Advent Solar forms strong partnerships in European PV Marketplace
December 19, 2006 / Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
source. Advent Solar press release
http://www.adventsolar.com/fileuploads/236477436458aaf82561bb.pdf
It is the dawning of a new day for solar…
Advent Solar is proud to announce its partnerships with three of the top PV system integrators in Europe: Enerpoint S.r.l. of Italy, MHH Solartechnik GmbH of Germany, and SunConnex International BV of the Netherlands. Advent’s newly developed partnerships will allow customers across Europe to have abundant access to Advent Solar’s exciting new and highly aesthetic PV technology.
Introduction to Advent Solar
Advent Solar was founded in 2002 following the development of a new solar cell technology, Emitter- Wrap Through (EWT), or as it is more commonly known, “back contact”, at Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Several rounds of venture funding enabled the company to grow from 2 employees to 165 employees in just 4 years. Following the success of the pilot production line, Advent quickly moved ahead by building a full-scale state of the art production facility. Advent’s 25MW production facility was completed in the Fall of 2006, where production is currently ramping up and is expected to be at full capacity in early 2007.
The Advent Technology
Advent’s back-contact cell technology has the potential to significantly change solar PV manufacturing techniques and to cut traditional production costs. With EWT technology all of the electrical contacts in a solar cell are on the back of the cell, as opposed to having electrical contacts on both front and back surfaces. The result is that solar energy conversion is boosted, aesthetics are greatly improved, and assembly steps to make the complete solar PV module are simplified.
Advent’s unique cell design is unlike conventional cells with contact grids on the front that inefficiently block sunlight, instead EWT utilizes holes in each cell to allow for current to flow to the back surface. The elimination of contact grids on the front surface helps to increase light absorption and improve the appearance of the cell and module. Additionally, current collection occurring in the emitter on the front surface allows Advent to use lower cost solar-grade crystalline-silicon wafers.
By using thinner wafers, Advent is less exposed to unpredictable swings in availability and cost of raw materials. Advent is also able to reduce assembly costs by eliminating the front to back connection step and by making innovations to a standard process. Advent’s cells and modules combine the reliability of standard materials with the beauty of new technology.
Advent’s Products
Using the EWT cells, Advent’s modules meet IEC 61215 and TUV Class II standards. Advent’s product line will initially comprise of 165W, 170W, 175W, and 180W modules, with a line of modules featuring larger 156mm cells becoming available in the Fall of 2007. Cell efficiency will be on average 15%, with the prospect of further improvements as cell production increases. Advent projects that it surpass 17.5% cell efficiency with its multi-crystalline EWT cells within the next 2 years.
Advent’s Partnerships
Advent is proud to be joined in long-term partnerships with Enerpoint, MHH, and SunConnex. Each company is known for their high levels of service, and quality PV products. Pairing their exceptional quality services with Advent’s highly aesthetic new technology will result in superior products for every customer. Advent is pleased to be partnered with such robust and world class companies. Their wide reaching networks will begin distributing the Advent modules throughout Europe in starting January 2007.
About Advent Solar, Inc.:
Advent Solar, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of innovative back-contact solar cells and modules. Its unique and exclusive cell technology was originally developed at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Advent is
located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, and is proud to operate under sustainable business practices and strives to consistently exceed customer expectations by providing advanced and cost-effective PV technologies.