Your daily dose of photovoltaic technology developments and solar news

Jef Poortmans, Program Director at IMEC, discusses at length with PV-Tech the major programs it is currently working on with commercial partners to boost conversion efficiencies with conventional crystalline technologies through to organic thin-film technologies. Topics covered include a shallow emitter cell and advanced front metallization using copper plating instead of silver, which has a conversion efficiency of 18.4%. Also discussed is a mechanically-stacked approach to GaAs/Ge multijunction solar cells that targets 40% conversion efficiencies, as well as a collaboration with Kaneka to develop an a-Si:H heterojunction-based solar cell with a planned conversion efficiency of over 20%. Finally, Poortmans outlines the significance of Total and GDF SUEZ joining IMEC’s industrial affiliation program (IIAP) on advanced crystalline silicon solar cell development.

Speaking with PV-Tech at this year's EU PVSEC in Hamburg, Kyocera's Executive Officer Mitsuru Imanaka outlined the company's strategy heading into 2010. With an estimated production capacity hike of 150% and plans to expand the company's module assembly plant in the Czech Republic, Mr. Imanaka is looking forward to growth in 2010 from Kyocera's main markets in Germany, Italy and France.

Dean O'Connor, Head of Electronics Market Development and Technology at Linde, discusses with PV-Tech the PV market dynamics currently at play. Key competitive drivers continue to be on cost control as well as technology spending as, in certain regions, capacity spending continues. O'Connor also talks about the challenges for both c-Si and thin-film manufacturers. Linde's investments in silane supply are covered and assurances made as to adequate supply for the expected growth in the industry. O'Connor also discusses developments in-house that will enable the move from grid parity to green parity as part of a suite of technologies to enable sustainability for PV manufacturers of all types.

Julie Blunden, Vice President, Public Policy and Corporate Communications at SunPower Corporation discusses with PV-Tech its recent project success in Italy and plans to establish module manufacturing in the U.S. and Europe in the near-future. Blunden also goes on to highlight the SunPower’s foundation program and planned cell efficiency program that will see the company reach 23% cell conversion rates.

Machine vision is one of the key tools that photovoltaic manufacturers are using to improve solar cell uniformity and efficiency, thereby improving yield, and driving down the cost of each cell. While researchers are experimenting to boost conversion efficiencies of several competing PV cell types, manufacturers are working hard to reduce their production costs of cell types that can most readily ramp up into volume production.

As a major bulk and specialty gases supplier, Air Products has set its sights on the growing thin-film market and PV industry as a whole. The company offers turnkey solutions and a global footprint required by PV manufacturers that produce at multiple sites on a global scale. Jeff Handelman, General Manager at Air Products, discusses with PV-Tech some of the new solutions being offered by the company as well as the emerging requirements for gigawatt-scale production capabilities, especially in the thin-film market.

Oerlikon is the largest producer of thin-film silicon equipment in end-to-end lines and one of the world’s most successful hi-tech industrial groups, specialising in machine and plant engineering. Its roots date back more than 100 years, with the last 50 involved in developing in thin-film technologies, which resulted in Oerlikon Solar being established, based in Switzerland. PV-Tech met up with Oerlikon’s CEO Jeannine Sargeant at this year’s EU PVSEC exhibition in Hamburg, who told us of the opportunities offered by the company’s technologies.

Representing China Sunergy, William Xiaohong discusses with PV-Tech the company's side of a legal wrangle that became public in September 2009 over a long-term take-or-pay solar wafer supply contract with REC Group. In the interview, which took place during the EU PVSEC event in Hamburg, Xiaohong questioned whether the move by REC to access existing time-limited bank guarantees to protect its interests was the right way to deal with a customer. REC has currently declined to publically comment on the remarks made in the video interview and wishes to keep the dispute out of the media and deal with the Norwegian courts and the customer directly to end the dispute.

Chairman/CEO Martin Roscheisen met with Tom Cheyney for the first time at the recent Intersolar North America trade show in San Francisco. Although the conversation was off the record, some of the information that he shared has appeared among the day’s news announcements and technology revelations.

Guenther Weinberger, CEO of Solar-Fabrik AG discusses highly automated module manufacturing at its new emission-neutral manufacturing plant with PV-Tech's news editor Mark Osborne. Weinberger highlights the successful partnerships required to generate the manufacturing cost reductions required to be competitive. He also highlights the company's market focus and special attention placed on the French market. Weinberger also noted the price erosion in module prices and Solar-Fabrik's growth plans for the year.