XsunX gets positive response to cross-industry CIGS technology

ALISO VIEJO, USA: XsunX Inc., an established solar company, announced that company representatives who attended Intersolar North America and Semicon West 2009 (July 14-16) received positive response to the company's cross-industry CIGS technology plan.

The company recently announced that it is developing a breakthrough thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) cross-industry technology that may soon utilize the excess manufacturing capacity of the mature hard disc drive (HDD) industry to mass produce high efficiency, low cost solar cells.

Intersolar North America is an international, business-to-business trade show held in the United States for the global solar industry and focuses on photovoltaics (PV), solar thermal technology, and solar architecture.

Semicon West is part of the business-to-business event for the PV manufacturing supply chain and covers the spectrum of PV technologies and issues including thin film and polysilicon devices, as well as increasing solar cell efficiencies and decreasing the cost of solar energy.

According to event organizers, the preliminary visitor attendance for both Semicon West and Intersolar North America was 16,700 with over 500 exhibitors attending.

Joseph Grimes, XsunX's President & COO, stated: "We are extremely pleased with the positive comments received from industry experts at the two shows. Their responses validated that the XsunX approach presents a viable method for producing high efficiency CIGS cells.

"Silicon wafer based module manufacturers expressed growing concern to XsunX that silicon costs would rise again, and that as a non-silicon based wafer replacement company, XsunX offered a potential solution to rising costs of production.

"The breakthrough thin-film opportunity, which is described at our new web site www.xsunx.com, also relieves some of their concerns about the issues faced in scaling CIGS which we believe will overcome current solar technology manufacturing limitations."

XsunX's manufacturing method combines the higher cell efficiencies that can be achieved through small area solar cell production with the high rate processing techniques developed within the hard disc drive industry (HDD).

Tom Djokovich, XsunX's CEO, commented: "High efficiency flexible CIGS solar cells provide an immense opportunity for use in multiple market segments. They are like solar building blocks for a wide variety of applications including use as a virtual drop in replacement for costly silicon wafers. This is a vast market opportunity to replace aging technology.

"Working with a proven manufacturer of HDD systems and the National Renewable Energy Laboratories will not only accelerate our progress, but will also increase the value of the technology to the industry."

New record for Oerlikon Solar’s Micromorph technology

INTERSOLAR MUNICH, GERMANY: Oerlikon Solar, the world's leading supplier of thin film silicon photovoltaic (PV) production equipment, today announced that it has achieved a new record efficiency level for commercial thin film silicon PV modules.

Recent test results from Oerlikon Solar's pilot production line in Switzerland show that full-size Micromorph modules (1.4 m2) have 151 Watts initial power, or 11 percent initial power conversion efficiency. This result sets a new industry record for production thin film silicon modules.

Oerlikon Solar was able to consistently reproduce modules with similar record results, demonstrating a stable and scalable process. "This achievement clearly demonstrates Oerlikon Solar's technical leadership and is another key milestone on our path to grid parity", stated Jeannine Sargent, CEO of Oerlikon Solar.

Oerlikon Solar has previously announced an ambitious production cost target of USD 0.70 per Watt peak and is on track to achieve this target by end of 2010. Increased module efficiency and power are key contributors to this goal.

The excellent performance of the record modules demonstrates the advantage of Oerlikon Solar's end to end manufacturing solution. Oerlikon Solar's advanced PV technologies and process integration know-how result in an optimized manufacturing solution that is able to achieve higher conversion efficiencies and lower cost of ownership.

An example of this technology optimization is Oerlikon Solar's integration of a proprietary process to deposit high-quality transparent conducting oxide (TCO) on the front and back surfaces of the active thin film silicon junction. This TCO is engineered to optimize the performance of the Micromorph technology by improving light transmittance and light scattering, resulting in maximum efficiency and electricity output.

