EU PVSEC highlights new equipment landscape for solar cell production
This year's EU PVSEC exhibition was notable for the plethora of new production tools and processes for next-generation crystalline-silicon production lines, as suppliers respond to cell manufacturers' prioritization of high-efficiency cell concepts. It's a great example of how market dynamics drive technology innovation, especially when supply exceeds demand by a considerable margin, observes Coherent's Finlay Colville. Share:
Laser applications in photovoltaics
In challenging economic times, the industry readily accepts processes offering high throughput at low cost, and this has led to the adoption of lasers in a number of important PV manufacturing processes. (From the September/October 2009 issue of Photovoltaics World magazine) Share:
INDUSTRY NEWS
Wacker pulls plug on Schott JV, solar wafers
Citing a desire to refocus further up the polysilicon-supply foodchain where it sees more profitability, Wacker is pulling out of its solar wafer joint venture with Schott Solar AG. Share:
PV tool sales down 45% in '09, doubling by 2013
PV manufacturing equipment revenues have taken a hit like everything else in the wake of the global financial crisis, slumping a projected -45% in 2009 to about €1.5B, notes Yole Développement. But the next four years should each mark significant growth, and push sales above €3B by 2013. Share:
Korea firm making US inroads into PV
Korean leather supplier Uni-Chem Co. Ltd. is staking a claim to the US solar market, with the apparent purchase of an idle semiconductor plant and >100MW in new cell/module lines. Share:
Cleantech VC investments up 10% in 2Q
Investors poured $1.6B into more than a hundred clean-technology ventures worldwide in 3Q09, according to a report from the Cleantech Group and consulting firm Deloitte, suggesting the climate has dramatically changed from the doom & gloom of a year ago. Share:
RoseStreet demos tandem nitride/silicon solar cell
RoseStreet Labs Energy says it has built and tested a working PV cell coupling a silicon solar cell with a nitride thin film, the same material technology as solid state lighting and blue lasers, with anticipated 25%-30% practical efficiency.
Solargy: New 500-1000W panels at cost of 200-300W
Aggregating developments in holographic film, hybrid panels, and manufacturing efficiencies, the company says it can produce panels sporting up to 1000W for ground mounted applications in about a year.
Arise Technologies produces first PV cells using high-purity silicon
The company says it has produced PV cells from a refining furnace with 7N+ high-purity ((99.99999%) silicon in quantities able to make cells with "comparable efficiencies" as those made in its German plant, ultimately targeting 20%.
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