Sanyo Aims at High Efficiency, Early Production of Thin-Film Si Solar Cells
by Motonobu Kawai, Nikkei Microdevices, May 19, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080519/151942/
Sanyo Electric Co Ltd established the “Advanced Photovoltaics Development Center” to promote its development of thin film Si solar cells April 1, 2008. Fusing its photovoltaic technologies with technologies in different areas, Sanyo aims to develop an innovative thin-film Si solar cell. Nikkei Microdevices interviewed Makoto Tanaka, who became president of the center, about the company’s strategy for technology development (interviewer: Motonobu Kawai).
Q: What are your goals of conversion efficiency, cost and volume production schedule for thin-film Si solar cells.
Tanaka: Our rivals seem to be targeting a conversion efficiency of 10 to 11% for mass-produced thin-film Si solar cells. We are targeting higher 12%. Module cost at that efficiency will be ¥150/W (US$1.44), half the current level. We were planning to start volume production in 2012, but we are now considering moving the schedule up by at least one year.
Q: On what policy will you advance the research and development of thin-film Si solar cells?
Tanaka: We are considering revising fundamentals rather than adding technical efforts to the device structure. In other words, we will advance the research and development focusing on material technology.
In the tandem structure, which is about to become the mainstream among thin-film solar cells, amorphous silicon and microcrystal silicon are layered over each other. Of the layers, we are expecting to develop a microcrystal silicon that outperforms its current property, for example.
Q: Why did Sanyo establish the “Advanced Photovoltaics Development Center” (Anpachi-gun, Gifu) in addition to its “Advanced Energy Research Center” (Kobe, Hyogo) that also researches and develops solar cells?
Tanaka: Our Gifu Plant, where the Advanced Photovoltaics Development Center has been built up, has foundations for advantageous research and development of thin-film Si solar cells. One of them is Sanyo Semiconductor Co Ltd’s plant, which heavily uses thin-film technology.
Another is the development bases of low-temperature polycrystalline Si TFT and OLED technologies, though we’ve already withdrawn from them. We’ll assign engineers engaged in those developments and the technologies we’ve fostered to the development of thin-film Si solar cells.