Solar Cells Info

Schott Solar Photovoltaic Solar Panel Products

http://www.schott.com/photovoltaic/english/index.html
http://www.us.schott.com/photovoltaic/english/products_us/ase_300/indexalt.html/index.html

High-output modules

High-output modules from SCHOTT Solar are available from a power class of 50 to 300 Watt. Crystalline EFG and MAIN cells with a high-quality finish provide the highest energy yields.

Solar modules with EFG cells

ASE-50-ETF/17, ASE-100-GT-FT, ASE-160-GT-FT , ASE-260-DG-FT, ASE-300-DG-FT

Solar modules with MAIN cells

ASE-165GTFT/MC, ASE-275-DGFT/MC

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ASI®-F Thin film Modules

Powerful modules for stand-alone systems and mains coupling

ASI®-F solar modules, made out of amorphous silicon, are available in the power classes 2 – 10, 16 and 32 Wp. With a special stacked cell construction based on thin-film silicon the patented ASI® technology guarantees enduring high output for years.

Framed modules for 12 V applications and mains coupling

# ASI®-F 2-10/12
# ASI®-F 32/12

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ASI® glass modules for glass roofs or building façades

SCHOTT Solar ASI® glass PV modules are multi-purpose components intended for integration into the exterior of buildings. As well as power generation, they serve a variety of other purposes associated with modern solar architecture.

InDaX® modules for integration into pitched roofs SCHOTT Solar’s in-roof modules are integrated seamlessly into pitched roofs and so provide an architecturally sound solution as well as a highly efficient solar power installation.

Solar Power 2006 Conference

San Jose, California, USA
October 16-19, 2006

The Solar Power Conference and Expo is the largest business-to-business
solar event held in the United States.  Organized by the Solar
Electric Power Association (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries
Association (SEIA), this event has been growing rapidly each year.
More than 4,000 people are expected to attend Solar Power 2006,
and more than 160 companies will exhibit.

October 12, 2006, St Louis, MO, USA:

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman today
announced more than $13 million to fund new research in solar technologies.

This funding, part of President Bush’s $148 million Solar America Initiative,
will support the development of more efficient solar panels, known as
photovoltaic devices.

“This investment is a major step in our mission to bring clean, renewable
solar power to the nation,” Secretary Bodman said. “If we are able to harness more of the sun’s power and use it to provide energy to homes and businesses, we can increase our energy diversity and strengthen our
nation’s energy security.”

A pillar of President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative, the Solar America
Initiative aims to make solar power cost competitive with conventional electricity sources by 2015, by developing materials that convert sunlight directly to electricity. In his 2006 State of the Union address, President Bush
announced the Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI), which seeks to reduce
our dependence on foreign sources of energy.

To achieve this objective, the AEI includes a 22-percent increase in
funding for clean energy technology research at DOE. The President’s
FY 2007 $148 million request for the Solar America Initiative is a
$65 million (78%) increase over the current appropriation, to accelerate
the development of semiconductor materials that convert sunlight directly
to electricity.

Konarka Names Rick Hess President and Chief Operating Officer

Lowell, Mass. – October 12, 2006 – Konarka Technologies, Inc., an
innovator in the development and commercialization of Power Plastic™,
a material that converts light to energy, today announced that Rick Hess
has been named to the newly created position of President and Chief
Operating Officer. Howard Berke, Konarka’s founder, will continue in the
role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

“Rick is recognized for his ability to assess technologies and commercialize
electronic technology components that meet specific customer needs
bringing products from the lab, through scale-up and commercialization
in the electronics industry,” commented Howard Berke. “Having led
businesses in both high growth stages and start-up situations, Rick
is a skilled motivator, team leader and communicator, to whom I am
pleased to turn over Konarka’s day-to-day operations and lead it
into its next phase of commercialization.”

Mr. Hess has a broad background as a leader in both start-up companies and established corporations. Prior to joining Konarka, he was Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Fuel Cell Technologies, a venture-backed company in Burlington, Massachusetts. He was previously President of M/A-COM, a manufacturer, designer and marketer of high frequency components and systems for the wireless, defense, public safety and automotive markets, and now a unit of Tyco Electronics, the largest business unit of Tyco International.

September 25th, 2006
Source: http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/

Volkswagen of America, Inc. is introducing a new concept vehicle from its Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL), located in Palo Alto, California. The ERL has taken a 1964 Deluxe Microbus and retrofitted it with a collection of cutting edge technologies. Dubbed the “Chameleon”, this renovated bus contains projects developed by ERL engineers and external partners that explore novel design concepts for tomorrowis cars.

