Ersol Thin Film, a subsidiary of ersol Solar Energy AG, has announced that it is launching its first micromorph thin-film module under the name Vega-T.
Micromorph technology will enable initially an efficiency of approximately 8%, in comparison to the lower efficiency level that is achieved with amorphous thin-film modules, which is just 6%.
Over the next few years, companies such as ersol will work towards increasing the efficiency level of micromorph modules to 10% and higher; ersol is in the process of converting all of its modules from amorphous to micromorph, and the company says this transition will be complete in the next couple of months.
ersol has also been working with Schott Solar Thin Film, Jena, on a joint precompetitive development of the new micromorph thin-film technology. In contrast to the simple amorphous version, the micromorph thin-film modules have a double-layer structure consisting of an amorphous and a microcrystalline silicon layer.
“The area-related system costs can at the same time be lowered with the higher level of efficiency. The introduction of micromorphous tandem technology thus represents an important step towards cutting PV electricity generation costs,” says Dr. Christian Koitzsch, TechnicalDirector of ersol.
The new Vega-T module contrasts the dark brown amorphous modules with a black surface of micromorph modules.
