ersol “Nova-T” thin-film module fulfils Protection Class II requirements
* CE-LAB GmbH Ilmenau certifies compliance with Protection Class II requirements
* Key milestone is reached for a successful market launch
* Sales due to begin in spring 2008
Erfurt, 1 November 2007
Source: ersol solar energy, press release
http://www.ersol.de/en/newsmediarelations/pressreleases/pressrelease/news/1193904705/
?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=227&cHash=8c077f50a8
Following the successful (Protection Class II) verification by the independent accredited CE-LAB GmbH Ilmenau EMC laboratory, ersol Thin Film GmbH, a 100 percent owned subsidiary of ersol Solar Energy AG (ersol), has reached an important milestone for the market launch of the ersol “Nova-T” thin-film module. This guarantees the secure insulation of the system voltage (up to 1,000 Volt) in the module (ensuring protection against electric shock) and thus electric security. Furthermore, Protection Class II verification is a necessary prerequisite for awarding the CE label and is also a major element of the safety qualification for photovoltaic modules. The results of the Protection Class II tests will be used in the certification process (IEC 61730). The entire certification, which is not a mandatory prerequisite for using the modules in PV systems, is not expected until 2008, because of the prolonged test period.
Since the planned switch from amorphous to micromorphous product generation will take a fairly long time, even just because of the delivery times for key components, ersol is now planning to launch amorphous modules, as an interim step towards micromorphous production, in spring 2008. Since the start of test production in the summer of 2007, the amorphous modules from the plants delivered by Oerlikon have already reached planned specifications of an average of 78 Watt peak (Wp) of stabilised capacity. In the micromorphous variant, this is to be boosted significantly. “We are already preparing for the field deployment of the Nova-T modules with the first key customers and we are looking forward to the anticipated grid connection of the first demonstration and test plants during Q1 2008,” explains Dr Christian Koitzsch, Technical Director of ersol Thin Film GmbH. “However, we have not yet decided on our production plan for 2008 as a whole,” concludes Koitzsch. ersol expects the first demonstration samples for micromorphous thin-film modules to be ready from mid-2008.
Within the ersol Group, ersol Thin Film GmbH is responsible for thin-film technology. To secure a sizeable share of the solar industry’s disproportionate market growth, despite the scarcity of silicon, and to drive forward its own expansion plans more rapidly, ersol decided as early as the beginning of 2006 to focus its efforts on this futuristic technology, which saves on raw materials. With the wholly-owned subsidiary ersol Thin Film GmbH set up for this purpose, the ersol Group has developed a production line for micromorphous thin-film modules based on amorphous and microcrystalline silicon. The initial process expertise and the machines are being supplied by the Swiss specialist machine manufacturer Oerlikon Solar. The ersol Group invested over € 80 million in the new Erfurt production plant for thin-film modules. As of 30 September 2007, ersol Thin Film GmbH employed 131 staff.