With the goal of preserving the classic look of the Microbus, the theme of the concept vehicle is “Hidden Technologies.” This goal is appropriately parallel to Volkswagen’s continuous mission to develop technologies that enhance the driving experience while limiting driver distraction. The large size and unique layout of the Microbus provides a tremendous platform to creatively integrate many different technologies. A multitude of projects are showcased in the Chameleon, representing the latest advancements in the topics of audio, speech, sensors, displays, navigation, lighting, batteries, solar cells, and much more.

In addition to being a cultural icon, the Deluxe Microbus carries a uniquely Californian flavor. With its 21 windows and soft-top canvas roof, the vehicle was a favorite of surfers and adventurers on the West Coast, and is considered a prized collector’s item today. Acknowledging California’s traditionally environmentally friendly attitude, the ERL collaborated with Hybrid Technologies (www.hybridtechnologies.com) to replace the original VW engine with an all-electric-drive engine powered by lithium polymer batteries. Surfboards mounted on the roof are also lined with flexible solar panels that provide an additional source of energy to this 100% electric vehicle.

The interior of the bus is full of surprises, with an interactive digital instrument cluster, imbedded capacitive touch-pads, digitally enhanced sound quality, exciting rear seat entertainment options, and speech activated controls available throughout the cabin. The exterior houses several exciting new approaches for keyless entry, LED lighting, wide-angle parking cameras, switchable glass and much more.

The Volkswagen Electronics Research Laboratory intends to use the Microbus as a public relations tool to showcase the potential future of automotive electronics set in the nostalgic package of this favorite old-timer. The Chameleon has already been showcased in Germany to Volkswagen executives and engineers. It made its North American public debut at the AltWheels event in Boston, Massachusetts, on Friday, September 22, 2006.

source:
http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=3015

Building on more than two years of collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), HelioVolt announced it will extend the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) for research carried out at NREL’s facilities to include the development of non-vacuum nanomaterial-based deposition processes optimized for HelioVolt’s proprietary FASST (TM) manufacturing technology. The fastest and most efficient way to manufacture thin-film CIGS photovoltaics, FASST (TM) was recently honored with a Nano 50(TM) Award from Nanotech Briefs, a leading nanotechnology magazine from the publishers of NASA Tech Briefs. Judged by an independent panel of nanotechnology and MEMS experts, the Nano 50 award recognizes HelioVolt’s process for its significant near-term impact on the market as well as the field of nanotechnology.

HelioVolt is enabling new paths to solar energy marketability by building on its knowledge of the unique characteristics of the Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) material system. As described most accurately so far in a model published by Dr. B.J. Stanbery, HelioVolt’s founder, when made under the proper conditions CIGS spontaneously arranges itself at the nanoscale to create a percolation network that drastically reduces losses, making the material the most efficient and reliable thin-film for photovoltaics. By taking maximum advantage of this, HelioVolt’s flexible FASST (TM) process can be used under both vacuum and atmospheric conditions to print photovoltaic material directly onto traditional construction materials including architectural glass, steel, roofing and polymers in 80 to 98 percent less time than conventional processes. Under the terms of the CRADA, HelioVolt will work with NREL to optimize both conventional vacuum and pioneering non-vacuum deposition processes for FASST (TM) manufacturing environments.

Ascent Solar and PermaCity Solar to Develop New Photovoltaic Systems for the Terrestrial MarketLITTLETON, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI) (BSX:AKC) and PermaCity Solar announced today that they have begun co-development of a new suite of photovoltaic (PV) products and systems for the growing terrestrial market that includes large commercial buildings, master planned communities, vertical high rise structures, and residential homes. Combining the existing customer base and system engineering and integration expertise of PermaCity Solar with the flexible, thin-film module manufacturing expertise of Ascent Solar, the venture aims to deliver PV systems that offer significant performance and cost advantages over existing silicon-based solutions.

Ascent Solar’s large, roll format modules should provide inherent cost and system integration advantages over the small, fragile, bulky and rigid silicon modules in use today. The Ascent Solar thin-film PV on plastic with laser-patterned cell integration allows modules to be automatically sized in custom fashion to the unique requirements of each customer’s design needs. Analysis of a recent 600 kW silicon-based system installed by PermaCity Solar on a large commercial building suggests that the Ascent Solar module manufacturing technique may be able to provide as much as 35% more roof top coverage because silicon-based modules of today are routinely inhibited by ill-positioned roof obstructions like vent pipes, sky lights and HVAC equipment. PermaCity Solar and Ascent Solar plan to develop an integrated manufacturing technique that will link the PV system computer aided design (CAD) directly to the laser patterning control system in the factory to customize the size and shape of the modules for each unique installation.

