Sinoar starts operations at new thin-film solar cell plant in Taiwan
Michael Chang, Hsinchu; Esther Lam, DIGITIMES, 3 October 2007
Source: DigiTimes
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20071002PD213.html
Sinoar has held the opening ceremony at its new thin-film solar production plant at Hsinchu, Taiwan. The company will soon enter volume production with annual capacity set at 15 peak megawatt (MWp) initially, according to the company. The company’s first solar-cell production plant was built in 1989 with test production completed in 1991. The second plant will enter operation immediately, said the company adding that second-phase expansion is already underway. The company plans to add another 35MWp capacity at the plant in the future with annual capacity expected to exceed 50MWp in the third quarter of 2008.
Company chairman CS Li stressed that solar cells based on polysilicon and those based on thin-film have their respective merits and disadvantages. When building a solar-cell system, the determining factor for which type of solar cell used is the actual environment. He added in saying that the accumulated electrical energy is a more important factor for selection type, rather than just looking at power conversion figures. Polysilicon-based solar cells, though delivering a high power conversion efficiency, have to be installed in an environment with sufficient sunlight, Li said. This type of solar cell can only deliver the best performance during noon, whereas for the rest of the day the cells only generate a small amount of electricity, he explained.
In contrast, thin-film solar cells have a lower power conversion efficiency but offer a stable electricity generation level, regardless of environment. This implies that average power conversion efficiency is better than that of polysilicon-based solar cells. Since thin-film materials can accept diffused light and accumulate more light from a source, they are suitable for building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems, he remarked.
Thin-film solar cells are simpler in structure with a thinner surface, thus they are easier to place on walls as part of a building exterior, Li said. As the cost of a thin-film solar module ranges between that of granite and tile wall finishes, engineers are actually able to absorb part of the solar cell system installation costs when using a solar cell wall in place of conventional materials, he said.