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Amonix Achieves Record for PV Module Efficiency in NREL Test
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 29, 2013...Amonix Inc., a designer and manufacturer of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV)
solar power systems based in Seal Beach, California USA, reported that it has
successfully converted 36.2 percent of direct sunlight into electricity. In
testing from February to April of this year a III-V multi-junction solar module
from Amonix demonstrated a peak operating efficiency of 36.2% measured on March
14, 2013 with a DNI of 876 W/m2, an ambient temperature of 16°C and
instantaneous wind speed of 1 m/s, breaking the previous 34.2% peak efficiency
set by Amonix in May 2012.
Over the entire testing period, the module earned a National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) outdoor efficiency rating of 34.9%, with a DNi of
900W/m2, 20°C ambient temperature and 2m/s wind speed, breaking the 33.5
percent efficiency record that the company achieved in May 2012. The module
uses the solar cells from Boeing Spectrolab,which achieved 40 percent
efficiency recently, and Amonix's CPV technology.
“Amonix’s proprietary technology platform allows us to
continue driving rapid performance improvements in our CPV system,”
said Vahan Garboushian, Amonix founder and CTO. “The advances we have
demonstrated over the last 2 years have all been with the same generation 40%
cells, demonstrating an unprecedented cell to module conversion efficiency of
greater than 90%. With improvements that are underway in cell efficiency and
additional advances in our module technology, we will continue to drive
efficiency higher over the coming years.” Solar Junction and IQE to Develop Satellite III-V Cells
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 22, 2013...Solar Junction, based in San Jose, California, a developer of multi-junction
concentrator photovoltaic cells is reportedly contract negotiations with IQE.
IQE is a supplier of semiconductor wafers for next-generation satellite solar
cells for the European Space Agency. Back in October of 2012, Solar Junction
achieved 44 percent efficiency at 942 suns employing the company’s
Adjustable Spectrum Lattice Matched (A-SLAM) architecture. A-SLAM provides
material bandgap tuneability to maximize the absorbed sunlight within CPV
modules. This results in increased efficiency and energy harvested.
Additionally, A-SLAM maintains the lattice-matched paradigm, which has been the
foundation of semiconductor and multi-junction solar cell reliability for
decades.
"Solar Junction and IQE have been working closely for the past year as
strategic manufacturing partners of the world's most efficient multi-junction
solar cells. Our dilute nitride technology and high-efficiency roadmap is a
proven and sustainable pathway for present and future space and terrestrial
applications. Winning this contract proves that we're on-track. We're proud to
be the best solution for the European Space Agency," stated Jim Weldon,
CEO of Solar Junction. Spectrolab Multi-junction Solar Cell Achieves 37.8 Percent Efficiency Without Solar Concentration
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 22, 2013...Spectrolab of Sylmar, California, reports that its solar cell recently set a
world record by converting more energy from the sun into electricity than any
other ground-based solar cell without solar concentration. The Boeing
subsidiary achieved in 37.8 percent efficiency with its new class of
ground-based multi-junction solar cells. The measurement was verified by the
U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden,
Colorado. The solar cell leverages Boeing technology that makes semiconductor
materials more reliable.
"We expect this solar cell technology will have significant benefits for
space, ground-based, and sensor applications," said Troy Dawson, president
of Spectrolab.
Spectrolab believes this solar cell technology can attain higher levels of
efficiency, "possibly more than 45 percent even under low
concentrations," according to Nasser Karam, the company’s vice
president for advanced technology. First Solar Acquires Company, TetraSun and 60 MW AC North Star Project
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 15, 2013...Tempe, Arizona-based First Solar announced that it has acquired the 60
megawattAC (MW) North Star solar project that NorthLight has developed in
Fresno County, California. NorthLight is a joint venture of Renewable Energy
Corporation ASA and Summit Power Group, LLC. Terms of the transaction were not
disclosed.
First Solar, Inc. also signed a definitive agreement to acquire TetraSun, a
photovoltaic (PV) technology startup which developed 21 percent efficient solar
cells that have with commercial-scale manufacturing costs comparable to
conventional multicrystalline silicon solar cells. The agreement is to acquire
TetraSun from JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation and other investors,
including TetraSun management. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to
close in the second quarter of 2013, were not disclosed. First Solar and JX
Nippon Oil & Energy also beginning discussions on a distribution agreement
for Japan.
Construction on the North Star photovoltaic (PV) solar plant is expected to
start in 2014 and be completed in 2015, providing up to 410 construction jobs.
When fully operational, First Solar says it will produce enough clean,
renewable energy to power over 21,000 average California homes while displacing
approximately 33,000 metric tons of water consumption.
The North Star project is located near the city of Mendota and has a 20-year
power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company. James F. Cook,
First Solar Director of Project Development, stated, "North Star will
provide much-needed construction employment in a hard-hit economy, while
helping the state satisfy its renewable energy requirements." First Solar Acquires 150 MW Photovoltaic Power Project
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 8, 2013...First Solar, Inc. of Tempe, Arizona USA, has acquired the 150-megawattAC
(MW) Solar Gen 2 power project from an affiliate of The Goldman Sachs Group,
Inc., Energy Power Partners, and a third equity partner for the project.
