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Preview of Shortlisted Companies
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Air Liquide Electronics |
| HYOS-R 10k: Onsite hydrogen generation
What challenge does this process address? Silicon manufacturing requires considerable amounts of hydrogen. The product addresses the handicap of today’s hydrogen infrastructure, where hydrogen is produced in a small number of large, centralized plants and distributed via truck or pipeline. The technology of choice to produce low cost hydrogen is Steam Methane Reforming (SMR). Hydrogen distribution by truck requires compression/liquefaction and is inefficient and costly. Hydrogen pipelines are expensive to built and difficult to obtain regulatory approval for. Unless, the PV plant is located next to an existing large SMR plant or pipeline, hydrogen can be very expensive. How does the process solve the problem? Onsite production provides an alternative to centralized hydrogen generation and truck distribution. However, the onsite technologies available to date to cover the hydrogen needs of typical Silicon PV lines have been limited. Electrolysis has very high operating costs compared to SMR. A further disadvantage of electrolysis is higher CO2 emissions unless the electricity comes from a renewable source. Compact, standardized, modular SMR plants provide the benefit of onsite hydrogen production at low cost while eliminating compression and transportation costs. What is particularly noteworthy? In addition, onsite hydrogen production generates up to 40% less CO2 emissions compared to traditional modes of supply by truck, especially if liquid hydrogen is supplied.
The process steps required to produce high purity gaseous hydrogen from a natural gas stream are summarized as follows: Natural Gas (NG) is compressed to 350 PSIG, preheated to 750oF and passed over a bed of zinc oxides to remove any hydrogen sulfide that is present. Sulfur free NG (<0.2 ppm) is mixed with steam and fed into high alloy reformer catalyst tubes. The hydrocarbons and steam react over the catalyst, to produce hydrogen and carbon oxides by the following equations: Our proprietary catalyst allows for the reformer reaction to be carried out at much lower temperatures than conventional SMR technologies. This results in less NOx production and less thermal stress on the catalyst tubes, providing environmental and reliability benefits over conventional SMR technologies. The reformer gas exiting the tubes will consist of H2, CO, CO2, CH4 and H2O. The process gas stream exiting the reformer enters the shift converter where additional hydrogen is generated through the reaction: The gases are cooled in subsequent processes and the process gases are sent into the PSA purification system where H2 is separated from the other molecules to produce purified H2.
How does it go beyond marginal improvements on something that already exists? Technical inventions applied in the design of the units include: reformer design and metallurgy, the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) purification system, and a sulfur tolerant reformer catalyst. These three areas of innovation are packaged in a compactly manufactured skid with a small footprint. How do customers benefit? 1. Lower hydrogen costs through lower Capex and Opex High efficiencies are achieved with integrated steam generation and waste heat recovery and the use of a proprietary catalyst. The customer benefits from the advantages of onsite production while eliminating compression or liquefaction and transportation costs. 2. Flexibility 3. Lower emissions |
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Bekaert |
| One piece AZO cylindrical sputter target | |
 Thin film photovoltaic solar cells rely heavily on well controlled deposition processes (mainly PVD and CVD) for realizing each of the layers in the stack design. Independently of the thin film technology being used, the formation of a high quality TCO (transparent conductive oxide) layer is essential and AZO (Aluminum doped Zinc Oxide) has been the preferred material for use in thin film Si and CIGS solar cells. Sputtering the layer from a ceramic target on a heated substrate (between 200 and 250 °C) has proven to realize layers with the best optical and electrical properties. Furthermore, sputtering from cylindrical ceramic targets on rotatable magnetrons is being accepted as the way to go for achieving the lowest cost-of-ownership while sustaining a stable deposition process for long production cycles. State-of-the-art cylindrical AZO targets consist of sintered rings that are bonded on a stainless steel backing tube. The bonding process is often cumbersome and involves the use of expensive low melting point materials. The present invention breaks with this tradition by offering a single piece AZO cylindrical target which can be up to 4 meter long. In addition, the newly presented AZO target has the material directly applied onto the backing tube, ensuring a better contact and allowing higher power levels. A single piece product also avoids the risks of sputter process instabilities (e.g. arcing) that may occur at grooves which are present in between adjacent material segments. Moreover, the potential variation in material quality of combining various ring segments on the same target tube is completely overcome by having one single sold AZO piece.
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| SunDriver™ S-600 The world's largest tracking system | |
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SunDriver Systems AG has developed the world's largest solar power tracking system. A single system, called ‘SunDriver' has a production capacity of up to 100 kWp of electrical energy with a solar module surface area of 650 m². The SunDriver system, based on a 40 ton steel frame, upon which the solar modules are mounted, tracks the sun's position utilising its rail system. The foundation, covering a diameter of 16 m, represents the base for a long-term structural integrity with its weight of approximately 70 tons. The total weight (foundation, steel beam system and solar modules) amounts of approximately 120 tons. The SunDriver is fixed by 12 lift-locks, so it can withstand even extreme wind conditions. The design of the SunDriver system is based on high-quality components, which were developed and tailored to complement each other in an optimal way. This harmonization of all elements of the system produces higher synergies allowing superior energy yields. The SunDriver system meets the highest industry standards on an international scale regarding the foundation, the lightning protection, the mechanics, the electrical components and processes and the communication engineering. |
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| SM3320 SolarMagic smart panel chipset | |
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The National Semiconductor SM3320 is the solar industry's first in-panel SolarMagic™ chipset, marking the advent of a new category of solar systems: "smart panels." The SM3320 SolarMagic smart panel chipset provides junction box and module manufacturers with the ability to ensure the highest efficiency and return on investment for solar system owners. By coupling more energy production with a lower balance of systems cost, the SM3320 provides solar system owners a high-performance solution at the lowest cost per kilowatt-hour. The SM3320 enables the benefits of National's SolarMagic power optimizer to be embedded directly into junction boxes, which already reside on all solar panels. Packaged as a complete board-level system or available as a chipset, National's SM3320 incorporates ten proprietary analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits, providing highly reliable digital-control combined with analog sensing and communication. Proprietary algorithms apply localized maximum power point tracking (MPPT), extracting the maximum energy available by translating the input voltage and current to the best output voltage and current pair to maximize energy flow. The SM3320 is cognitive: the system senses input voltage and current throughout the array and adjusts to achieve optimum string levels. |
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XJET |
| Xjet's scalable inkjet technology | |
| Xjet's scalable inkjet technology is multifaceted and composed of a variety of innovations developed to meet the market needs for solar cell metallization. It overcomes and addresses the traditional, known production limitations of inkjet - low speed, poor inkjet nozzle reliability and inaccurate nozzle drop placement.
