Crystal Solar to move to pilot line production of ultra-thin wafers

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

US-based ultra-thin silicon wafer start-up Crystal Solar is planning to complete pilot production of its ‘Epi Thin-Silicon’ technology this year with volume production targeted sometime in 2014.

Crystal Solar highlighted the production plans after saying it had completed an 18-month US Department of Energy-funded “incubator project”, which it claimed successfully demonstrated the capability of its technology in eliminating multiple process steps in conventional monocrystalline silicon wafer production while retaining the material's inherent conversion efficiency superiority. 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The company claimed its technology would result in overall PV module production costs being reduced by approximately 50%.

The incubator project, which included collaborations with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), also involved the Georgia Institute of Technology on silicon solar cell processing during this period.

However, according to the recent edition of the International Technology Roadmap for PV (ITRPV), alternative wafer technologies will be hard pressed to replace conventional multi- and mono-crystalline wafers due to costs and the conservative wafer thickness reductions adopted by the majority of the PV industry.

Yet the ITRPV does note that as-cut wafer thickness in mass production of solar cells and minimum cell thickness in module manufacturing is expected to reach below 120 microns in 2020.

Dow Corning had also previously announced that it would work with Crystal Solar to jointly develop new products for building-integrated PV applications, using its ‘direct gas to wafer’ process for ultra-thin wafers. 

Read Next

September 18, 2025
CERC is finalising guidelines for virtual power purchase agreements (vPPAs) to unlock financing for over 40GW of uncontracted renewable capacity.
September 18, 2025
The capacity of virtual power plants in operation in North America has reached 37.5GW, a 13.7% year-on-year growth, according to Wood Mackenzie.
September 18, 2025
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) has forecast that Canada will add between 17GW and 26GW of solar PV over the next decade.
September 18, 2025
Researchers have called for enhanced international standards to detect ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID) in PV modules after identifying “severe” levels of the problem in operational n-type panels.             
September 18, 2025
Indian PV makers have welcomed the government’s plan to add solar wafers to its ALMM List-III from June 2028.
September 17, 2025
US renewables developer Longroad Energy has reached financial close for its 400MW 1000 Mile solar project in the US state of Texas.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA