Solar Cells Info

Increasing Efficiencies For Thin Film Solar Cells: Different Approaches Researched By The US DOE

By Dr. Harry Zervos, IDTechEx /4 April 2008
Source. Photonics Online
http://www.photonicsonline.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID=%7BEEC11AEA-997C-4C5D-84CA-9BFDBAF936D5%7D&Bucket=Current+Headlines&VNETCOOKIE=NO

Recently, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced that they have moved closer to creating a thin-film solar cell that can compete with the efficiency of the more common silicon-based solar cell. The Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide(CIGS) thin-film solar cell recently reached 19.9% efficiency in testing at the lab, setting a new world record, as the NREL revealed on March 24 2008. (more…)

By Michael Naughton and David Beard /THE BOSTON GLOBE
MIT Tech online edition, Volume 128, Issue 19 : April 15, 2008

http://www-tech.mit.edu/V128/N19/energy.html

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a German research giant announced Saturday that they would open a sustainable energy research center near the university’s campus that will employ at least 60 people. The goal of what will be called the MIT-Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems is to be a premier site in the country for rapid development of solar and other energy efficient technologies, said MIT and Fraunhofer officials. The center, which will employ mainly scientists and engineers, was announced by MIT president Susan Hockfield, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and energy and environmental affairs Secretary Ian A. Bowles during a two-day MIT energy conference. (more…)

By Christopher Martin  /April 16, 2”8
Source: Bloomberg.com
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a8gyGag0QSjU&refer=news

SunPower Corp., the second-biggest U.S. solar-cell maker, may report a record profit after rising oil and gas costs increased demand for alternative energy systems from Italy to California.  First-quarter net income probably rose to $12 million, or 14 cents a share, from $1.2 million, or 2 cents, a year earlier, according to the average of 12 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Sales likely soared 71 percent to $245 million, the data show. (more…)

Nikkei Electronics Asia /Apr 11, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080411/150342/

Emcore Corp announced that it has agreed to supply concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems to XinAo Group in China. The program will start with the delivery of a 50kW CPV system to be installed in Langfang, China. The system will be used for test and evaluation purposes. Once the expected reliability and performance metrics have been demonstrated, XinAo plans to install CPV systems to provide electric power for its coal gasification project, which is estimated to have a requirement of 60MW of power. XinAo believes that Emcore’s CPV technology will provide a cost-effective solution for its energy needs.  In addition, XinAo intends to build a manufacturing plant in China, jointly owned by Emcore, to manufacture CPV systems designed and certified by Emcore for the Chinese market. (more…)

by Tetsuo Nozawa, Nikkei Electronics /Mar 28, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080328/149683/

Osaka University and Osaka City Research Center announced the development of a new organic solid-state solar cell with a cell conversion efficiency of 5.3%. The announcement was made at the 55th Meeting of the Japan Society of Applied Physics, which is now taking place.  The researchers reportedly succeeded in developing the solar cell with the use of extremely pure C60 crystals. The conversion efficiency of this cell is the highest in Japan for an organic solid-state solar cell (or an organic thin-film solar cell) with a p-i-n structure. It is also the second highest in the world, after Northwestern University’s record (5.2-5.6%) announced in February 2008.
(more…)

Dublin, Ireland, Mar 30, 2008
SOURCE: Research and Markets /BUSINESS WIRE
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c87079
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/energy/article/2008-deep-research-report-global-china-film-solar-cell-industry-available_539086_11.html

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c87079) has announced the addition of 2008 Deep Research Report on Global and China Thin Film Solar Cell Industry to their offering.  In 2004, as the German government subsidized the solar industry, the subsequent huge demand brought about high profits for global polysilicon manufacturers. And in 2007, the great success of US First Solar brought a new era for thin film solar cells. Low cost–1.3$/W; high efficiency–almost 11%, meanwhile, a large number of orders from EU and North America regions and abundant raw materials in large-scale production promoted First Solar to achieve revenue expectations with high profits, revenue and reliability. This also meant the world had entered into the golden age of thin film solar. (more…)

An ambitious cross-subsidy scheme has given rise to a new industry
Source: The Economist  /Apr 3rd 2008 7ERFURT AND WOLFEN
http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10961890

Q-CELLS, based in Wolfen, just north of Leipzig, is the world’s biggest maker of the photovoltaic cells used in solar panels. It overtook Sharp of Japan last year and announced big jumps in sales (up 59%) and profits (up 69%) on March 27th. Germany, which is not known for being sunny, seems an unusual place to find this industry leader. But the country leads the world in its installed capacity of renewable energy sources (see chart), and is the third-biggest producer of solar panels, after China and Japan. (more…)

part 2 of a 2-part series look at the leading photovoltaic players
by David Appleyard
Source: Renewable Energy World
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reworld/story?id=52027

In this, the second of our two-part look at the world’s most influential PV players, the good news continues with a largely positive outlook among the world’s leading PV companies. David Appleyard reports. Although some supply chain issues have arisen in the solar photovoltaic sector with regard to raw materials such as silicon, the market continues to boom. Indeed, these supply constraints have been caused entirely by the fact that the market, and consequently demand, has accelerated at such a phenomenal pace that it has left the supply chain infrastructure lagging behind. However, this situation is expected to be rectified over the coming year as new silicon supply sources come on stream. This situation is inevitably reflected by the major players, some of which have struggled to expand as rapidly as the market would allow.
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part 1 of 2-part series on leading Photovoltaic players
by David Appleyard /April 13, 2008
Source: Renewable Energy World
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reworld/story?id=51590

The weather may be gloomy in Europe right now, but the outlook for solar players on both sides of the Atlantic could hardly be better. With production capacity expansion a recurring theme and many players announcing record operating results, it is hard to imagine a cloud on the horizon for the PV industry. Here we present the first part of our look at the major players and events of 2007, and take a peek into what 2008 may hold. David Appleyard reports. (more…)

Vancouver, B.C., March 19, 2008
Source: Xantrex Technology Inc. /press release
http://www.xantrex.com/web/did/1798/readnews.asp

Xantrex Technology Inc. (TSX:XTX) announces the launch of its Xantrex™ Gateway monitoring system, an innovative wireless monitoring solution for small scale solar power installations.  The Xantrex Gateway is the central communication component of a residential or small commercial solar energy system. It keeps the system owner informed about the system’s operation and energy production from any location. The Gateway’s wireless capability bridges the gap between Xantrex single phase grid tie (GT) inverters and the system owner’s computer.
(more…)