Peter Fath has been appointed as the new managing director of the solar division of German equipment supplier RENA.
The former chief technology officer (CTO) at centrotherm photovoltaics will spearhead RENA’s development of new cell processing techniques with a view to further driving up the efficiencies of crystalline PV equipment.
Speaking exclusively to PV Tech at EU PVSEC ahead of the formal announcement of his appointment, Fath said further innovation was required to increase PV cell efficiencies.
“With current state of industry, new technical innovation is a requirement and I hope to help RENA increase its foot print in this area,” Fath said.
Describing RENA’s new atomic layer deposition process, Fath said the intention was to push efficiencies for mono-crystalline cells “far beyond 20%” and for multi-crystalline “far beyond 18%”.
“That is something the industry really needs,” he said.
Asked about the relatively high costs of atomic layer deposition, Fath said: “With our machine, from the technical point of view, it’s a combination of simplicity – a very robust and simple machine – but using a very sophisticated deposition process. This combination is unique.”
Fath lost his role as centrotherm’s CTO in a management reshuffle a year ago.
Additional reporting by Mark Osborne
