Product Reviews > Materials

  • SolarSpec panel-mount DC connectors, with internal locking and touch-proof design offer contact resistance of below 0.5 milliohms.

    SPI 2011: Molex offers panel-mount DC connectors preventing accidental and unauthorized decoupling

    17 October 2011, 12:01

    Molex has further expanded its range of ‘SolarSpec’ products with the development of pin (male) and socket (female) panel-mount DC connectors. SolarSpec panel-mount DC connectors, with internal locking and touch-proof design for superior safety, feature an innovative nut mechanism for simple assembly to the panel and a durable connection for cable attachment to solar inverters. The products will be showcased at the Solar Power International at booth 6854.

  • Virtual Irradiance is fully integrated with the Locus Energy monitoring platform

    SPI 2011: Locus Energy releases irradiance modeling software service

    17 October 2011, 11:28

    Locus Energy is preparing to launch ‘Virtual Irradiance’ a patent pending software service providing highly accurate estimates of historical and real-time solar irradiance across North America. The service will be offered as an add-on for all users of the company’s web-based residential and commercial monitoring platform.

  • US-based Silevo, is launching a new type of PV modules that is claimed the industry’s best performance-to-cost ratio. This is said to be ach

    Silevo launches ‘tunneling junction’ cell architecture in new high efficiency module

    12 October 2011, 13:39

    Emerging from stealth mode, US-based Silevo, is launching a new type of PV module that is claimed to be the industry’s best performance-to-cost ratio. This is said to be achieved by combining high-performance crystalline silicon N-type substrates, thin-film passivation layers, and a unique tunneling oxide layer – all in a single solar module.

  • Op-tection offers PL-based sorting platform that automatically inspects and segregates wafers.

    Op-tection offers PL-based wafer inspection platform for efficiency forecast on as-cut wafers

    10 October 2011, 09:48

    Op-tection has recently launched a new inspection platform based on Photo Luminescence technology. The PL inspection platform was developed in cooperation with Schott Solar Wafer, which bundles solid metrology experience in one hand with in depth process and material knowledge in the other hand. The result of this effort is the capability to quantify the achievable efficiency of solar wafers before they enter into the cell process line.

  • The TEC products offer a range of conductivity, morphology and haze requirements to help maximize module efficiency.

    TCO thin-film coatings from NSG offer wide-application optimization

    05 October 2011, 14:42

    The NSG Group is a leader in TCO (transparent conductive oxide) coated glass for thin-film photovoltaic applications. Its ‘TEC’ product range is a group of products, including a comprehensive range of TCO coated glass, optimized to suit a variety of thin-film photovoltaic technologies.

  • AMETEK is offering larger diameter tubing and pipe for processing tanks, storage buffers, heat exchangers and other applications, where high

    AMETEK offering larger fluoropolymer piping for scaling to larger PV manufacturing facilities

    03 October 2011, 09:36

    AMETEK Fluoropolymer Products has added tubing with diameters ranging from 1 ½ inches to 3 inches to its line of ultrahigh-purity (UHP) tubing for the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries. Schedule 40 pipe with diameters up to 3 inches also are available to meet the need for larger-scale production sites.

  • The fully automated X-Ray Fluorescence System has been designed to qualify various deposition process steps in photovoltaic production lines

    Manz offers XRF-inline quality system for thin film metrology requirements

    28 September 2011, 19:56

    Manz AG has launched an XRF-inline quality system (IQ-XRF) as an extension of its Manz IQ Series. The fully automated x-ray fluorescence system has been designed to qualify various deposition process steps in photovoltaic production lines. Two of these XRF-systems were recently integrated into a photovoltaic line and show their ability to perform in 24/7 operations.

  • OM Group’s chemistries can be used either in LIP, standard electrolytic or combined LIP/electrolytic mode.

    OM Group’s complete process for plated metal stack on fine-line printed Ag paste for c-Si cells

    28 September 2011, 16:04 | Comments (1)

    OM Group has been providing plating solutions to the electronics industries for over 40 years.  Through this experience, the Solar Chemicals division has developed a revolutionary Ni/Cu/Ag plating process for plating on top of fine line silver screened pastes. This economical and efficient process provides PV cell manufacturers cost savings while generating cells with higher efficiencies, as well as improved cell-to-cell consistencies.

  • The products have a 25-year power output warranty that warrants 6.7% more power than the standard industry warranty. In addition, the panels

    Pluto cell technology used in Suntech’s ‘HiPerforma’ module series

    26 September 2011, 10:53

    Suntech has launched its new generation high-efficiency ‘HiPerforma’ product line with the introduction of HiPerforma Pluto Vdm-295 and HiPerforma Wdm-245. Both products utilize Suntech’s advanced ‘Pluto’ cell processing technology that allows cells to absorb more sunlight and generate more electricity.

  • RENA’s combination of pre-cleaning and monoTEX texturing is claimed to provide a homogeneous surface with a distribution of pyramid sizes th

    TetraSun and RENA highlight 20% cell efficiency path using IPA-free ‘monoTEX’ texturing

    26 September 2011, 10:41 | Comments (1)

    RENA has launched its ‘monoTEX,’ IPA-free alkaline texturing process for solar cells. has established that this process is key for their breakthrough mono-crystalline cell concept. RENA’s combination of pre-cleaning and monoTEX texturing is claimed to provide a homogeneous surface with a distribution of pyramid sizes that, together with an optimization of the complete process sequence, enables a cell efficiency that is well beyond the 20% mark. RENA claims to be ‘best in class’ with the monoTEX texturing and has already more than 200 million wafers production experience at different customer plants such as California-based TetraSun.

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  • Photovoltaics International 16th Edition

    Photovoltaics International 16th Edition

    This sixteenth edition of Photovoltaics International marks four years of production of the quarterly journal. As always, our focus is on efficiency and quality improvement and cost reduction in manufacturing. As 2012 rolls along, companies are falling by the wayside due to supply and demand issues, ASP declines and drastic governmental subsidy cuts. A clear picture of 2012 is offered through papers from the likes of TÜV Rheinland, Fraunhofer ISE, SEMI PV Group and EPIA, amongst others.

  • 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 2012 Production Annual

    Manufacturing The Solar Future: The 2012 Production Annual

    Manufacturing the Solar Future 2012, the second in the Photovoltaics International PV Production Annual series, delivers the next installment of in-depth technical manufacturing information on PV production processes.

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