Champions of Photovoltaics Cells and Modules

Nines Photovoltaics: Green processing

Dublin-based Nines Photovoltaics has developed what is considers a “potentially highly disruptive” methodology for the manufacturing process of photovoltaic solar cells. With this new technology, the company aims to reduce the cost of production and the overall environmental impact while increasing the speed and degree of process control required for the production of PV solar cells.

In June of 2011, they got the backing to take their technology to the next step: The company was awarded €1.2 million ($US 1.7 million) in funding through the European Framework Programme 7 (FP7), to further develop its technology.

Commenting on the significance of the technology, Edward Duffy, CEO, Nines Photovoltaics said: “From a cost and environmental perspective, the current solar cell production process is unsustainable and limits the ability for solar PV to compete with traditional energy sources. In 2010 there were roughly 10 billion solar cells produced worldwide, consuming over 25 billion litres of water and other chemicals. The heavy environmental footprint of solar cell manufacturing is strangling the ability of the PV sector to grow and meet the growing power demand. There is enough solar energy available to power the whole planet 100 times over but we must learn to harvest this energy in a sustainable and cost effective way.”

The technology that Nines has developed will enable solar cell producers to dramatically lower their water consumption, he says. Nines Photovoltaics claims to be the first company to offer a process solution which uses a fully dry process using only Zero Global Warming Potential chemicals.

Nines Photovoltaics is collaborating with the Fraunhofer IWS Institute in Dresden, Germany, the Fraunhofer ISE Institute in Freiburg, Germany, Vestlandsforsking in Norway, Alyxan in France, Solartech in Czech Republic, and Zimmermann & Schip Handhabungstechnik GmbH in Germany.

Trina Solar: A ‘honey’ of a technology

Trina Solar Limited (TSL) is an integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules. In early September of 2011, the company announced today that it had achieved what it claimed to be a new world record for its laboratory-tested multicrystalline module power output. The results have been confirmed by TUV Rheinland, with a 156x156mm 60 cell module reaching 274 Watts peak. The record was set using the company’s recently announced ‘Honey’ technology platform. This name refers to Trina Solar’s quest to provide solutions which target a ‘sweet spot’ when optimizing a module’s cost vs. its efficiency.

Trina Solar also introduced its new multicrystalline module, TSM-PC/PA05A, in early September. Powered by the new ‘Honey’ cells, the TSM-PC/PA05A uses an improved back sheet, EVA, string ribbon and coating glass that enable the module to achieve power outputs ranging between 245 W and 260 W and deliver a module conversion efficiency of up to 15.9%. The module is compatible with all common mounting substructures and characterized by its mechanical strength and ability to withstand high wind and large snow loads of 2400 and 5400 Pa respectively. Trina Solar offers a 25-year linear power warranty, along with a 10-year product warranty. Further efficiency improvements in the ‘Honey’ Platform are scheduled for 2012.

Q-cells: Power reflector

In April 2011, Q-cells demonstrated a record efficiency of 19.5% on a polycrystalline 6-inch high-performance cell, enabled by a “power-reflector” on the rear panel. The company then successfully transferred the cell concept to monocrystalline silicon material. The monocrystalline cells achieve an efficiency rating of 20.2% and enable production of solar modules with record output of 287 watt-peaks. The independent calibration laboratory run by Fraunhofer ISE (Institute for Solar Energy) in Freiburg confirmed these results. In June 2011, the Industrial Initiative for Central Germany presented Q-Cells with the IQ Innovation Award for its Q.ANTUM cell concept.

Q-Cells is also bringing its high-efficiency thin-film PV module to North America, a 14.7% (aperture) CIGS module already being used in Europe with a guaranteed performance for three years.

The Q.Smart technology, developed in 1983 by Uppsala U. (Sweden)’s Ångström Solar Center, uses a “light-soaking” effect to generate 2.5% average power boost above nominal power at standard test conditions in the field. When combined with “positive sorting,” output is increased by up to 15%. The modules are guaranteed for 100% performance in the first three years and then ≤0.7%/year linear degradation, to still achieve 85% rated output after 25 years. The technology hit the 14.7% aperture efficiency milestone back in March, with 13% module-level efficiency; total production capacity of the Q.Smart modules out of the company’s Thalheim, Germany facilities was 135 MWp at the end of 2010.

The CIGS layer is applied to a molybdenum- coated glass substrate. The thin-film cells are defined and connected in series by fine patterning lines on the glass substrate. In conjunction with a transparent zinc oxide layer, the cells produce a photovoltaic effect when exposed to the sun.

The Q.Smart CIGS module has already been used in installations across Europe: a 3.4 MWp commercial rooftop in Tontarelli, Italy, a 610 kWp commercial rooftop at the Venice Airport, and a 880 kWp carport at the Frankfurt Trade Fair. iGen Energy and Selden Research in the UK have just completed the first phase of a 96 kWp install, at 1500 m2 one of the largest in the nation.

Since putting its stake down for the North American market a year ago, Q-Cells has introduced a utility-scale solar business, a PV systems business, and now begun module sales.