Suniva has achieved record conversion efficiencies on its monocrystalline-silicon solar cells and started production on its second manufacturing line.
The Norcross, GA-based company said that its ARTisun cells are achieving efficiencies of better than 18%, which the firms claims is a record for screen-printed cells in full-scale production. Its newly commissioned manufacturing line will add 64MWp of cell-making capacity to the existing 32MWp line opened in October 2008, pushing the firm’s total production capability threefold to nearly 100MW.
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Through optimized metallization and other proprietary processes initiated by Suniva founder/CTO Ajeet Rohatgi at Georgia Tech’s University Center of Excellence for Photovoltaic Research and further developed in its R&D department, the company has achieved NREL-certified lab efficiencies of more than 20% on screen-printed cells. The company said it plans to steadily raise its commercial efficiencies above 20% through a series of incremental design and processing innovations.
Suniva’s low-cost cells are integrated into high-performance solar modules available through the company and such customer-partners as REC, Solon, and Titan Energy.
“Our strategy supports both rapid expansion and continual technology advances,” said CEO John Baumstark (pictured). “Less than a year ago, we opened the doors to our first facility. Today, we have entered our next stage of growth and development with a significant manufacturing expansion.”
Suniva also recently completed a $75 million Series C financing round led by Warburg Pincus.