Success through best in class technology
Oerlikon Solar is the world leader in silicon-based thin film solar technology and end-to-end manufacturing solutions with 10 established customers in operation or ramp up worldwide representing 600 MWp of yearly production capacity, enough to power 480,000 households. This record panel is the latest result of this ongoing development program and reinforces Oerlikon Solar's role as a technology and market leader.

Oerlikon Solar's end-to-end solution as key enabler
"We successfully implemented several modifications of key processes of our end-to-end production line, leading to the increase in initial power output and efficiency", emphasized Dr. Juerg Henz, Head of Thin Film Engineering and Operations at Oerlikon Solar. "We are confident that our ability to repeatedly achieve record results can be transferred into mass production soon."

Low cost, high performance technology
Oerlikon Solar's IEC certified Micromorph technology significantly boosts solar cell efficiency by adding a second microcrystalline absorber to the amorphous silicon (a-Si) layer. This layer converts the energy of the red and near-infrared spectrum, facilitating efficiency increases of up to 50 percent.

The Micromorph technology also bolsters overall module power, enabling a growing number of PV module manufacturers around the globe to produce cost-effective highperformance thin film silicon solar modules.

Ascent's solar modules to be designed into development of hybrid, unmanned aerial vehicle

THORNTON, USA: Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. announced that its state-of-the-art, flexible thin-film photovoltaic modules will be designed into the development of a hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (H-UAV) called the Silent Sentinel developed by Bye Aerospace, Inc. The H-UAV will be designed primarily for military use; however, its capabilities will also include a broad spectrum of civil applications.

The first of its kind hybrid utilizes stored electric power, thin film solar photovoltaics (PV), and other technologies to enhance its endurance, quiet operations and low emissions. Bye Aerospace is teamed with thin film PV manufacturer Ascent Solar to develop the solar energy capability on the aircraft.

For primary propulsion, the hybrid UAV will be coupled with an advanced Williams International FJ33 turbofan. The efficient engine will provide the UAV remarkable climb rates and high altitude quick access to areas requiring surveillance.

Charlie Johnson, COO of Bye Aerospace, said the Silent Sentinel is a robust, long-range UAV that will incorporate several proprietary clean energy features.

“Ultimately, it will provide advanced tactical reconnaissance functionality while utilizing a uniquely long endurance, highly capable tactical sensor platform that is operationally stealthy and cost-effective to operate. The unique characteristics of the Ascent Solar flexible modules allow us to design this UAV to become very energy efficient.”

Dr. Joseph Armstrong, Chief Technical Officer of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. stated: “Our flexible, monolithically integrated CIGS PV technology offers the ideal combination of low weight, higher voltage, and high performance that makes it ideal for applications such as the Silent Sentinel, and we look forward to providing Bye Aerospace the materials they require for their vehicle.”

Potential military applications include border patrol, search and rescue, visual and thermal reconnaissance, and forward air control. In addition, potential civil applications include traffic control, pipeline and power line inspection, aerial law enforcement, forest fire detection and aerial photography.

Initial meetings are being conducted with US Government entities regarding the capabilities of the aircraft. More are planned in the near term.

Solar industry strategies rerouted by market conditions

SCOTTSDALE, USA: Thin-film (TF) solar panels, most notably the cadmium telluride panels made by First Solar Inc., have solidly established themselves as offering a lower price-per-installed watt than traditional solar panels made using silicon wafers.

The 876 megawatts of TF modules sold in 2008 is expected to grow to 5.2 gigawatts in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 43 percent, according to a new 2009 report from IC Insights, Solar Energy: Growth Opportunities for the Semiconductor Industry.

With this growth, the TF share of total solar photovoltaic devices sold will increase from 14 percent in 2008 to a forecast 27 percent in 2013, according to the report (see Fig. 1 below).

While TF is expected to continue gaining share, the Solar Energy report shows the forecast rate of growth is significantly lower than many recent solar industry forecasts. There are a number of factors behind this prediction.

TF panel makers have struggled to push panel efficiencies above about 11 percent, despite research-lab devices with efficiencies ranging from 16-20 percent. These higher efficiencies have been difficult to achieve in volume production, and there is little indication so far of a breakthrough in this regard.