This technology includes several patent-pending techniques including inkjet heads maintenance while printing, methodologies of material deposition, specially configured rotation of inkjet heads, nozzle calibration (with a camera) to sort and print only with good nozzles, and printing on a hot substrate. These improvements in inkjet were not required till today in classic inkjet markets, such as Graphic Arts. Xjet then identified the market opportunity in solar cells and has had the fortune since 2007 to work closely with one of the leading solar cell producers, to understand that inkjet had to make a dramatic switch to semiconductor-like, 24/7 production. The technology was developed as follows: Xjet produced a single-pass prototype printer with a standard head configuration in 2007, incorporating the first patent of on-the-fly print-head maintenance, to enable non-stop printing. But as market requirements became clearer, new ideas were required to meet the customer spec. For example, standard inkjet head configuration did not print thin lines, so Xjet came up with the unorthodox patented, concept of turning the heads 90 degrees to print in one thin line, with multiple drops falling precisely in line. The head configuration was changed, the concept was tested on a mini-printer and found to be a critical enabler for a full 7 meter production machine. Xjet has a signed two contracts enabling this technology to be installed at both a European and Asian site, printing high efficiency customer wafers up to 18.9% for the last 6 months. |
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i-Solar Ltd |
| Sunblade | |
| The Sunblade is a solar shading device for buildings that incorporates high efficiency PV generation within the shading blades. The Sunblade is designed to be installed in a modular arrangement, ie individually above windows, or more likely in a continuous side-by-side configuration that runs the length of a building. The idea to combine solar shading with PV is not new, however the few manufacturers that do have systems use bespoke glass-glass PV laminated cells to create their shades. these systems are bespoke for each project, have low generation efficiency, expensive to design and install, but most significantly are very heavy and very large (width). The weight restrictions do not enable the use of horizontal blades, which results in vertical blades down a facade. This arrangement is not appropriate for most buildings, and has only been applied to very expensive one-off buildings. The low generation and high cost means these systems do not payback in reasonable timescales even when considering FIT. The systems that have previously been installed have been justified for image/marketing reasons not performance or return on investment. The Sunblade solution enables horizontal blades, which appear very similar to conventional shading systems, commonly specified by architects. The high efficiency special narrow mono-crystalline modules developed in 2009 are lightweight and enable the PV to be installed within a conventional aluminium extrusion, with conventional dimensions and appearance. The modular design allows the standard product to be used on an array of building types and facades, with competitive payback. | |
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| The SunFab™ PECVD 5.7 system | |
The SunFab PECVD 5.7 system was derived from the industry-proven and leading thin film transistor (TFT) display system, where we have >90% CVD market share. The tool is proven to have high uptime and reliability.  We created a thin film silicon photovoltaics version of the tool by addressing the challges of dopant rate (D/R) enhancement and μc-Si uniformity. Large-area PECVD is the enabling technology for driving down the cost of solar panels by depositing a-Si/μc-Si thin films on large inexpensive glass substrates. Thick μc-Si is required due to its low light absorption coefficient. Therefore, a cost effective industrial solution of μc-Si based solar cells demands high deposition rates over a large area. With our advanced chamber design and process optimization we are able to achieve 7A/sec in the field and 9A/sec on μc-Si film in the lab. From a module efficiency standpoint, the key parameter for the µc-Si layer is uniformity. Large panels are desirable because they reduce the number of process and installation operations required for a given amount of finished device area. However, large area plasma deposition introduces additional challenges. Plasma density tends to drop off significantly at the corners of the substrate, especially at higher plasma density. In our system architecture, innovative RF and diffuser technologies help to maintain uniform plasma density over the 5.7m2 substrate area. We are able to achieve uniform plasma with 10% thickness range uniformity for uc-Si at 9A/sec deposition rate and 5% thickness range uniformity (<2%, 1 sigma) for the P layer. With the advanced PECVD chamber design, amorphous single junction modules have achieved 6.5% efficiency and micormorph tandem junction modules 9.2% efficiency at the customer sites. Even higher efficiencies have been demonstrated in the lab on 1.1 X 1.4 modules. |
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| AMETEK Programmable Power, a Division of AMETEK, Inc. | |
 The AMETEK Programmable Power TerraSAS System (TSAS) provides an easily programmable means of simulating the response of a PV array. The system provides a turn-key approach to testing the maximum peak power tracking (MPPT) characteristics for grid-tied inverters and DC charge controllers. The ability to simulate virtually any fill factor or solar cell material allows the system to characterize the MPPT algorithm with a power source that duplicates the characteristic IV array slope for a wide array of fill factors. The simulated PV arrays are provided in terms of array fill factor, Maximum Power Point Voltage and Maximum Power Point Power. The curves generated are based on the Sandia Labs simplified PV Array model defining the relationship between these values and other parameters. |
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Indium Corporation |
| Cu-Ga Rotary Targets | |
The product addresses the inherent segregation issues of a casted target. This segregation results in a large grain size and sputtered film that may be somewhat non-homogeneous. The product solves the problem of an alloy segregation as it is built from a powder metal that has undergone a high thermal cooling rate that keeps the material very homogeneous. The result is a target that is very homogeneous throughout. What is particularly noteworthy, Indium are the first company to develop and produce, in mass production, a rotary Cu-Ga target. Customers benefit from this innovation in a couple different ways. In a technical sense, customers benefit from more homogeneous Cu-Ga sputtering targets than are otherwise available by the casting method. This translates into more consistent and uniform coatings on thin-film cells. A second benefit may not be as obvious: in-depth technical support throughout the material selection process, through the use of the targets. In this way, offering more than just the target material. |
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Philips Research |
| Substrate Conformal Imprint Lithography: large area direct nano-patterning of silica for ultimate light trapping. |
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| Philips Research have developed a novel soft-stamp based wafer scale liquid embossing technique with nano-meter resolution. They call it Substrate Conformal Imprint Lithography, or SCIL. They used designer nano-imprinted patterns to increase the light absorption in thin-film a-Si:H solar cells where our patterns have up to 8% better performance compared to random light trapping structures. Designer nano-patterns are increasingly studied to be used for light management in both wafer based as thin-film solar cells. The SCIL process is a low pressure process which allows us to directly pattern a silicon-oxide precursor in a sol-gel type process all at room temperature. Uniquely, they have demonstrated sub-10 nm in imprinted silica patterns, which are (UV)light and temperature stable up to 1000°C in air. The rubber stamps are low cost and robust towards particles which makes our process amendable to large scale production. | |
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| Concentrator photovoltaic technology | |
| SolFocus has developed leading concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) technology which combines high-efficiency solar cells and advanced optics to provide solar energy solutions which are scalable, dependable and capable of delivering on the promise of clean, low-cost, renewable energy. The company's mission is to enable solar energy generation at a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) competitive with traditional fossil fuel sources. The benefit of CPV technology is that clean energy plants can be built immediately. Distributed generation or utility-scale plants can be achieved in a fraction of the time it takes to build a concentrator solar power plant and can come online in a scaled manner. The high efficiency of the systems, high performance levels in solar regions, and steady production throughout the day result in SolFocus CPV systems produce anywhere from 15-80 percent more energy in some environments than other solar technologies. With SolFocus CPV technology, sunlight is converted into electrical energy the same way as with conventional photovoltaic (PV) technology. The difference in the technologies lies in the addition of a system of patented reflective optics to concentrate sunlight 650 times onto small, highly efficient solar cells. The solar cells used in SolFocus CPV systems are different from silicon PV cells as they are capable of converting very large amounts into energy at high efficiency - over twice that of traditional PV cells. Furthermore, SolFocus CPV energy systems have a better energy payback than traditional PV and the product has a lighter environmental footprint throughout its lifecycle | |
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Enecsys Ltd |
| Enecsys solar PV, grid connected micro-inverter | |
| The Enecsys micro-inverter converts DC to AC at each solar module, eliminating the need for a central string inverter. A solar PV system based on Enecsys micro-inverters will have improved energy harvest and therefore cut the cost of harvested power by up to 20% over the lifetime of the installation compared with a conventional system using string inverters. The Enecsys solar micro-inverter is designed for high reliability and has a life expectancy of at least 25 years, thereby matching the life of solar modules to which they are directly connected. The exceptional reliability of the Enecsys micro-inverter is achieved through a patented design that embodies three key attributes: a rugged topology, a component set based on high temperature rating and reliability, and a unique patented energy control technique. The Enecsys micro-inverter is first to use thin film capacitors instead of less reliable electrolytic capacitors and eliminates the use of opto-couplers, which are also known to have relatively poor reliability. In addition, PV systems using Enecsys micro-inverters are simpler to plan, easier to install and intrinsically safer. It is the only micro-inverter specified to maintain full performance from -40 degrees C to +85 degrees C, and achieves peak efficiency of 94.1% over this temperature range. The Enecsys micro-inverter is equipped with a robust built-in ZigBee wireless communication system that connects to the Internet via a gateway. It provides detailed information on the performance of each solar module, a capability not available with string inverters. This comprehensive monitoring system uniquely gives users and installers detailed real-time information to ensure that the solar system is operating with optimized performance over the life of the installation. | |
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| KUKA PV ModuleLine | |
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| Technology and System Capability | |
| M+W Group is an award-winning, full service architecture, engineering and construction management firm founded in 1912. We offer full integrated services for advanced technology facilities including Photovoltaic, Semiconductor, Life Science, Data Centre, Science & Research throughout the world.