Ascent Solar President and CEO Matthew Foster states, Our manufacturing processes produce product at the module level which completely eliminates the current back-end assembly of cells into modules and allows for made-to-order systems. We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with an industry expert such as PermaCity Solar and to be able to supply Building Integrated PV (BIPV) at the system level directly into the market. In addition to an established presence in the market, PermaCity Solar brings a much broader dimension to our module developments. Collectively, we have already begun to realize new and exciting capabilities and opportunities with our technology that we had not previously envisioned.”

Source: Small Times, NC
http://www.smalltimes.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?ARTICLE_ID=273331&p=109

By M. Paul Jackson, Winston-Salem Journal, N.C.

Sept. 29, 2006 — In a nondescript laboratory on Deacon Boulevard, scientists work to build machines that are smaller than the period at the end of this sentence.

The laboratory is part of the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials at Wake Forest University, a program that is developing products such as flexible solar-energy panels, microscopic devices that can identify and attack diseases, and therapies for drug-resistant illnesses.

The products are created using nanotechnology, the science of developing materials on a molecular level. Through nanotechnology, scientists nationwide hope to create silicon chips, larger computer disk drives, medical devices and fabrics.

The Wake Forest center is leading the charge in the region’s bid to become a nanotechnology hub. Wake Forest’s nanotechnology center, created about three years ago, was awarded a multimillion-dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defense in March to create “negative index” materials, or materials that can bend light, for example.

The center is also developing medical technologies that could help combat cancer, said David Carroll, the center’s director. The center is made up of about 15 research teams and 45 people, he said.

Last year, Wake Forest announced that it had developed flexible solar-energy cells that could convert about 6 percent of the light that hits them into electrical power. The center is also developing cells that will be able to convert even more amounts of sunlight into energy, allowing the center to compete with most manufacturers of solar-energy cells, Carroll said.

“I hope it means that Winston-Salem will be the center of the universe for solar power,” he said.

Developing more efficient, flexible-energy cells is “a major, major step for us,” he added. “It’s hard to overestimate this. The biggest industry in the world is energy.”

But developing a nanotech industry is easier said than done. Carroll said that one of the center’s major challenges is increasing the public awareness of the center.
“The community itself needs to pull together a little bit better to make ourselves known in a more cohesive way,” he said. The center is also attempting to create a nanotech business alliance that will help provide resources for local companies and help them expand.

Meanwhile, state officials said that they were confident that they could nurture the growing industry.

solarbuzz.com

As of October 2006, there are currently 176 solar module prices below US $4.75/Wp (€3.71/Wp) or 9.9% of the total sample. This compares with 178 prices below $4.75 per Watt in September.

The lowest retail price for a multi-crystalline solar module is $4.31/Wp (€3.36/Wp). This price is exhibited by a US dealer. The lowest retail price for a monocrystalline module is $4.42/Wp (€3.45Wp), from a US based dealer.

The lowest thin film module price is at $4.00/Wp (€3.12/Wp) per Watt from a German dealer. As a general rule, it is typical to expect thin film modules to be at a price discount to crystalline (for like module powers). The price differentials in this survey are presently consistent with that assertion, since the thin film module in question is 41 Wp, while the crystalline modules are high power 140-160 Wp models.

Ecobusiness link survey of prices of solar cell modules
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/solar_panels.htm

$ 4.50 to 5 per Wp

RWE 250W panel /US$1000 per unit => $4.17 per watt
Sharp 170W panel – US$ 760$ per unit => $4.47 per watt
Kyocera 130W panel – US$ 585 per unit => $ 4.50 per watt
BP solar 140W panel – US$790 per unit => 4.65 per watt
Photowatt 165W panel – US$762 per unit => $4.62 per watt
Mitsubishi 110 W panel – US$529 per unit => $4.81 per watt
Evergreen 120W panel – US$595 per unit => $4.96 per watt

Si solar cells
0.5 to 1 kg of semiconductor silicon needed for a square meter of conventional solar modules.

CIS solar cells
indium requirement is in the vicinity of 3 to 9 g/cm²; the selenium requirement ranges from 7 to 20 g/m².