Thus, despite their lower cost per watt, TF panels are predominantly used in large-scale ground based utility installations, where a large amount of space is available. In almost all rooftop applications, panels made with silicon-wafer-based solar cells are more attractive because their higher efficiency, ranging from 14-21 percent, means that more power can be generated for a limited rooftop area.

The political clout of electric utilities will undoubtedly draw government dollars toward large-scale solar installations. However, the Solar Energy report suggests that it is arguably the best use of solar technology to distribute small arrays on rooftops, close to the point of power consumption, where it reduces the costs and power losses associated with transmission and distribution lines. The better government policymakers understand this, the better the incentives should be for solar suppliers with the best rooftop products.

The Solar Energy report goes on to show that after several years of stellar growth—capped by a 99 percent growth year in 2008—the solar industry is being slammed during the current economic downturn.

IC Insights believes that after a 22 percent drop in installed megawatts of solar PV capacity during 2009, strong growth will return in 2010, as new government incentive programs gain traction in the US, Asia, and Europe. But with weakened government support during 2009, seriously lean conditions are driving solar device makers to re-evaluate and re-tune their strategies for increasing the value they can deliver per dollar.

A big factor coming to the aid of wafer-based cell makers is a big increase in available polysilicon supplies in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Freed of the capacity constraints for wafers and with silicon costs dropping, wafer-based solar cell makers will concentrate on improvements in device design and manufacturing techniques that allow them to drive device efficiency up and cost-per-watt down. Several suppliers have said that they will be bringing higher-efficiency cells to market, including a number of new back-contact cell designs.

Other key findings in Solar Energy: Growth Opportunities for the Semiconductor Industry:

* Pricing for solar panels will take a big step down in 2009, and then return to moderate decreases in price per watt over the remainder of the 2009-2013 forecast period.

* Competition is great among solar PV suppliers, with the top supplier in 2008 holding only 9 percent of the market, and 13 other suppliers each with 4 percent or more. IC Insights expects supplier rankings to continue to change.

* Solar-grade polysilicon will remain in oversupply throughout the forecast period. New sources of lower-cost supplies, such as upgraded metallurgical grade (UMG) silicon, will help drive down wafer costs.

* Equipment suppliers to the new solar device industry must re-tune their business as device makers struggle with ballooning inventories and plummeting capacity utilization.

Solar Energy: Growth Opportunities for the Semiconductor Industry was written to help current semiconductor manufacturers and suppliers gain a clearer understanding of solar technology and markets as they consider exploiting existing and upcoming opportunities available in the fast-growing solar PV sector.

It contains five-year forecasts for photovoltaic cells, solar modules, PV pricing trends, semiconductors in solar systems, PV-production capacity, capital expenditures, and polysilicon sales for PV cells. Regional market trends along with profiles and ranking of the industry’s top 15 photovoltaic device suppliers are also covered in the new report.

Single-user copies of the 118-page report sells for $2,975 with each additional copy priced at $495. A multi-user corporate license is available for $5,880.

Source: IC Insights, USA

Comprehensive report on TFPV and batteries 2009-2029

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Thin Film Photovoltaics and Batteries 2009-2029" report to its offering.

This comprehensive report, updated and revised in March 2009 to take into account the global economic situation, gives a thorough analysis of printed and thin film photovoltaics and batteries, with 10 year forecasts to 2019. Included are detailed profiles of 48 companies working on the many different types of technologies.

The report covers companies, research institutes and universities that are active in developing and commercializing thin film technologies for photovoltaics and batteries. Photovoltaic technologies covered include CIGS, CdTe, DSSC, a-Si and organic photovoltaics. Learn how these technologies (each at a different stage of development and adoption) are driven forward by both government and leading companies in the field.

The report also describes materials (both organic and inorganic) and device structures as well as various high-speed printing technologies employed.

