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Global Solar has developed a proprietary process for manufacturing thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) PV cells and modules. Unlike traditional silicon solar cells that are rigid and fragile, Global Solar's steel-foil thin-film cells are lightweight and durable and can be integrated into both flexible and glass modules. The company's unique roll-to-roll fabrication process, now in volume production ramp, has garnered a great deal of interest and curiosity. While other companies deposit CIGS on glass substrates, Global Solar may be the only company with CIGS on flexible materials in actual production.

CIGS has a higher conversion efficiency than other thin-film PV materials and has the potential to deliver more electricity at a lower cost per watt. The material can also be integrated in a variety of form factors, from small PV chargers to building-integrated systems and large solar farms.

Tim Teich, VP at Global Solar, talks about the benefits of the roll-to-roll manufacturing process and the company's plans for the future. Global Solar is following an ambitious roadmap to achieve 13% efficiency from its modules within the next few years and to reach 170 MW of CIGS production capacity by 2010 at its main factory in Tucson, AZ, and new site in Berlin.