M+W Group has grown to rank among the world's largest design builders of advanced technology facilities. With staff spread throughout five continents in 27 countries we are able to keep pace with our clients' growth strategies and offer localized expertise all over the world. With our global network of over 4.000 people, M+W Group has both the local presence and vast international resources to deliver the most comprehensive engineering services.
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| RESOLUTE™ absolute linear and rotary encoder system | |
| RESOLUTE™ is a true absolute, fine pitch optical encoder system with an impressive specification that breaks new ground in position feedback. RESOLUTE™ is the world's first absolute encoder capable of 27-bit resolution at 36,000 rev/min. It has an astonishing market-leading resolution of just 1 nanometre at up to 100 m/s for both linear and angle encoding applications. The new system reads a unique single-track optical scale and offers further attractive benefits to machine designers by acquiring absolute position immediately upon switch-on, without the need for battery back-up. This completely eliminates the need for reference returns. Unique combinations of ruggedness, ultra-high speed and exceptional resolution, mean that RESOLUTE™ is already attracting high levels of interest from solar manufacturers who require the highest levels of precision and motion control integrity. RESOLUTE™ is already being trialled on manufacturing equipment for some of the world's most efficient commercially available solar cells. The RESOLUTE™ absolute encoder uses sophisticated new optics to read the fine pitch 30 µm scale with impressive low noise levels (jitter <10 nm RMS) for outstanding positional stability, while the enhanced detection method intrinsically provides a very low sub-divisional error (SDE) of ±40 nm. The result is better scanning and velocity control, and rock-solid servo stiffness on linear motors and rotary direct-drives when holding position. RESOLUTE™ has been designed to offer very high levels of data integrity, safety and accuracy. The extensive redundancy in the scale code and the precision optics give excellent immunity to dirt on the scale, such as silicon dust, oil and fingerprints. Position-checking, signal and speed monitoring is carried out constantly inside the readhead. Safety is assured by a built-in separate and independent position checking algorithm. This actively checks every reading, ensuring any potential problem is flagged long before it reaches the controller. | |
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| LX2400 IDEALSolar bypass solution | |
| The Microsemi LX2400 IDEALSolar™ solar bypass solution is an integrated circuit solution based on technology developed by Microsemi in conjunction with Spelsberg ELS, an expert in connection systems for photovoltaic modules, and Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy (ISE), the largest solar energy research institute in Europe. The LX2400 implements Microsemi's patented CoolRUN™ technology, which increases power-generation efficiency and significantly reduces operating temperatures while slashing the operational expense, reliability problems and associated warranty costs of traditional Schottky diodes. The LX2400 device will be used in junction boxes supporting both existing and next-generation high-power solar modules serving industrial, commercial, and solar power purchase agreement (PPA) applications. With its extremely low typical forward voltage drop of 50mV under 10A load currents, the LX2400 operates with negligible heat generation, resulting in a temperature rise of only 10 degrees C (typical). It is designed with Microsemi's high-reliability, 40-year design rule methodology to enable support for industry warranty requirements and extreme environment survivability. The LX2400 is fully functional from -65 degrees C to +165 degrees C, passes 1.4Joule lightning tests and is compliant with IEC61215, Section 10.18. | |
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| HighLIGHT | |
HighLIGHT is a solar simulator for the measurement of solar modules performance. The principle is to generate a flash and to measure the electrical characteristics of the photovoltaic module (so called IV curve). The uncertainty of the measurement is highly important for the industry, which the industry is becoming aware of. The innovation is an outstanding measurement accuracy, obtained through a number of innovative technologies, all aimed to improve the accuracy. Namely a double class A ranking (AA or A+ as TÜV Rheinland calls it) light generation part (according to IEC 60904-9 international standard) and a new electronic load including software for the measurement device. |
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HÜTTINGER Elektronik GmbH + Co. KG |
| The TruPlasma DC Series 3000 NEW | |
| The TruPlasma DC Series 3000 NEW is a new generation of compact, water-cooled continuous DC power supplies. Available with outputs of 20 to 160 kilowatts, these generators deliver reliable, accurate power over a broad impedance range. The TruPlasma DC Serie 3000 NEW is especially designed for demanding sputtering processes which solar cell manufacturers use to deposit transparent conductive oxides (TCO) such as aluminum-doped zinc oxides (AZO) or indium tin oxide (ITO) on the carrier material. What is special about these power supplies is their highly sophisticated arc management system CompensateLine. CompensateLine allows for a dramatic reduction of the residual arc energy and ensures ideal results with regards to layer quality and deposition rate. Consequently CompensateLine enables homogenous and thin layers even in processes with high arc rates, such as in TCO sputtering. Thus the TruPlasma DC Series 3000 is best suited for coating processes in solar cell manufacturing or for architectural glass coating, where stability and continuous throughput are essential. Where only pulsed generators could be used in the past, the TruPlasma DC Series 3000 NEW now provides a cost-efficient alternative with optimum results. | |
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ViscoTec Pumpen- und Dosiertechnik GmbH |
| Aluminum-paste-dispensing-system | |
| One of the most important steps of production improvements at solar applications is the automatic dosing of Aluminum paste during the metallization process (screen-printing-process). The Aluminum paste is very difficult to handle. It tends to separate and could decrease the efficiency of solar cells. As the solar industry is obliged to shorten the production costs for solar cells and modules nowadays the automation of production steps is one key factor. Up to now a lot of paste dosing (Al- / AgAl- and Al-paste) is still done manually. Due to controlled and safe production processes with a constant quality policy, the paste dosing is more and more automated. As the Aluminum paste is separating very easily after short times caused by the nature of binder and ingredients, ViscoTec tried to find the best solution to provide the paste automatically in constant quality to the screen printer. Therefore the treatment- and dosing system ViscoTreat-R has been developed and adjusted to the requirements of solar customers. This system combines the advantages of the volumetric dosing with endless-piston-principle-dispensers with a special designed treatment system. The paste which is provided in small barrels is emptied with the help of the barrel-emptying-system ViscoMT-XS and pumped in the tank of the ViscoTreat-R-system. This tank is available in two sizes: 15 l and 2.5 liters. The small tank-solution is especially for integrating this tank into screen-printer-systems. The size is very small, so it could be mounted directly in the printing area. The bigger tank system is for refitting-solutions outside the printing area and is connected separately to the printer. The paste itself is being stirred in the tank system and dosed to the printing area. ViscoTec-technology is based on cavity pump principle. The main advantages of this system are the dosing of highly filled fluids (e.g. metal pastes) with abrasive particles, the independency of viscosity, pressure or temperature regarding the dosing results and the pulsation free process. With the rotor / stator- unit very shear sensitive materials could be dosed in an excellent way. | |
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Christian Senningh GmbH &Co.Kg |