IDTechEx find that the market for thin film inorganic photovoltaic technologies beyond crystalline silicon will reach at least $20 billion in 2014. The global solar energy market is expected to reach $34 billion in 2010 and $100 billion in 2050 and most of that latter figure is expected to be achieved by non-silicon photovoltaics.

This report provides a comprehensive list of key companies that are active in each of the TFPV and battery technologies. Compiled and analyzed by Dr Harry Zervos, technology analyst with IDTechEx, company profiles are given along with 20 year forecasts for the growth of the market share of these technologies. Dr Bruce Kahn, consultant and academic, gives a thorough analysis of the science and technology behind thin film photovoltaics and batteries, as well as a comparison of different high-speed printing techniques.

New technologies emerging
Silicon photocells are seen in many places, but the technology is limited. Crystalline silicon will never give tightly rollable devices let alone transparent ones or even low cost power generation on flexible substrates.

Fortunately there are many new alternatives. Proprietary nano-particle silicon printing processes are developed by companies such as Innovalight and Kovio and it promises many of the photovoltaic features that conventional silicon can never achieve. It can be printed reel to reel on stainless steel or other high temperature substrates.

However, most of the work on the next generation of photovoltaics is directed at printing onto low cost flexible polymer film and ultimately on common packaging materials.

Several companies, universities and research institutes are hard at work in different development stages of these technologies with large scale plants being built across the globe.

Solar energy: A bright spot in renewables

MENLO PARK, USA: Solar energy is gaining market share, as interesting new technologies are being developed to drive this renewable energy source forward.

The oil price fluctuations and global warming concerns have sparked a concentrated interest in promoting solar energy applications. In fact, the outlook for the global solar energy market is projected to more than double to reach $70 billion by 2013.

SRI Consulting (SRIC) has published its new Materials and Technologies for Solar Energy report that details the solar materials and technologies used in 1st through 4th generation photovoltaic applications, including an overview of solar thermal.

Solar power, like so many new energy processes, makes demands of chemicals during equipment manufacturing or operations. The 1st and 2nd generation photovoltaic cells require different forms of silicon, rare transition metals and metalloid elements. As a result of increased silicon costs, the 3rd and 4th generation technologies are focusing on organic polymers or nanomaterials and the lower manufacturing costs they offer.

Bob Davenport, Director of the Safe and Sustainable Chemicals series at SRIC said: "Developments in organic photovoltaic technology have made significant improvements in recent years, with cell efficiencies reaching over 5 percent. However, silicon based cells in the commercial photovoltaic industry are still the predominant technology because of higher efficiencies reaching over 25 percent."

The Materials and Technologies for Solar Energy report explores new applications where solar energy is being applied. Many opportunities exist for companies in the solar energy area from material research to manufacturing where breakthrough developments are being made at a surprising rate. The developments in organic manufacturing pose promising synergies with the printed electronics industry.

The number of specific technologies for producing photovoltaic solar cells is almost as numerous as the number of companies participating in the industry, especially with newer generation technologies. In addition, manufacturers are coming together and establishing standards. The Materials and Technologies for Solar Energy report includes information on key manufacturers and major technologies.

Why solar/PV is good for India? An ISA perspective!

Recently, the India Semiconductor Association (ISA) held an educative briefing session on the potential of the solar PV market in India, which was conducted by Rajiv Jain, Director, Government Relations, ISA.

This meeting was held well before iSuppli issued a warning that there could be global solar sunburn in 2009! I am sincerely hoping that most of the points mentioned by ISA's Jain still hold good in the coming year, and that India really does well and takes off in solar photovoltaics.

The ISA's vision: To help make India an attractive global destination for PV manufacturing and a world leader in solar energy.

Starting with the basics of photovoltaics, he said that it is a package of solar cells used to convert energy from sun to electricity. In simpler words, photons from sunlight knock electrons into higher state of energy, thus creating electricity. The electricity can be used to power equipment or recharge a battery. A typical PV system mainly consists of a PV module, battery, inverter, controller and junction box.

Focusing on the technological landscape, he touched upon the two key technologies for solar: crystalline and thin film.

