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Cell Processing
Opinion
Top Stories 2008 – Cell Processing – efficiency is the name of the game!
Cell efficiency is the name of the game in the photovoltaics industry. The recent claim that First Solar has achieved the coveted grid parity has confirmed the importance of cell efficiency in the light of pushing solar energy as a viable contender in the race to reduce carbon emissions globally.
News
Amtech’s Tempress subsidiary receives $5 million in orders
Amtech Systems, Inc. has revealed that its subsidiary, Tempress Systems, Inc. has received two new orders for its diffusion processing system, worth a total of $5 million. The orders consist of one in Asia, for multiple systems, and another from a solar research and development institute in Europe.
Despatch gets $5 million order for PV equipment from European solar-cell manufacturer
Despatch Industries has booked a $5 million order for photovoltaic manufacturing equipment with an unnamed European solar-cell manufacturer. The deal is for multiple units of the process tool company's newest generation of multilane firing infrared furnaces.
Solar Power, Inc. places 60MW solar cell order with JA Solar
Accompanying the news of its appointment of a new CFO, JA Solar has announced that it has agreed to supply 60MW of polycrystalline PV cells to Solar Power, Inc. (SPI) in 2009, with the supply taking effect immediately. The one-year supply agreement will comply with Solar Power’s monthly cell requirements and will see the cells used in the production of SPI’s solar modules for distribution in Europe, Asia, and for turnkey systems in the United States.
Top Stories 2008 – Cell Processing – efficiency is the name of the game!
Cell efficiency is the name of the game in the photovoltaics industry. The recent claim that First Solar has achieved the coveted grid parity has confirmed the importance of cell efficiency in the light of pushing solar energy as a viable contender in the race to reduce carbon emissions globally.
China Sunergy initiates commercial production of four solar cell manufacturing lines
Nanjing-based China Sunergy Co., Ltd. has brought four high-efficiency SE solar cell manufacturing lines into commercial production at a ceremony held to celebrate the commencement of China Sunergy’s 3rd stage production. The door of the 3rd stage production lines was opened to visitors on the day, with attendees including China Sunergy executives Tingxiu Lu, Chairman, Dr. Allen Wang, CEO, and Dr. Jianhua Zhao, CTO.
Suniva cuts the ribbon on crystalline-silicon solar-cell factory in Atlanta area
Crystalline-silicon solar-cell manufacturer Suniva officially cut the ribbon on what's being called the first solar factory in the Southeastern U.S. during a dedication ceremony attended by Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue. The company says that its Atlanta metro area production facility will create more than 100 permanent jobs by year-end 2009, with additional positions to come, once the plant ramps to full production capacity in 2010.
Featured Articles
Second Edition: Cell efficiency increase of 0.4% through light-induced plating
ABSTRACT
A vast majority of silicon solar cells are manufactured using silver paste that is screen printed onto the front side of the wafer and fired to form the front-side contact. Though this method is well established within the industry, it continues to present several areas for potential efficiency improvements. The Fraunhofer Institute has, among others, studied the potential of using electrodeposition of silver on top of the front side silver paste as a way to improve the frontside contact and increase cell efficiency.
Second Edition: Carbon footprint of PECVD chamber cleaning
ABSTRACT
The use of perfluorinated gases such as NF3, CF4 or SF6 for PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition) chamber cleaning has a much higher impact on global warming than does the use of onsite-generated F2. This holds true even when supposing that in the future much more effort is paid for the correct abatement and a leak-free supply and take-back chain. This paper will discuss the steps available to the PV industry for control and reduction of carbon emissions in the chamber cleaning process.
Read more >>Product Briefings
Top 5 new product reviews of 2008
In our first full year online, we have steadily increased the number of new products we have reviewed and also seen the new products section gain increasingly greater traffic levels throughout the year. Looking through the traffic numbers, we have identified the Top 5 most popular reviews of new products for your enjoyment.
New Product: Newport’s PV ‘IsoStation’ designed to reduce reflected light impact
Product Briefing Outline: Newport Corporation has introduced the latest addition to its industry-leading portfolio of Photovoltaic development solutions – the PV ‘IsoStation’ Series Workstations. Newport’s PV IsoStation Workstation is a, 36”x 60” ergonomic workstation specifically designed for PV test and development applications. It features integrated storage and shelving for instruments, solar simulators and other devices and a specially treated worksurface that reduces light reflectivity by a factor of six compared to typical optical table surfaces. The PV IsoStation workstation is ideal for a wide range of photovoltaic applications.
