Solar Cells Info

by Mary Anne Simpson, Nov 1, 2007
Source: PhysOrg.Com
http://www.physorg.com/news113135176.html

The Prefecture of Fukushima, Japan and the Total Mobility Project have announced the creation of a solar powered auto converted from a standard Mazda Roadster. The joint efforts of government and citizen groups are attempting to address the needs of its aging and retirement age citizens.
A project sponsored by the Prefecture of Fukushima, Japan and a group focused on providing aging seniors a better lifestyle, Total Mobility has converted a Mazda Roadster into a solar driving machine. The combined efforts of government and private sector technology are seeking to provide affordable accessibility to the city for the projected large number of retirement age Japanese workers.
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By Tarra Quismundo, Inquirer
Manila, Philippines, Nov. 3, 2007
Source: Inquirer.net
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/
view_article.php?article_id=98463

Filipino ingenuity and faith powered the Philippines’ rookie solar car race team to reach the finish line of the 3000-kilometer World Solar Challenge in Australia.  All first-timers in solar car construction and operation, the 15-man Team Sinag (ray of light) carried the Philippine flag through the finish line of the WSC desert race, reportedly the most prestigious competition for solar-powered cars. (more…)

Ayoki Onyango. Nairobi, 31 October 2007
Source: AllAfrica.com
http://allafrica.com/stories/200710310998.html

Installation of solar panels in homes is on the rise following the recent rise in oil prices, which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity. Not only is electricity expensive due to a fuel surcharge, but there have also been numerous and unexplained power disconnections, particularly in Nairobi. This has caused a surge in demand for fuel-powered generators, and a growing interest in solar energy. (more…)

Taipei, Oct 25, 2007
Source: Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/
idUSTP13084720071025

Taiwan’s E-Ton Solar (3452.TWO: Quote, Profile, Research) has joined with Lite-On Technology Corp (2301.TW: Quote, Profile, Research), Hermes-Epitek Corp. and MiTAC-SYNNEX Group to establish a firm to make thin-film solar cells, the company said late on Thursday.  E-Ton and photovoltaic parts maker Lite-On will be the largest shareholders with 23.9 percent each in the company, which will have an initial capacity of up to 60 megawatts (MW) and have the manufacturing facilities fully installed by the end of 2008, the company said in an e-mail statement.
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By Gerard Wynn, Reuters, London, Oct 31, 2007
http://uk.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/
idUKL24158364._CH_.242020071031

A surge in investment in solar power is bringing down costs of the alternative energy source, but affordability problems still dog hopes for the 1.6 billion people worldwide without electricity.  The sun supplies only a tiny fraction — less than one tenth of 1 percent — of mankind’s energy needs. But its supporters believe a solar era may be dawning, boosted by western funding to combat oil “addiction” and climate change.
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by Steve Bush, 1 Nov. 2007
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2007/11/01/42520
/high+efficiency+silicon+solar+cell+developed+at+imec.htm

Belgium research organisation IMEC has reported 17.4 per cent efficiency in thin multi-crystalline silicon solar cells.  The cells were made using the lab’s i-PERC (industrial-passivated emitter and rear cells) process which to save cost shuns high-purity semiconductor-type processing in favour of more industrial techniques.  The record-breaker is a 100cm sq. 180µm thick device with a short circuit current of 35.22mA/cm sq. and an open circuit voltage of 629.8mV.
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By using reclaimed silicon, solar cell manufacturers can save between 30% and 90% of the energy they would have expended using new silicon materials, IBM said.

By Paul McDougall, InformationWeek, October 30, 2007
Source: InformationWeek
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?
articleID=202800164&subSection=All+Stories

IBM says it’s found an earth-friendly way to recycle the silicon wafers used in its computer chip manufacturing operations — it’s helping to turn them into solar panels.  To recycle the wafers, IBM is using a process that removes transistor patterns embedded in them. The patterns usually prevent silicon wafers from being reused along with other silicon products because they represent closely guarded intellectual property.  As a result, the tech industry discards about three million silicon wafers per year, IBM estimated.
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Motonobu Kawai, Nikkei Electronics, Nov 02, 2007
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20071102/141765/

“I knew someone would point it out,” said a Mitsubishi attendant in response to my question.  Mitsubishi Motor Corp is drawing interest by displaying its “i MiEV Sport” concept electric vehicle equipped with a thin-film solar cell system at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. I was interested in the thin-film cells’ fat wires like those in crystal Si cells. So I asked the booth attendant about it, and he gave me a secret of the solar cell system, starting with the phrase above.
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Cologne, November 02 2007
Source: iol.co.za
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31
&art_id=nw20071102183510928C547928

Hail and lightning rain down, while temperatures up to 85°C prevail, as solar cells are tested at the world’s largest and most modern facility in Cologne.  Solar cells are big business across the world, but particularly in Germany and Japan. And here is where the world’s top manufacturers come to have their products certified under the most extreme conditions.

“We are the leading force, and what we introduce in the way of safety ideas is often adopted by other countries,” says Wilhelm Vaassen, head of the Testing Laboratory for Photo-Voltaics of the quasi-official German Technical Monitoring Association (TUEV).
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October 18, 2007
Source: Solid State Technology
http://sst.pennnet.com/display_article/309588/5/ARTCL/
none/none/1/IMEC-touts-record-efficiencies-in-Si,-Ge-solar-cells/

IMEC says it has achieved >17% efficiency with thin-film silicon solar cells, and says >20% efficiencies “are definitely within reach.” Meanwhile, the research group says it is nearing the theoretical efficiency limits of Ge solar cells.  IMEC’s work involves an “i-PERC process” that replaces the Al backsurface field on a Si solar cell with thin silicon layers (<180nm) to create Al-alloyed contacts covering the entire rear side of the cell. The rear is passivated with a dielectric stack in which contact openings are realized by laser ablation. An Al contact layer is evaporated and fired in a belt-line furnace to create local back-surface fields.
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