Crystalline silicon is said to be the most mature Si wafer technology, with the largest market share. Though, high on cost, it has a typical efficieny of 14-18 percent. Crystalline silicon is said to suitable for rooftop applications.

Thin film is nothing but thin layers of photosensitive materials on glass. It is currently on high growth due to silicon shortage, and very low on cost due to low material consumption. The efficiency is about 6.5-8 percent.

A third technology, nanotechnology, is the future technology for cost reduction. It is more in the R&D space as of now.

Present scenario for solar
So what's the present scenario? In 2007, of $71 billion invested in new renewable energy (RE) capacity globally, 30 percent was in solar PV. It is the fastest growing area in the energy sector, with a CAGR of 47 percent over the last five years.

Grid-connected solar PV has been high growth market segment in 2007 (50 percent increase). Also, 86 percent of the PV installations are largely in four countries, with Germany at 47 percent being the outright leader.

Market drivers are said to be attractive feed-in tariffs, national PV market development and acceptance, RE obligations through solar PV, access to cheaper mode of finance, manufacturing incentives as well as strong R&D.

Why solar for India
I have addressed this in an earlier blog post. Here's what Jain had to say, and it is mostly in line with the earlier discussions.

First, India has among the highest solar irradiance globally. It also has the best quality reserves of silica in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. India has also established itself low cost producer and assembler of solar PV cells and modules.

The major challenges include attaining scale and integration for cost reduction, and, R&D for development of the industry.

Solar insolation in India
To start with, the daily average solar energy incident varies from 4-7kWh per m2. Next, we have multiple sites with solar irradiation >2000 hours per year. In contrast, Germany has 900-1,200 hours per year. Further, most parts of India have 300-300 sunny days in a year translating into a potential of 600GW. Also, potential in some states like Rajasthan is 35-40 MW per m2.

It is well known that the Indian semiconductor policy of 2007 has triggered off the now well publicized efforts in solar initiatives. The government of India has received 16 applications with investments envisaged at app Rs. 1,55,000 crores.

The investments in solar PV manufacturing exceed Rs 1,25,000 crores. Generation based incentives (GBI) are going to be key.

Potential market segments in India
There are quite a few, actually. In rural electrification, the government of India's target is to achieve 'Electricity for all by 2012'. About 18,000 remote villages will likely be electrified through RE. About ~25 percent of the remote villages, i.e., 4,500 villages, form a very viable market.

Next comes telecom back-up power! PV is a cost effective alternative to diesel generators (DG) for back up power for shorter duration, as DG based systems suffer from several disadvantages.

Another key market could be grid connected solar PV based generation. Current tariffs do not provide attractive IRR to developers. Decreasing system prices are however, likely to improve the economics.

Finally, roof based BIPV is said to be an alternative to reduce the cost of power procured by commercial buildings.

ISA's recommendations
The ISA has also made salient recommendations via its report on the industry. These include areas such as manufacturing: with an aim to encourage companies investing in 'Scale and integration', provision of capital subsidy to larger number of units, availability of funds at a cheaper rate, and an emphasis on R&D.

Also, the ISA has recommended that GBI be given for a tenure of 20 years, with the present period being 10 years. Further, it has suggested an accelerated depreciation along with the GBI scheme, and the availability of GBI for an unlimited capacity for a period of five years. The ISA has recommended an enactment of the RE Law requiring utilities to progressively increase power purchase from RE.

On its part, the ISA has been working with the government of India and various state governments as well. It has a sound rapport with concerned ministries - MNRE, DIT and NMCC.

The ISA has also assisted in the technical evaluation of solar PV proposals received in Fab City, Hyderabad. It has also drafted a semiconductor policy for the government of Karnataka, which should be out early next year, hopefully. The ISA is also working with several other state governments to promote the industry in their states.

The second ISA Solar PV Conclave is scheduled for November 2009 at Hyderabad.

Very good intentions, all of these! Now, for the Indian industry and the government to deliver, and walk hand in hand!!