| Secure Packaging for Wafers and Cells | |
| Wafers and cells brake easily. For this reason we have designed an innovative packaging and an innovative packaging system Our foil wrapping system ensures an air tight package. Option for automatic unpacking is a perforation for easy opening and a labelling system. Our system consists: Wafer or cell stack foil wrapped Packed into two foam shells Covered in a card board cover Inserted in card board box Placed in position on pallet (once the wafers or cells are tested, sorted and packed the pallets are send to the customer) At customers site: Automatic unpacking out of car board box Automatic unpacking and separating into recycling bins for foil, card board and foam. Singling unit for wafers or cells Testing equipment Further in process. Our patented system has passed all product test in dropping, climate and transport. | |
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| EZ-ZONE® ST Integrated Controller | |
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| Solaris | |
The Solaris is designed for "silane free" front- and back side coating of crystalline silicon solar cells. Clean technology process for clean technology products! The Solaris system is using a single wafer sputtering process, which is not using a Silane gas. What is particularly novel or noteworthy,is that Oerlikon is offering clean technology with the highest flexibility and one of the lowest CoO at footprint of only 7m². The Solaris is designed for front- and back side coating of crystalline silicon solar cells. The Multi layer capability allows passivation and "silane free" SiN-AR (Anti Reflective) coating on the front side, with the freedom to select optical criterias (like refractive indices, etc.) of individual layers as well as passivation and metal layer deposition on the back side. The unique design sets a new benchmark in the industry. It allows you to change your batch type production with very easy automation to a single wafer inline production at lowest footprint and highest productivity. The single wafer concept gives you a very high process stability compare to batch type processes. Due this fact you don't need the sorting of the cells as all of the cells have the same colour. You can save one production step and all the logistic effort to handle different coloured modules. The sputtering process allows you to run a save and clean production and does not create any additional cost for exhaust abatement. Customers benefit from the lowest CoO Higher cell efficiency possible due to multilayer capability Easy automation and flexible production Less maintenance and easy operation Silane free Prepared for future, advanced formats |
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| PV3000 | |
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RUV Systems BV |
| Ultrasonic (micro) crack detection | |
In a market that uses almost completely uses optical imaging for (micro) crack detection, RUV has developed an alternative approach. Instead of looking at the wafer or cell, the RUV technology listens to it. This approach is based on a natural principle of the deviation of sound through damaged object. Like a crack in wine glass as a metaphor, the frequency of a cell changes due to a crack. We search for the own frequency of the cell/wafer and compare this to others. The ultrasonic approach is like a blind man, his hearing is perfect. This will be much more reliable than all the available optics. We search in an ultrasonic sound level. The higher the frequency the smaller the sound waves, the smaller the cracks RUV can find. What is noteworthy about it? The Resonance Ultrasonic Vibrations technique was developed for in-line non-destructive crack detection in full-size silicon wafers and solar cells. The RUV methodology relies on deviation of the resonance frequency response curve measured on a wafer with peripheral or bulk millimeter-length crack and on identical non-cracked wafers. The silicon wafer is a large contributor to the overall cost of the solar cell. In addition, the silicon raw material price has roughly doubled in the last two years due to a worldwide shortage of the polycrystalline silicon feedstock. To compensate for the feedstock shortage, solar Si wafers are sliced thinner with thicknesses down to 80-200 microns. Wafer areas have also been increased to reduce overall production costs. These technological trends make wafer handling in production more challenging and reduce the yield of solar cell lines due to increased wafer and cell breakage. In-line wafer breakage also reduces equipment throughput as a result of down time. The RUV technology allows (1) rejection of mechanically unstable Si wafers after ingot cutting before they are introduced into further cell processing, (2) identification of wafers with mechanical defects (such as cracks) during production to avoid their in-line breakage, (3) detection of cracked cells before they will be laminated into modules to avoid panel efficiency reduction and product return from the field. By using a RUV wafer, solar cell and module manufacturers will improve their production yield and reduce costs. They also can analyze machine efficiency regarding crack initiation as well as differences in wafer and cell quality between vendors. Through a frequency sweep (20 -100 kHz) the RUV method enables crack detection with simple criteria for wafer or cell rejection. A crack introduced into Si wafer alters the RUV peak parameters: amplitude, bandwidth and peak position. This is illustrated in the figure below
This is for two identical Cz-Si wafers. Specifically, the crack in the wafer shows the following features: (1) a frequency shift of the peak position; (2) an increase of the bandwidth, and (3) a reduction of the amplitude. Therefore the RUV approach is essentially based on fast measurement and analyses of a specific resonance peak and rejection of the wafer if peak characteristics deviate from the normal non-cracked wafers. The sensitivity of the system, which refers to length of the cracks, is adjustable to the needs of the user. The rejecting method is based on a statistical approach. In several tests the accuracy of this method was between 91 - 95%. That means that the breakage caused by cracked wafers or cells is reduced by at least a factor of 10. RUV Systems can also provide examples and cases showing concrete results. |
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| ESYS Photovoltaics ELC Pinpoint | |
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Micro/large cracks in solar cells are invisible but gradually increase the breakage rate of the solar cell during the production as well as handling steps. These cracks impact the efficiency of the solar cell area. Low Efficiency Area (Shunt) generally means to the non-conductive area over the solar cell surface. When they appear the low efficiency area could affect the impact of Microcracks that cut-off the flow of electron through conduction grids. On the other hand, electrons could also be blocked from conduction once grids (Fingerprint) are interrupted. This problem is called by the general term as "Grid Interruption (Finger Interruption)". Manufacturers might have different methods to perform the test on their solar cell production due to their specific manufacturing layout. Some may choose to apply the electroluminescence test at the end of the solar module production line in order to improve the solar module quality and assure proper guarantee period to their customer. A number of manufacturers try to keep their module production constant by performing the inspection process after the solar cell stringing but before lamination. In this case, manufacturers will also have the possibility to check for the string junctions soldered to the solar cell bus bars prior to those three defect types. This reduces the possibility to gain low efficiency module since module manufacturers will be able to replace defect solar cells in time before the lamination process takes place. Beside the production line, research and development engineers try to improve their solar cell fabrication process. Defects could also be identified and kept statistically in the production database in order to improve the quality of solar cell fabrication by analyzing single cells. Tracing the inspection results from number of defects, type of defects, positions of defects, etc. could improve the understanding of current production process and points to be improved or maintained.
