Amtech obtains second high-efficiency N-type solar customer

USA: Amtech Systems Inc., a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, semiconductors, and sapphire and silicon wafers, announced its solar subsidiary, Tempress Systems, received a multi-million dollar order (in the low teens) for its advanced diffusion and PECVD equipment to be used in Nexolon USA's facility located in San Antonio, Texas.

The order is for 100MW and is the first phase of a planned 200MW turnkey project executed by the n-PASHA Alliance for Nexolon. Shipment is expected in the first half of fiscal 2014.

The n-PASHA Alliance members consist of Tempress Systems, ECN (Energy Research Centre of The Netherlands), and RENA GmbH. The Alliance was established in 2012 to more effectively offer the n-PASHA technology, an n-type bi-facial cell concept developed by ECN, which yields high cell efficiencies at a competitive cost level to the solar industry.

The n-PASHA cells used for bi-facial modules generate electricity from light coming through both the front and rear side of the panel positioning the solar field to generate 10-20 percent more power at no additional cost. Additionally, the n-type modules do not suffer from LID (light induced degradation) compared to power loss of typically several percentage points for commonly used p-type modules.