Suss MicroTec and Rolith have come together to use Rolith’s disruptive nanolithography method in order to develop and construct nanostructuring equipment. Rolith’s nanolithography technology uses near-field optical lithography with cylindrically shaped rolling masks. Sub-wavelength resolution is reached by a phase-interference effect or plasmonic enhancement printing structures. Rolith advises that a continued operation yields a high throughput with low cost production.
A single-junction organic photovoltaic solar cell with a surface area of 1 square centimetre has been demonstrated by Konarka Technologies to have a 8.3% efficiency.
Boeing's Spectrolab subsidiary said it has begun volume production of its newest terrestrial triple-junction III-V-based solar cell, the C3MJ+. The device has an average conversion efficiency of 39.2%, which the company claims makes it the most-efficient cell on the market.
Southern California Edison has signed 20 contracts with six different independent power producer firms for nearly 240MW (AC) of solar photovoltaic systems to be deployed close to major transmission lines in various parts of the utility’s service areas in Southern California.
CPV company Solergy will be debuting its two chief products: Solergy CPV and Solergy Cogen CPV. The CPV systems use an all-glass optical concentrating lens, which Solergy claims, in combination with its tracking and basic energy unit is a system that generates a significant amount of energy in comparison to other PV and CPV products.
FHR Anlagenbau, the wholly-owned subsidiary of centrotherm photovoltaics, is to supply several CIGS roll-to-roll coating systems to Leipzig-based Solarion. The systems, which are to be shipped throughout 2011, will form the central component of a 20MW annual capacity CIGS thin-film solar cell production system. Solarion is further planning to expand production to 180MW at the Leipzig site together with strategic investor Walsin Lihwa Corporation of Taiwan.
The Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has approved a pre-feasibility study for the construction of the first phase of First Solar's 30MW thin-film solar power plant located in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. This phase marks the beginning of 2GW which are to be implemented in the area through 2019.