Defects are required to be recognised, processed and classified automatically. The inspection software employed by ESCAD is able to synchronize itself to the machine automation routine in order to start the module inspection process once the module is fed in to the machine and provide the inspection result as well as the classification results back to the user while the inspected module is being unloaded. Silicon ingot fabrication variations are diverse in terms of silicon grain boundaries. This turns out to be a difficult point to distinguish defects from solar cell grain boundaries pattern. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to develop a set of parameters that is able to inspect defects for all solar cell patterns. In this case, we opened a full range of inspection parameters to the machine administrator in order to tune up a correct set of parameters for each group of solar cells obtained from different solar cell or wafer manufacturers. In contrast, we can guarantee that the inspection process will work for all types of silicon grain boundaries pattern independent of origin. |
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NASA Langley Research Center |
| X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization method | |
| NASA scientists invented new X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization methods to enable a new epitaxial growth of rhombohedrally aligned hybrid semiconductor structures. Two new XRD methods to measure (1) the integral density and (2) spatial distribution (wafer mapping) of primary twin defects have been established. These new characterization methods enable the new rhombohedral-trigonal hybrid structure semiconductor growth and open a new band gap engineering model. This XRD characterization method facilitates and enables the development of new and highly efficient photovoltaic structures based on quantum-well and rhombohedral-trigonal hybrid crystalline structures. These new XRD methods and rhombohedral-trigonal hybrid semiconductor structures are patented. | |
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| PL A56 | |
| 3i Systems' PL-A56 uses a laser to excite the electrons of a wafer, no matter if it is a bare silicon wafer or a processed wafer during PV cell production, and to detect its luminescence of the wafer to reveal the conversion-efficiency killer defects or processing excursions in a production line or stand alone. It provides needed information timely and accurately for better process control to ensure high conversion efficiency PV cells. This technology is especially helpful in producing high conversion-efficiency cells using selective emitters.
This claims to be the only product which makes non-contact measurement to reveal conversion-efficiency killer defects visible in a production line in real time How do customers benefit? It reveals materials problems and process-induced problems. It can be used any where in the process. When it used as Incoming Wafer Quality Control, it can reveal defective wafers which lead to lower conversion efficiency, if cells are made from them. It can be used in diffusion for process monitoring to ensure the correct amount of P is diffused into silicon. It can be used after AR coating or firing to ensure no major process discursions existing. It can be used for cell final inspection, in this case, it can be integrated into an IV Tester or as a stand-alone tool. |
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| Unisim Solar Simulator | |
TS-Space systems has pioneered the use of metal halide sources for testing solar cells. Using the latest HMI and halogen luminaire technology, the Unisim solar simulator provides a highly stable area of illumination. The simulators also use cutting edge filter technology in order to provide the best spectral match available for AM0 and AM1.5. Further to this, the spectrum can be achieved via two, three or four separate spectral wavebands which allows a high degree of spectral control for research and development. TS-Space Systems is the first and only company to pioneer the use of metal halide sources in solar simulators for photovoltaic testing. The high temporal stability and close spectral match combined with the ability to control the output spectrum via four separate wavebands means the Unisim solar simulator is the only PV research tool designed for the new generation of four junction devices |
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| FISCHERSCOPE X-Ray 5000 inline EDXRF | |
| The FISCHERSCOPE X_RAY 5000 is an innovative inline coating thickness and material analysis spectrometer specially designed for the needs of the pv thinfilm manufacturing process. It measures precisely thickness and composition of CIS, CIGS and other pv thinfilm coatings on various substrates. The unique design allows measurements at ambient air, under vacuum and on substrates with up to 500°C surface temperature. Movement or deviation of the base material is effectively compensated with the innovative distance compensation function to ensure a precise measurement and analysis. | |
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| The solar light that walks smart with you | |
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The key to the innovation is the capability to smart energy manage a limited solar energy source and successfully meet a load over many seasons of sunlight in a 365 day year, from a PV energy source incorporated into the top of the lamp so it does not look like a solar powered light. And the load includes welcomed lighting levels and communication with adjoining solar lights. In 2003, the core software engine won the IT SECRETS Award in Australia for Industrial and Commercial software. The software can process massive amounts of data and come up with fast, innovative and simple outcomes. In this application, predictive data is added to the package to achieve the practical energy management outcomes. While we wait for the 'perpetual motion machine', then we have to appreciate that stand alone solar energy collection, storage and load delivery management is based on using a finite resource, wisely. And it needs to be appreciated that the collection, storage and load delivery management are all dynamic. This is where the award winning IT SECRETS software comes into play, condensing large amounts of past and predictive data into simple and practical outcomes. The classic solar panel connected to a diode isolated battery will run public lighting until the battery is exhausted or the sun trips the photovoltaic cells and the lights turn off. Yes, by increasing the size of the solar panel and/or the battery capacity does resolve the situation. Sadly, the bigger and more obvious the solar panel and/or the battery, the greater the risk for damage and/or stealing. Minimising the solar panel and battery so they effective 'do not exist', reduces the risk of being damaged or removed. but the light still has to work, 365 nights of the year. How do customers benefit from the innovation? The solar light system works! Video from the onboard camera systems has already been recorded as evidence and is soon to be used in a Children's Court case in support of Police investigations |
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eIQ Energy |
| vBoost Parallel Solar | |
| eIQ Energy's vBoost Parallel Solar architecture uses advanced DC power conversion and management technology to allow easy connection of solar panels in parallel rather than in series. The vBoost DC-to-DC converter attaches directly to solar modules and creates a parallel connection to a central inverter, via an efficient constant-voltage power bus. This approach allows the connection of an unprecedented number of panels on a single cable - more than 100 panels can be linked on a single run, a twenty-fold improvement over conventional string architecture. This results in extensive installed-cost savings. The amount of cable needed is reduced by 2 to 5x, and the number of combiner boxes and the person-hours of installation labor can be reduced by up to 20x. For a hypothetical 1 megawatt installation, these factors combine to a savings of over $400,000 in balance-of-system costs. In addition, vBoost also provides per-panel MPPT, and eliminates energy-sapping interactions between panels on the same string. This increases energy harvest by 5% to 30%, and greatly simplifies the job of the array designer. | |
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| XCell X2 | |
