Solar Cells Info

by Yasuhiko Takeda, Naohiko Kato, and Tatsuo Toyoda, 15 April 2009,
Source: SPIE Newsroom. DOI: 10.1117/2.1200903.1581
http://spie.org/x34404.xml?highlight=x2358&ArticleID=x34404

A new type of dye-sensitized solar-cell module has achieved transparency and color choice, facilitating mass production.  Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) offer various advantages, including freedom of design as well as lower costs and energy consumption, in production processes as compared to silicon-based solar cells.1,2 Monolithic series-interconnected modules—characterized by a structure similar to that of amorphous-silicon solar-cell architectures—are the most promising DSC-module type for mass production.3 However, these modules neutralize the unique transparency advantage of DSCs, because they use black, carbon-based counter electrodes (CEs) as well as rutile-based opaque separators between the photo-electrodes of porous anatase and the corresponding CEs. (more…)

Source: Reuters.com /Frankfurt, Apr 8, 2009
* Joint venture eyes cost reduction
* Firs 40 MW project has been started
* Shares in Q-Cells up 3.3 pct, LDK up 4.6 pct

Q-Cells (QCEG.DE), the world’s largest maker of solar cells, and wafer maker LDK Solar (LDK.N) are eyeing markets in Europe and China as well as costs cuts as part of a newly found joint venture, Q-Cells said on Wednesday. The German cartel office early in March told Reuters that the two were planning a joint venture, and a person close to Q-Cells then said that both companies wanted to intensify cooperation, without outlining further details. LDK already supplies wafers — which is needed for the production of solar cells and modules — to Q-Cells and the cooperation will bring together closer two giants that operate in different parts of the solar value chain. (more…)

The economic turmoil of the PV market in 2009 could actually turn into a more mature and orderly supply chain for the worldwide solar industry when growth returns, iSuppli predicts.
by Staff — Semiconductor International, 17 April 2009
http://www.semiconductor.net/article/CA6652492.html

What does not kill me makes me stronger. Although 19th century German philosopher Nietzsche probably did not have our global photovoltaics (PV) market in mind when he penned those words, they are nonetheless applicable, according to the latest report from iSuppli Corp. (El Segundo, Calif.). The economic turmoil of the PV market in 2009 could actually turn into a more mature and orderly supply chain for the worldwide solar industry when growth returns, the market researcher said today. (more…)

by Rick Merritt, EE Times, SAN JOSE, Ca, 17 April 2009
http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=216600243

A steep drop in sales for solar photovoltaic systems this year will create a shakeout, pruning back an overbuilt industry, according to one market research company. Reductions in government subsidies in Spain–a big market driver last year–are a primary cause of the downturn, but the company projects a return to strong growth in 2011.  Worldwide installations of solar photovoltaic systems will decline to 3.5 gigawatts in 2009, down 32 percent from 5.2 GW in 2008, according to iSuppli (El Segundo, Calif.). In addition, average selling prices per solar watt will decline by 12 percent, leading to a 40.2 percent plunge to $18.2 billion in global revenues for PV installations in 2009, down from $30.5 billion in 2008. (more…)

By Chris Gaylord, 14 April 2009
Source: Christian Science Monitor
http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/04/14/solar-power-captured-in-space-beamed-to-earth/

West Coast energy giant PG&E unveiled a plan this week to put solar panels in orbit and wirelessly beam energy down to Earth by 2016.  Satellite solar cells would capture the sun’s rays 24 hours a day, without fear of cloudy mornings or dark nights. The orbiters then convert this solar power to radio-frequencies that transmit to ground stations in Fresno County, Calif. Once received, the radio energy would change into electricity and flow into the grid. (more…)

By Justin Smith, 14 April 2009
Source: EnergyCurrent.com
http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=3&storyid=17374

When talking about solar cells, the key figures that are repeatedly brought up are cost and the efficiency of any particular cell. While the cost of a cell is, on the surface at least, fairly straightforward, efficiency can be a bit harder to pin down at first.  Basically, the efficiency of a solar cell is measured by how much electricity is converted from the sunlight that hits it; the energy conversion efficiency of a solar cell is the percentage of sunlight converted by the cell into electricity. In traditional monocrystalline, multicrystalline and thin film cells, most of the light is not converted into electricity, but is either reflected, turned into heat or passes right through the cell. (more…)

MIT research finds that many modern manufacturing techniques use more energy than traditional industries
Sourcer: BusinessGreen.com Staff, BusinessGreen, 31 Mar 2009
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2239473/manufacturing-study-questions

Many solar panels are made using “spectacularly inefficient” manufacturing techniques that could undermine their environmental benefits, according to new research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  The study, released last week, found that many of the cutting edge processes used to make computer chips, solar cells and nanomaterials use an “alarming” amount of energy compared to established manufacturing techniques. (more…)

Device Simulation Enables Optimization of Solar Cells to Improve Efficiency and Reduce Cost
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 1, 2009
Source: Synopsys Inc, press release
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?
ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-01-2009/0004998801

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design and manufacturing, today announced that the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) has adopted Synopsys’ Sentaurus TCAD to support its solar cell research and development programs. SERIS is Singapore’s national institute for applied solar energy research and is jointly sponsored by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). The Sentaurus TCAD tools will initially be used to support SERIS’ silicon-based solar cell research. The tools simulate the fabrication steps and photovoltaic (PV) performance of solar cells, allowing SERIS researchers to investigate and optimize current and new cell designs aiming for higher PV efficiency and lower cost. (more…)

Source: DIGITIMES, Taipe, Michael McManus, 19 March 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20090319VL200.html

Although global solar panel production went up 48% worldwide to 5.6 gigawatts (GW) in 2008, market reserach firm The Information Network laments that the US is lagging in the market. In posing the question, “What’s worse, buying solar panels from Eurasia or oil from OPEC?” the market reserach firm noted that less than 14% of solar panel production – 750 megawatts (MW) – was produced in the US last year. (more…)

Source: DIGITIMES, Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, 25 March 2009
Tsuo and Shi speeches at PV convention in Taipei, compiled by Digitimes, March 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090325PD202.html

Simon Tsuo, chairman of Taiwan-based Motech Industries, and his counterpart from China-based Suntech Power, Zhengrong Shi, both believe that there will not be any significant breakthrough in the development of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules in the near future. Tsuo and Shi, two important figures in the solar industry in Taiwan and China, expressed their views in their keynote speeches delivered at the first Taiwan-China PV industry convention taking place in Taipei during March 24-25. Motech is the largest crystalline silicon solar cell maker in Taiwan, while Suntech is the largest crystalline silicon PV module maker in China. (more…)