The U.S.-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has confirmed a new conversion efficiency record for CIS (copper indium selenide) thin film modules fabricated by Avancis. Published in the journal ‘Progress in Photovoltaics,’ NREL confirmed a 15.1 % conversion efficiency for a 30 x 30 cm², fully encapsulated CIS solar module, based on the aperture area of 668 cm². Avancis produced the results in its R&D lab in Munich, Germany. The thin film start-up has produced 11% efficiency levels at its 20MWp/pa capacity plant in Torgau, Saxony.
As part of its plans to boost multi-crystalline solar wafer production capacity to as much as 2GW in 2010, Jiangsu GCL Silicon Material Technology Development Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of GCL-Poly Energy has placed an order with Meyer Burger for wafer slicing equipment worth CHF35 million. Wafer inspection systems from Hennecke Systems, a subsidiary of Meyer Berger, have also been purchased. Delivery is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2010.
Single crystal substrate start-up, Confluence Solar is to build a solar silicon ingot plant on a 25 acre site in Clinton, Tennessee at a cost of US$200 million. The company claims that its ‘HiCz’ single crystal ingot growing technology offers 15% better cell conversion efficiencies but at a cost comparable or better than using multi-crystal silicon ingots. Tennessee is fast becoming a hub for polysilicon producers with new plants being built by Hemlock Semiconductor and Wacker Chemie, in the state.
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.
Concentrated solar power (CSP) firm SHEC Energy has entered into a global agreement with Emerson Process Management to help bring to fruition its novel solar thermal facilities to commercial applications. SHEC claims its CSP technology can be applied to power generation in the range of 25KW to gigawatt scale. SHEC is to employ Emerson’s advanced automation services to maximize the efficiency and reliability of its planned renewable energy projects.
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.
The possibility of heavy cuts to the German solar feed-in tariffs could not only reduce demand for solar installations in what should become the largest market in the world in 2009, it could also see reduced investments and job losses in the sector, according to Masdar PV CEO, Dr. Rainer Gegewart. Speaking at the World Future Energy Summit currently being held in Abu Dhabi, Gegewart warned that should muted FiT cuts be made, the a-Si thin-film manufacturer would revise its investment plans in Germany and look for new opportunities abroad as those markets would grow, compared to a possible contraction in Germany.
In a presentation to be made at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, Jürg Henz, CEO of Oerlikon Solar, will claim that its ‘Micromorph’ turnkey thin- film production lines are on track to produce a further 30% reduction in production costs in 2010. The company says that it has already driven down module cost 25%, via improved cell efficiencies and greater line throughput, which means that a line capable of producing 60MW in 2008 can now produce 100MW, without additional equipment.
As companies look to compete against market and CdTe thin-film module leader First Solar, the promise of higher conversion efficiencies and equally low production costs is luring a growing number of wannabe companies to copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) technology and in doing so to turnkey provider centrotherm photovoltaics. Having announced the successful start of production of CIGS (1.5 m2) modules for a Taiwanese customer, module efficiency levels are expected to reach 10% by the end of 2010 and have the capability of production costs of below €1 per watt.
A new R&D centre now provides Schmid with the ability to work with customers on processes and new technologies from the wafer through to the module, making it the only system provider worldwide to offer complete vertical integration for R&D projects, according to the company.