| The Xcell X2 is the next generation of our firmly rooted Xcell solar cell interconnection platform. It is capable of interconnecting solar cells for 25MW per year on 11m2 of floor space. The driving forces behind this evolutionary machine are our customers' ambitions to reach grid parity. Utilizing one machine base for two string tracks in combination with just one solar cell handling robot, allowed building one of the most compact solar cell interconnection machines ever seen. This simple concept enables us to offer a high-end machine for an extremely attractive value. The Xcell X2 is equipped with numerous new features. Solar cell handling is reduced to just one pick and place before pre-heating (single robot approach) and all sequencing motions are servo controlled, which has the benefit of total speed, acceleration and deceleration control. Building on our proven spray fluxing method, the enhanced version even allows for spot application. Z-Bend ribbon handling is part of the standard package and can simply be turned on or off over the HMI. The Komax Solar Xcell X2 uses the industry leading induction soldering technology. Further enhancements in the process allow us to achieve breakage rates as low as ≤0.3% for 160µm thin solar cells. Technical improvements are important, but operating the machine is a key point as well. Therefore easy to open gull wing doors allow convenient machine access and newly positioned ribbon-loading points, as well as an all-together lower machine base, provide improved ergonomics. A modern GUI (Graphical User Interface) layout with highly intuitive screens is part of the machine, as well as SCADA, which collects data about material, solder recipes and machine performance. Naturally, the machine is designed to operate perfectly with Komax Solar's latest generation of String to Glass Lay-Up as well as with the XM 50 (50MW) to XM 250 (250MW) expandable Matrix Assembly System line. | |
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Canadian Solar |
| NewEdge modules | |
| Canadian Solar's NewEdge panels with Zep Compatible frames offer the solar industry's fastest and most cost effective way to install photovoltaic (PV) solar systems on residential roofs. The NewEdge panels are the first of their kind to be fitted with a special "Zep Groove" on the frame to fit quickly and easily with Zep Solar's breakthrough rail-free, auto-grounding system as well as several other existing mounting systems. Coupled with NewEdge modules, the Zep System II cuts residential installation costs in half and reduces the amount of time installers spend on a roof by up to 75 percent. NewEdge modules lead in PV USA (or PTC) ratings, which are quickly becoming universally accepted standards for real-world module power and performance -- more closely simulating real-world solar and climatic conditions than Standard Test Condition (STC) ratings. According to California Energy Commission (CEC) listing data, they rank amongst the industry's highest per Watt PTC among key module manufacturers with mainstream P-type silicon technology. | |
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| Peak Energy Series | |
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The REC Peak Energy Series modules represent the very latest in high-performing photovoltaic solar modules. With an optimized design that produces more power per square meter, the new module has a minimum increase of 9 watts with 2 percent more energy produced overall. The REC Peak Energy Series is easy to install without sacrificing structural robustness and mechanical load. REC's Peak Energy modules are vastly more efficient and produce more power per square meter than ever before due to improved cell design. Technology design advancements at the silicon, wafer, cell and module level have helped increase the module's overall efficiency and power output. Key attributes include: • Improved electrical contact - 3 bus bars, new metallization, new connector and new junction box with integrated diode cooling deliver improved electrical contact and produce more power • Reduced shadow effect - New finger design and thinner ribbons reduces shadow, increases sunlight, delivering more energy • Optimized glass selection - 3.2 mm glass provides an optimal temperature for a module to produce energy, enables improved sunlight transmission and is much lighter in weight • New glass etching process - Acidic texturization glass etching process (licensed by Sunarc Technology) allows the panels to capture more light during low-light and diffuse light conditions (i.e. sunrise, sunset and cloudy weather), increasing sunlight transmission by 6-8% and yearlong efficiency increase of 2% • Additional benefits include: • Light-weight design - Light-weight glass and frame for an easy-to-install weight of 40 lbs • Structurally robust - Mechanical strength of 5400 Pa to withstand heavy load and wind • Energy payback time of one year - REC is an industry leader in energy payback time which is the time it takes for a module to produce the energy used during the production process. REC's proprietary Fluidized Bed Reactor (FBR) process is used in its U.S. silicon manufacturing facility, reducing the amount of energy consumption required to produce silicon by 80 to 90 percent. A lifecycle analysis, carried out Utrecht University and the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, showed that REC silicon, wafer, cell and module operations have record low carbon footprints compared to other PV solar technology producers. The company is committed to recycling as a founding and board member of PV Cycle. |
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Solexant Corp. |
| Nanocrystal Solar Cells and Modules | |
| Solexant produces Nanocrystal Solar Cells and Modules capable of bringing the manufacturing costs of solar energy down to just 50 cents per watt.
Environmental concerns mandate the use of renewable energy across the globe, but the main barrier to mass-market adoption to date has been cost. Existing solar technologies are not only costly due to the equipment needed for manufacturing, but also highly capital intensive in the construction of manufacturing plants. Solexant set out to reduce the installed cost of solar energy while also making solar manufacturing significantly less capital intensive. Part 2 - 4. How does the product / process or innovation solve the problem? Solexant drew inspiration from the time-tested, cost-effective manufacturing methods of more established industries and applied them to the solar cell manufacturing process. The company's roll-to-roll manufacturing style has been utilized in newspaper printing for generations, and their low-cost solution processing technique is similar to that of inkjet printing. In combining these proven processes, Solexant has significantly reduced the operating and capital expenditures associated with solar manufacturing. At less than 1 micron thick, Nanocrystal Solar Cells are approximately 200 times thinner than traditional solar cells, equating to major savings in materials costs alone. In utilizing a roll-to-roll manufacturing technique, Solexant's technology eliminates the need for expensive clean rooms and high-tech machinery. Furthermore, the temperature required to process Nanocrystal Solar Cells is only 100°C to 350°C, versus the 400°C to 1,400°C needed to for conventional cells, and more than 700°C for other types of thin film. Another advantage of Nanocrystal Solar Cells comes from their above average processing speed. The ability to process the nanocrystal films in a solution allows for high-speed deposition methods similar to inkjet printing. This solution-processing is not only cheaper than the traditional vapor-phase deposition in terms of capital equipment costs, it can also reach production speeds of 10 meters per minute - more than 10 times faster than the competition. Solexant Corp.'s Nanocrystal Solar Cells and Modules are poised to become the long-lasting, low-cost preference of the photovoltaics industry. Improving upon technology originally developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the cells are manufactured with an inexpensive roll-to-roll technique, much like newspaper rolling off the presses. What's more, Nanocrystal Solar Cells are solution-processed, a system that is less energy intensive and up to 10 times faster than standard deposition methods. Overall, Nanocrystal Solar technology enables lower manufacturing and balance of systems costs, making it possible to bring the cost of solar manufacturing down to about 50 cents per watt - approximately one-fifth the cost of traditional solar cells - while maintaining competitive efficiency levels. In a conventional solar cell, two flat layers of disparate semiconductor materials are sandwiched between two electrodes, which collect the electrical charge. When the sunlight hits the cell, the interface, or junction, between the semiconductor layers is key in determining how much electrical current will be generated. It is at the interface where the negative and positive charges, called electrons and holes, are separated. Ideally, all the electrons travel in one direction, collecting at one electrode, and all the holes travel in the other direction, collecting at the other electrode. However, in reality, some of the holes and electrons recombine before reaching the electrode, generating only heat and no electricity. In the case of poor charge mobility, where electrons cannot travel easily through the semiconductor, even more recombination occurs, preventing electrons from reaching the electrode. The more electrons that reach an electrode and the lower the recombination rate, the better the efficiency. In a Nanocrystal Solar Cell, the two flat semiconductor layers are replaced by two types of nanocrystals, whose light absorption and transport properties can be highly controlled in the design and synthesis of the material. To fabricate the Nanocrystal Solar Cells, Solexant uses two nanorods; one acts as an electron donor and the other as an acceptor. Instead of one flat interface between the semiconductors, the interface is essentially the surface area of every nanorod; this vastly larger interface provides far more opportunities for the electron transfer process, and thus allows the Nanocrystal Solar Cells to achieve higher efficiency. Furthermore, unlike other thin film players that are locked into one set of production materials (CdTe, CIGS, etc.), Solexant's inorganic nanocrystal technology is an agnostic platform, able to utilize higher efficiency materials as they come to market. How do customers benefit ? The extremely low cost of Nanocrystal Solar Cells makes it the most feasible choice for customers looking to install a high-efficiency solar energy system on a budget. |
