SNEC SHANGHAI, CHINA: Oerlikon Solar has passed all tests required for its Micromorph thin-film silicon solar PV modules to receive TÜV Rheinland's IEC certification.
The TÜV master certificate enables Oerlikon Solar's customers to accelerate their own IEC certification process, reducing time-to-market for certified high-performance modules from six months to less than six weeks. The certification is valid worldwide and is just one part of the established portfolio of solutions Oerlikon Solar offers its customers to enable rapid ramp-ups to mass production of thin-film solar PV modules.
"Oerlikon Solar enables its customers to significantly reduce their time to market for IEC certified modules, and guarantees leading module performance with the highest levels of reliability and cost-effective processes," said Jeannine Sargent, CEO of Oerlikon Solar.
Oerlikon successfully completed both IEC 61646 (Module Performance Test) and IEC 61730 (Module Safety Test). TÜV Rheinland, recognized globally for its module certification, put the modules through months of rigorous testing before issuing the IEC master certificate. Accelerated life tests for climate (changing of climates, coldness, warmth, humidity) and UV exposure were conducted in addition to mechanical impact tests (hail, wind suction, wind pressure, snow). All tests were passed successfully.
"We believe Oerlikon Solar is one of the premier equipment and module technology providers in the thin-film silicon solar PV market. They have proven their ability to scale a world-class technology and process to mass production, and passed all of our tests," states Willi Vaassen, Head of Renewable Energy division, TÜV Rheinland.
Leading efficiency and power output
Oerlikon's tandem-junction Micromorph process improves solar cell efficiency by up to 50 percent and increases overall module power, offering a key competitive advantage for solar PV manufacturers.
The Micromorph process 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, yielding efficiency gains of up to 50 percent.
The Micromorph technology also bolsters overall module power, enabling customers to produce high-performance thin-film silicon solar PV modules at competitive cost.
Unsurpassed time-to-market
In early 2008, Oerlikon Solar implemented the world's first Micromorph® production line at its customer Inventux in Berlin, Germany, and rapidly brought it to full production. "We were extremely impressed at how quickly and professionally Oerlikon Solar's expert team was able to ready our factory for mass production and further enhance module performance," said Volko Loewenstein, chairman of Inventux.
Oerlikon Solar is currently in the process of ramping four additional Micromorph® factories (Auria Solar, Chint, Heliosphera, Pramac), as well as two factories using its Amorph technology (Tianwei, Gadir). The combined 2009 ramp projects represent a production capacity of over 240 MWp globally bringing the cumulative shipped capacity of Oerlikon Solar to 600 MWp in the last two years.
Record performance and IEC certification
Just recently, Inventux announced record efficiencies achieved in real-time mass production. All panels where produced with Oerlikon Solar's proprietary Micromorph tandem junction technology. The 1.4 square-meter modules exceeded 9 percent stabilized efficiency during the course of high-volume production and reached over 120 watt power output.
On April 27, 2009, Inventux successfully passed all tests required for certification to IEC 61646 by TÜV Rheinland. This achievement reflects the first for a European based manufacturer of tandem thin film silicon modules.
Expanding customer and partner relationships
A growing number of global customers are ramping up Oerlikon Solar's leading thin-film solar PV technology. Recent sales to customers include Tianwei and Chint (Mainland China), Sun Well Solar and Auria Solar Co. Ltd. (Taiwan), Inventux, ersol Thin Film GmbH, SCHOTT Solar AG (Germany), Pramac SpA (Italy), Gadir Solar (Spain) and Heliosphera (Greece).
Oerlikon Solar has significant partnerships with leading industrial partners such as Tokyo Electron (sales and customer service) and Flextronics (manufacturing) to guarantee comprehensive customer service and support and rapid scalability throughout different geographies.
Showing posts with label silicon-based thin film modules. Show all posts
Showing posts with label silicon-based thin film modules. Show all posts
Monday, May 11, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Sunfilm, Sontor merge to become one of the leading silicon-based thin film module makers
BITTERFELD-WOLFEN/GROSSROEHRSDORF, GERMANY: Sunfilm AG, Grossroehrsdorf, and Sontor GmbH, Bitterfeld-Wolfen, merge to become one of the world’s largest providers of tandem junction silicon based thin film modules. The new company will be named Sunfilm AG.
In an increasingly competitive global photovoltaic market, Sunfilm will have the necessary size and expertise to significantly profit from the growing segment of thin film solar. Q-Cells SE, Good Energies and NorSun AS will be the shareholders of the new Sunfilm and are firmly committed to supporting the company on its future growth path.
Leading manufacturer of silicon-based tandem junction thin film modules
With an installed capacity of approximately 85 megawatts peak (MWp) at the two current production sites in Bitterfeld-Wolfen and Grossroehrsdorf, plus an additional 60MWp of capacity under construction in Grossroehrsdorf, Sunfilm is already one of the world’s largest manufacturers of tandem junction silicon-based thin film modules.
“Thin film is one of the most significant growth areas within the photovoltaic industry. After the merger, the new Sunfilm will participate significantly in this growth and we will establish our company as both a driving force in the market and as a technology leader”, says Wolfgang Heinze, Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board of Sunfilm AG.