Construction of the facility, which will be located in Imperial County,
California, near El Centro, is expected to start this year and be completed in
2014. Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition includes 40 MWDC of
solar modules that the project previously purchased from another supplier,
which will be integrated into the installation. First Solar will supply the
balance of modules for the power plant, along with its project development,
engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), and grid integration
services.
According to First Solar, the photovoltaic (PV) plant will generate enough
electricity to power more than 60,000 average California homes, the equivalent
of taking 22,000 cars off the road in terms of CO2 emissions, and saving 93,000
metric tons of water per year. San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E)
will purchase the plant’s electrical output under a 25-year power
purchase agreement. Solar Gen 2 is expected to provide more than 800
construction jobs in Imperial County, an area suffering from high
unemployment.
"First Solar shares our vision of providing clean energy for California
and green jobs for Imperial Valley, one of the most economically challenged
areas in the country," said Steve Zaminski, CEO of Solar Gen 2 and owner
of Energy Power Partners. Miasole to Export CIGS Panels to Rajasthan, India
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 1, 2013...Miasole based in Santa Clara, California will export thin-film solar panels
to a solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Rajasthan, India. Part of the support
for the exportation came in the form of a $9 million direct loan from the
Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). The Indian borrower, Sai
Maithili Power Company Private Ltd., a single-purpose solar company formed by
KSK Energy Ventures, used Miasole's copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS)
thin-film PV solar panels in the construction of an 11.6-megawatt (DC) solar PV
project in Rajasthan. The recently commissioned project will be built as part
of India's Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
This is the second time that Ex-Im Bank helped finance a project of Miasole
in India. In FY 2010, Ex-Im Bank provided a $3.7 million loan to finance
exports of Miasole's thin-film PV solar panels to a solar project in Gujarat,
India.
"Ex-Im Bank's support of Miasole's California-made solar modules for
projects in India lowers the cost of capital and will enable Miasole to expand
U.S. exports and create jobs in California," said Miasole CEO John
Carrington.
Miasole is expected to add 200 jobs to manufacture the solar modules.
U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium and NREL Collaborate to Develop Thin Film PV Cells and Modules
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 18, 2013...The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Photovoltaic
Manufacturing Consortium (PVMC) have agreed to improve manufacturing of solar
cells, including thin film, advanced silicon, and future materials. These
national partnerships are modeled after the research from not-for-profit
consortium, Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (SEMATECH) and the College
of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE).
NREL’s pioneering work in renewable energy and photovoltaic research
includes establishing processes, measurement and characterization capabilities,
and gaining expertise in all the major PV conversion technologies. In the
collaboration, PVMC will reportedly leverage decades of knowledge and
capabilities in materials and cell processing, advanced testing, metrology and
materials analysis, and modeling. Additionally, the NREL and PVMC collaboration
will be expanded to other national labs.
"Through this initiative, we look forward to enhancing the
manufacturability of thin film solar PV technologies, which is critical to
enabling increased usage in residential, commercial and utility applications
across the country," commented Dr. Pradeep Haldar, PVMC Chief Operating
and Technology Officer and CNSE Vice President for Clean Energy Programs.
"Together we are leading the national effort to help facilitate the
transfer and commercialization of future solar products, equipment, and
manufacturing lines including thin film, advanced silicon, and future
materials," said Joe Hudgins, senior VP of business development and
strategic alliances, PVMC.
Several on-going initiatives are currently attempting improve PV
manufacturing development such as the recently signed Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) of SEMI and PVMC to cooperate on standards and roadmap
activities in the solar thin film industry. Alta Devices Achieves 30.8% Efficiency Record with Dual Junction Solar Cell Technology
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 11, 2013...Alta Devices reported that it has reached 30.8% solar cell efficiency with the company's new dual junction solar cell. This new NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) verified record has resulted from the company's first implementation of a solar cell technology that uses a combination of a gallium arsenide (GaAs) base cell layer and an indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) absorber layer on top of the base cell. With higher efficiency, more electricity can be generated from smaller surface
areas. Alta plans to apply its efficient, thin and flexible mobile power
technology to extend the battery life of everyday products such as smartphones,
tablets, keyboards, mice, remote controls, etc...
Chris Norris, president and CEO of Alta Devices commented, "With our
technology, enough energy can be generated from sunlight to effectively power
devices in ways not previously possible. We are working with a number of
customers who are designing their mobile products to increase battery life; and
in some cases, we can provide enough energy to eliminate the need to plug into
the electric grid."
Alta has created a calculator to compute the battery life extension for a
variety of consumer mobile devices (http://www.altadevices.com/calculator.php).
According to the calculator, a typical outdoor worker could realize 80 percent
more battery life each day for their mobile phone. Or a student can get over 60
percent more battery life for his or her tablet device. These results can be
achieved with minimal weight or form-factor penalty on the device design. Alta
Devices is currently shipping its single junction technology. You could own this space...
For information on our plans and to reserve promotion space contact
Send us an email
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