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MiaSole |
| Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) | |
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MiaSolé is a pioneer and leading developer of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic solar panels. Through a distinctive manufacturing process, MiaSolé has validated CIGS as the highest efficiency thin film chemistry for solar panels in the world - thus advancing the extraordinary potential for harnessing solar power as a competitive, sustainable energy source. MiaSolé's unique manufacturing process applies CIGS on a flexible stainless steel substrate, one meter wide by fifty microns thick. Each layer of the device is deposited through a high rate sputtering process. After deposition, a proprietary collection grid is applied to the surface of the device which maximizes electron capture. MiaSolé modules are the only commercially available solar products manufactured in this manner. Sputtering has proven inherent characteristics of uniformity and control, which enables high-throughput processing, thereby reducing manufacturing time and costs of production. MiaSolé's manufacturing process from rolled stainless steel to tested cell, has the shortest cycle time of any solar manufacturer (40 min.). Couple that distinction with cross-web uniformity of <2 sigma distribution and you have cell performance which requires no electrical grading prior to module assembly. MiaSolé is in full commercial production with a 10.5% product today. In January 2011, MiaSolé will complete UL certification and begin shipping a 12% module. MiaSolé will ship 6.5MW
in the first half of this year and expects to ship 22MW in 2010. The company's products are designed for utilities and independent power producers to use in industrial scale deployments such as large-scale rooftop and ground mount installations.
Unlike other CIGS manufacturers, MiaSolé does not need to interrupt the process for selenization and annealing. The innovative sputtering equipment is able to perform all required tasks insitu under continuous processing, thus reducing handling (losses) and queue time demanded of typical "batch" processing. A sputtered junction layer also eliminates the need for the more typical plating process (batch) used in competitive products. Aside from eliminating the handling and queue times mentioned previously, sputtering avoids costly disposal of hazardous waste inherent in a plating process. The continuous process sputtering equipment applies each discrete material to the substrate in an exact sequence under specific conditions. This is accomplished in an uninterrupted vacuum environment. Each layer is fully characterized and modulated to meet very precise specifications. MiaSolé has designed a sputter system that enables the visibility and control to manage these processes throughout the two hundred hours of continuous deposition. MiaSolé is the only commercially available solar thin film company that uses sputtering for every step of the CIGS deposition process. The most notable characteristics of the process are: 1. All sputtered 2. Continuous processing 3. Insitu selenization 4. Insitu anneal 5. Short cycle time 6. High efficiency MiaSole has developed a unique deposition tool which performs twelve specific functions which build up layers of a device in a particular sequence, which when complete, constitutes a thin film semiconductor capable of converting sunlight into electricity. Normal or traditional CIGS coatings are done using a combination of sputtering, plating, evaporation and printing processes. The drawback to traditional methods are the need to ‘batch' lots through different process steps, requiring handling and queuing which leads to material loses and slower cycle times. The MiaSole process accomplishes all aspects of coating and annealing in one thirty minute process on a large area substrate, with uniformity control of <1um across the entire web. The MiaSole process unrolls a stainless steel substrate of one meter width and 50 microns thickness into a vertical position and enters an isolation chamber which separates atmosphere from vacuum. The substrate continues through eleven distinct process chambers where device materials are applied by sputtering. This is accomplished at speeds greater than two feet per minute, thus very low cycle time. At each step in the chamber, a wide variety of process conditions are monitored and controlled to ensure maximum product performance throughout the two hundred hour run. The result is a highly efficient product with very tight distribution (high yield) and low costs. After coating, the substrate can be cut into a variety of shapes (depending on the application) and a collection grid is applied to carry the electrons out of the device. Due to the flexible nature of the substrate, these cells can be incorporated into roofing tiles and rolled roofing as well as a frameless module. MiaSolé is the only commercially available solar thin film company that uses sputtering for every step of the CIGS deposition process. The most notable characteristics of the process are: 1. All sputtered 2. Continuous processing 3. Insitu selenization 4. Insitu anneal This process breaks from traditional methods due to its high rates and elimination of separate process steps, but incorporating all into one sputtering system. A summary of additional benefits: 1. Small capital footprint = one tool equals 22Mw annual production 2. Small physical footprint ~1250sq. ft. 3. Requires no cleanrooms (can be operated in any generally clean environment) 4. Long duty cycles >200 hours between target change 5. Demonstrated efficiency 10.5% for today's product, 12.5% in UL for certification, 13.8% (world record) module reported by National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) How do customers benefit ? The availability of a truly low-cost solar product which comes in a variety of form factors such as rolled roofing, roofing tiles and conventional frameless glass-on-glass modules. |
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| Applied SunFab™ Thin Film Line | |
Applied Materials has successfully innovated new processes by which thin film solar panels can be made on a larger scale, at lower costs. Applied Material's SunFab™ line delivers state of the art manufacturing capability needed to produce the lowest cost per watt thin film solar modules. The Applied SunFab thin film line drives down costs across every step of the value chain - from factory to farm. The SunFab line is an automated glass in-panel out production line capable of producing the world's largest solar panels at 5.7m2 using amorphous silicon (a-Si) and multi-crystalline (μc-Si) technology. Features such as bonded rails and integrated architectural products serve to reduce the cost of installation of solar farms with thin film SunFab panels. Large size thin film panels provide balance of system savings that drive down solar cost per watt. Total energy cost is a function of four factors: conversion efficiency, panel architecture, panel size, and energy yield. When all four factors are considered, SunFab tandem junction thin film technology has significantly greater value than comparable thin film designs. Recent news has demonstrated confidence in the benefits of using the SunFab solar modules for a utility scale solar farm. (Applied Materials and China New Energy Leader CECEP to Collaborate on Advancing Solar PV)
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| The power & water spear | |
 A spear is a universal symbol of power. In this context, it is literally a low weight source of power (electric power and light), plus the ability to clean, store and transfer water. When carried, it has the characteristics of a classic spear, but when deployed, it offers so much more. It is a life support system and becomes the centre piece of a tent or other shelter.
