German solar giants Schott Solar & ersol ink thin film alliance
Solar firms to share research in bid to speed development of new super-efficient thin-film solar cell technology
Sarah Griffiths, BusinessGreen, 08 Feb 2008
Source: BusinessGreen.com
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2209279/german-solar-giants-ink-thin
German solar firms Schott Solar and ersol Thin Film GmbH have announced they are joining forces to accelerate the development of thin-film solar cells, which they claim could increase module efficiency by 50 per cent. The firms will combine research and development resources as part of an initiative to develop a micromorphous thin-film module with a double-layer structure consisting of an amorphous and a microcrystalline film. The firms claim the double-layer structure should result in improved cell efficiency as it results in two layers of silicon converting the entire light spectrum into power.
“We believe that this so-called micromorphous tandem cell can achieve up to 50 per cent increase in module efficiency and therefore also in the module yield in comparison to amorphous technology,” said Dr Christian Koitzsch, managing director of technology at ersol Thin Film GmbH.
Both companies have already begun to launch amorphous thin-film technology in the 1.4sq m Gen 5 format. Schott Solar has been marketing its ASI thin film modules for years while ersol Thin Film Markets have sold amorphous modules under the brand name Nova T Series.
Earlier in the week, private equity company Ventizz acquired a minority stake of nearly 50 per cent in ersol Thin Film GmbH. “ersol Thin Film’s concept for the further development of silicon-based thin-film technology is impressive and offers excellent perspectives for long-term market success,” said Willi Mannheims, a member of the executive board of Ventizz Capital Partners Advisory AG.
In related news, Real Goods Solar, the largest installer of grid-connected solar panels in California, has filed papers to go public in a move that is aiming to raise $57.5m. The company is said to be planning on listing on the NASDAQ with the intention of using the money for further expansion, possibly including acquisitions.