability; Fraunhofer ISE on EWT cells; and EPIA on Europe’s LCOE.

  • Photovoltaics International Lite, Volume 05 - 2011

    Photovoltaics International Lite, Volume 05 - 2011

    This digital interactive Lite sees Tom Cheyney follow Agua Caliente’s progress on becoming one of first truly utility-scale PV power farms, where 40–50MW (AC) will be commissioned by the end of the year. We also feature one of the world’s largest silicon thin-film PV power plants, Avenal; a report on warnings of the collapse of module prices from Solarbuzz and PI-Berlin presents tips on PV module testing. A print version of this edition will be distributed at Solar Power International 2011 in Dallas, Texas.

  • Manufacturing The Solar Future: The 2011 Production Annual

    Manufacturing The Solar Future: The 2011 Production Annual

    Manufacturing the Solar Future is the primary source guide for detailed information on the PV production process. This annual provides technical details on how the leading companies and research organizations worldwide are addressing this need by dramatically improving their manufacturing processes.

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