The practical use of renewable energy for light, electricity, clean water including storage and shelter in one easily identified package that represents power and command. How does the product / process or innovation solve the problem? It puts the key elements for a sustainable remote life support into one package. It could also be used for hunting for food in special situations. The power and water spear packages sought after high tech, robust, lightweight technology in an ancient symbol. The embedded redundant control engineering systems has simple and practical outcomes, namely low voltage energy, clean stored water, LED lighting and shelter support options .... in one easy-to-carry spear, while retaining the accepted symbolic power of the spear. Ranging down from the top .... The thin film flexible PV array slides out of the protective tube and hangs on a lightweight 'coat hanger' frame. It has both parallel and series cell strings for operational redundancy. The heat of the PV array can also be setup as a micro desalination facility of dirty and/or salt water to capture clean water. Rain or pumped up water is held in the upper, outer tank. Using the renewable energy, this water is cleaned and transferred to the inner clean water tank. The upper tank can also be used to hold green plants so that with the evaporation process, moisture from the plants can be captured and used as drinking water. The spear holds a quantity of NiHd batteries to store energy until needed for pumping, water cleaning or low cost electricity delivery. A small AM/FM/SW radio can be included in the spear. It can also recharge cell phones, which can be used for remote banking as per the Vodafone African experience. LED lighting is part of the package. The pole can be used as a structural member for a tent or other shelter. By driving the spear into a riverbed, even an apparently dry water course, then some water can be extracted, processed and stored. The unit does also include pull out plastic tubing and simple 2 core wiring, which allows transfer of electricity and water from the spear to a more convenient place. The power and water spear brings together multiple renewable and sustainable elements into one package. The integration of the system maximises the efficiency and reduces the weight and control complexity of individual packages. Sample units of The power and water spear have been delivered to the Village Green Community Foundation. This foundation plans to offer the units for sponsored aid programs. How do customers benefit ? The main benefit is an integrated and automated system without the complexity of having to assemble together multiple elements. It is self testing and includes redundancy to sustain operations as long as possible. |
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| SiC normally-off high power JFETs | |
| SemiSouth has introduced a family of Silicon Carbide 1200V high current normally-off Trench JFETs that enable the improvement of Solar Inverter efficiency to 99%. This is the highest efficiency ever achieved and has been demonstrated and announced by the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany and in press announcements and papers at a number of technical conferences around the world. These JFETs are considered the Best-in-Class and most innovative technology in power semiconductors since the advent of the Silicon IGBT over 20 years ago. SemiSouth is the first company in the world to produce a normally-off vertical trench JFET which has a die area that is x10 smaller silicon devices. SemiSouth's normally-off Trench JFET is the first SiC device in the world to achieve power levels to meet the requirements for Solar Inverters from 3kW to 100kW and is economically viable compared to Silicon IGBTs and MOSFETs. With SemiSouth's Trench JFETs, Solar Inverter companies can increase the PWM frequencies of their inverters from 18kHz to over 50kHz thereby allowing a substantial reduction in the magnetics, output chokes, size of the heat sink, lower the weight and reduce the size of the enclosure. In total, SemiSouth's JFETs can provide an overall "cost reduction" benifit and simplify inverter installation.
The challange of improving the efficiency of Solar Inverters while also reducing the cost, size and achieve long life of >20 years. SiC material is by nature, more reliable, can handle much higher temperatures. SemiSouth is the first company in the world to produce in volume production and at econimical prices, normally-off SiC JFET power switches that can "drop-in" to existing Inverter platforms and enable an efficiency improvement of 1-2 percentage points. Most important and noteworthy innovation is that this JFET is "normally-off" and capable of high currents (20 to 50A devices are available now) All other JFETs are normally-on devices and as such are not suitable due to safety reasons and other control factors and therefore cannot be used in Solar Inverters. SiC material been long thought to be the ideal power semiconductor substrate materiall for the future of many power system applications but no one as been able to break the high cost barrier for a power switching device. SemiSouth, with its unique in-house SiC epi process technology and vertical trench JFET design has enabled a dramatically smaller chip size thus increasing the number of chips per wafer and bringing the cost down to levels that makes it viable agains encumbant 1200V Silicon IGBTs. SemiSouth is the only company in the world to offer a this normally-off JFET and it is currently being designed into next generation Solar Inverter platforms and many of the Top Solar Inverter companies in the world. This device is now "on the roadmap" of every major Solar inverter company in the world. How do customers benefit ? Higher PWM frequencies in Solar Inverters at high efficiency (98-99%) thus enabling a substantial reduction in the cost and size of the output chokes, magnetics, heat sinks which will result in an overall lower cost for the Solar Inverter and reduces its size by over 50%. |
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| Oerlikon Solar's next generation KAI MT equipment, | |
| Oerlikon Solar's next generation KAI MT equipment, the world's first industry proven PECVD mass production system for thin film silicon PV absorbers capable of depositing the complete tandem pin-pin junction in one system. The major features of the new equipment are: a) more advanced film properties for the amorphous and microcrystalline absorber films and b) significant increase in overall productivity by 50% at a reduced footprint of 50%.
What is particularly noteworthy ? - 50% higher productivity (throughput) at 50%less footprint - Advanced process capability based on proven 40MHz technology with well defined interface between amorphous and microcrystalline layer - Integrated Micromorph® process(no vacuum breakage between both absorber films) - Optimized temperature management during deposition(less heat & cooling cycles) - Contamination free processing enabled by the pressure differential in the Plasma Box® and the new gate valve isolation between the process chambers Innovative Aspect: The new capability to run a complete pin-pin tandem junction on the same equipment without breaking the vacuum, allows better temperature management of the glass producing minimal glass stress due to the elimination of heating <-> cooling cycles. The end result is less glass breakage and consequently lower scrap costs and a higher yield. Redesign of the existing equipment to enable handling and processing from 20 glasses/batch to 10 glasses/batch and adding gate valves between the transfer and the process modules results in a much faster system handling time (300% faster internal handling time). The strict vacuum isolation allows a contamination free processing of both pin structures. The new KAI MT is a perfect match between amorphous and microcrystalline process capacity; there is no longer any bottleneck in the availability of the total equipment. The capability to run an entire micromorph stack under vacuum in the same tool enables a higher back up and a higher redundancy which is the basis for higher fab uptime. To retain existing KAI benefits and already existing competitive advantages, the new KAI MT uses industry proven handling techniques and process components. The KAI MT is 100% process compatible to the existing KAI 1200. Build on proven technology of Oerlikon Plasma Box® reactors the new KAI MT is now equipped with 30 reactors total with 10 reactor in each process chamber capable of depositing advanced amorphous and microcrystalline absorber films. This results totally in 43m2 PECVD process area with 40MHz technology. The new innovative layout and design of the equipment has the utilities and media interfaces on a separate top floor enabling shortest pumping pipes for the highest vacuum performance with a 50% footprint reduction. Advanced cleaning technology ensures up to 50% faster in situ cleaning of the process reactors. How do customers benefit ? New KAI MT System - Additional Customer Benefits High quality amoruphous and microcrystalline absorber material - Plasma Box --> retain existing benefits and competitive advantages - 40 MHz Technology - No vacuum breakage a-/uc-Si -->improved process control Higher Troughput - 42 m2 reactor surface --> 50% higher productivity - advanced cleaning and shorter gas/pump lines --> 50% reduced overhead time - 10 glasses batch size --> 3x faster internal handling - 1 x heat&cool --> less stress - higher yield - full "tandem" stack in one tool --> higher equipment uptime Space - 90m2 footpring --> 50% less footpring |
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