Solar Cells Info

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). (more…)

by Motonobu Kawai, Nikkei Microdevices, June 5, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080605/152883/

Sharp Corp will release its “ND-191AV” polycrystalline Si solar cell module, which has a high module conversion efficiency of 14.4%, targeting Japanese houses. The number of bus bar electrodes was increased from two to three, and the widths of all the electrodes were reduced.  With the improvement in conversion efficiency, the module can be installed in a wider range of positions on roofs. Compared with the company’s existing products, the capacity of the roof module is 1.5 times larger on average. (more…)

Singapore, June 4, 2008
Source: BAF Spectrum Pte Ltd press release/CompoundSemi Online
http://compoundsemi.com/documents/view/cldoc.php3?id=10263
Technology to Increase Solar Panel Efficiency by 20% Through Quantum Dot Nanotechnology

Singapore-based seed fund BAF Spectrum Pte Ltd today announced taking a 30 percent stake in Mentarix Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based solar photovoltaic component startup. The investment reflects BAF Spectrum’s strategy to invest in early-stage clean technology companies that provide new and innovative solutions.  By utilizing quantum dot nanotechnology and photonic technology, Mentarix plans to design and manufacture products that can increase solar photovoltaic cell operating efficiency by at least 20% from their relative baseline. The technology is applicable to both traditional crystalline silicon cells as well as thin film cells based on cadmium telluride/cadmium sulfide (CdTe/CdS), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) and amorphous silicon. (more…)

New process offers greater efficiency in consumption of silicon over standard industry methods
Scottsdale, AZ ― June 2, 2008
Source: Kyocera Solar, press release
http://www.kyocerasolar.com/news/news_detail.cfm?key=531

Kyocera (NYSE:KYO) today announced a new achievement in its solar cell manufacturing process that offers higher efficiency in its consumption of multicrystalline silicon, the essential raw material used to make photovoltaic solar cells and modules.  The new mass-production process allows Kyocera to manufacture solar cells with a thickness of 180 micrometers using the latest advances in silicon ingot slicing and wafer coating. The industry’s standard mass-production methods for multicrystalline silicon solar cells yield thicknesses between 200 to 260 micrometers. (more…)

Source: CleanTech.com,  May 30, 2008
http://media.cleantech.com/2916/
dupont-expects-to-more-than-triple-solar-sales

CEO Charles Holliday said that within five years the company’s sales in photovoltaics will be over $1 billion.  The head of Wilmington, Del.-based DuPont (NYSE: DD) said today that his company is well positioned for long-term growth in a number of fields, including renewable energy, forecasting sales in solar photovoltaics to more than triple in the next few years. (more…)

Munich, Germany, May 5, 2008
Source. QImonda AG press release
http://www.qimonda.com/about/press/releases/05_2008_Centrosolar_e.html

Qimonda AG, a leading manufacturer of memory products, and Centrosolar Group AG, a leading German solar company, today signed a contract to jointly build, equip and operate a solar cell manufacturing plant. The joint venture will produce solar cells based on silicon and will be owned 49 percent by Centrosolar and 51 percent by Qimonda Solar GmbH, a 100 percent subsidiary of Qimonda AG. In the planned cooperation, Qimonda will contribute its existing know-how in silicon-based mass production as well as important access to silicon supply. Centrosolar will contribute its expertise with solar systems and the sales and distribution of solar modules. The venture company which will be located on Qimonda’s existing site in Vila do Conde, Portugal is planned to initially invest Euro 70 million by September 2009. (more…)

by Nuying Huang, Taipei; Esther Lam
Source: DIGITIMES, 26 May 2008
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20080523PD211.html

The price premium for see-through building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) materials over conventional BIPV materials has drawn attention among solar module companies to gear up their deployments.  Thin-film solar cells can be integrated into exterior glass walls via laser patterning. Since the processed solar modules have higher transparency compared to conventional modules, they do not necessary have to be placed on rooftops, industry players commented.
(more…)

by Vincent Chen, Taipei; Esther Lam
Source: DIGITIMES, 20 May 2008
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20080520PD214.html

By producing thin-film solar cells on equipment from EPV Solar, Taiwan-based Formosun Solar indicated that volume production has already started with shortage already observed. The company also stressed the advantage the large size of its solar cells has in comparison to conventional thin-film solar cells. (more…)

by Nuying Huang, Taipei; Esther Lam
Source:  DIGITIMES, 20 May 2008
http://digitimes.com/print/a20080520PD212.html

With production equipment slated to be ready in late May, Kenmos PV, a joint venture of Kenmos Technology and NanoPV, said it plans for volume production of thin-film solar cells in the third quarter of 2008, with an initial annual capacity set at 10 peak megawatt (MWp). (more…)

by Nuying Huang, Tainan; Rodney Chan
Source: DIGITIMES, 28 May 2008

Solar cell maker Motech Industries expects its total capacity to reach 2GWp within three to five years, according to company chairman Simon Tsuo.  In Taiwan, Motech’s Fab 1 will have its capacity raised to 180MWp from the current 160MWp. The company has also rented extra land near Fab 1 to build another plant.  Fab 2, which currently has a capacity of 160MWp, can house a total of more than 300MWp, while Fab 5, which recently came online, also has an expected total capacity reaching 300MWp, he said.  In total, Motech’s solar cell capacity in Taiwan will reach 1GWp, the chairman said. (more…)