Economies of scale and synergies add to future growth
Sunfilm’s size and market position will enable the company to create a competitive advantage through economies of scale, despite facing an increasingly crowded market. In addition, Sunfilm can achieve a variety of cost savings, including those from synergies in purchasing and those from consolidation of overlapping segments.
The combined expertise in research and development forms an additional clear competitive advantage. As a result, Sunfilm can accelerate the further development of thin film technology and reduce production costs for solar energy in the midterm. “Sunfilm will take a top position in research and development and will significantly advance the technology of solar modules with an even higher performance”, according to Dr. Torsten Brammer, Chief Scientist and member of the Executive Board of the new Sunfilm.
Current shareholders continue to support new company
Q-Cells, the sole owner of Sontor, will hold 50 percent of the new Sunfilm shares. Q-Cells is a leader within the global photovoltaic industry and is the world’s largest producer of solar cells. “The new Sunfilm forms a central pillar in Q-Cells’ global strategy for thin film technologies”, says Dr. Florian Holzapfel, Board Member of Q-Cells, responsible for New Technologies. “This powerful merger will create even more growth momentum in this thin film sector.”
Good Energies, a leading global investor in renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, as well as NorSun AS, a Norwegian manufacturer of high performance monocrystalline silicon wafers, will also remain invested in Sunfilm and support the future growth of the new company. Good Energies will hold about 35 percent of the new company and about 15 percent will be owned by NorSun. “We believe the merger is the best way to capitalize on the enormous potential of tandem junction thin film technology and to establish a leading company in the market”, explains Dr. Sven Hansen, Chief Investment Officer of Good Energies and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Sunfilm.
Strengthening of Germany as PV centre
The new Sunfilm AG will have production sites in Grossroehrsdorf and Bitterfeld-Wolfen, while the centre for research and development will be located in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. The new company now has approximately 400 employees, but additional jobs will be created in the midterm as the expansion in Grossroehrsdorf comes on-line. The merger of the two companies is expected to become legally effective by the end of May 2009, but is still subject to approval by the competent antitrust agencies.
In an increasingly competitive global photovoltaic market, Sunfilm will have the necessary size and expertise to significantly profit from the growing segment of thin film solar. Q-Cells SE, Good Energies and NorSun AS will be the shareholders of the new Sunfilm and are firmly committed to supporting the company on its future growth path.
Leading manufacturer of silicon-based tandem junction thin film modules
With an installed capacity of approximately 85 megawatts peak (MWp) at the two current production sites in Bitterfeld-Wolfen and Grossroehrsdorf, plus an additional 60MWp of capacity under construction in Grossroehrsdorf, Sunfilm is already one of the world’s largest manufacturers of tandem junction silicon-based thin film modules.
“Thin film is one of the most significant growth areas within the photovoltaic industry. After the merger, the new Sunfilm will participate significantly in this growth and we will establish our company as both a driving force in the market and as a technology leader”, says Wolfgang Heinze, Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board of Sunfilm AG.
Economies of scale and synergies add to future growth
Sunfilm’s size and market position will enable the company to create a competitive advantage through economies of scale, despite facing an increasingly crowded market. In addition, Sunfilm can achieve a variety of cost savings, including those from synergies in purchasing and those from consolidation of overlapping segments.
The combined expertise in research and development forms an additional clear competitive advantage. As a result, Sunfilm can accelerate the further development of thin film technology and reduce production costs for solar energy in the midterm. “Sunfilm will take a top position in research and development and will significantly advance the technology of solar modules with an even higher performance”, according to Dr. Torsten Brammer, Chief Scientist and member of the Executive Board of the new Sunfilm.
Current shareholders continue to support new company
Q-Cells, the sole owner of Sontor, will hold 50 percent of the new Sunfilm shares. Q-Cells is a leader within the global photovoltaic industry and is the world’s largest producer of solar cells. “The new Sunfilm forms a central pillar in Q-Cells’ global strategy for thin film technologies”, says Dr. Florian Holzapfel, Board Member of Q-Cells, responsible for New Technologies. “This powerful merger will create even more growth momentum in this thin film sector.”
Good Energies, a leading global investor in renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, as well as NorSun AS, a Norwegian manufacturer of high performance monocrystalline silicon wafers, will also remain invested in Sunfilm and support the future growth of the new company. Good Energies will hold about 35 percent of the new company and about 15 percent will be owned by NorSun. “We believe the merger is the best way to capitalize on the enormous potential of tandem junction thin film technology and to establish a leading company in the market”, explains Dr. Sven Hansen, Chief Investment Officer of Good Energies and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Sunfilm.
Strengthening of Germany as PV centre
The new Sunfilm AG will have production sites in Grossroehrsdorf and Bitterfeld-Wolfen, while the centre for research and development will be located in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. The new company now has approximately 400 employees, but additional jobs will be created in the midterm as the expansion in Grossroehrsdorf comes on-line. The merger of the two companies is expected to become legally effective by the end of May 2009, but is still subject to approval by the competent antitrust agencies.
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