News from External Sources
2 August 2016
Wissenschaftler steigern Stabilität von Perowskiten als Ausgangsmaterial für Solarzellen enorm | Solarserver
Die Stabilität eines sehr leistungsfähigen und günstigen Ausgangsmaterials für Solarzellen konnte jetzt um bis zu zwei Größenordnungen gesteigert werden, berichtet der Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF, Wien). Die Materialmanipulationen, die diese Steigerung ermöglichen, wurden in einem vom FWF unterstützten Projekt mitentwickelt – und ihr "Geheimnis" wurde vor kurzem in Nano Letters publiziert.
25 July 2016
So soll Solarenergie günstiger als Kohle werden | Süddeutsche Zeitung
Tiefschwarz, schnell und effizient herzustellen: Mit einer ultradünnen Beschichtung könnte Solarstrom bald deutlich billiger werden. Fährt man von Phoenix, Arizona, auf dem Highway I-10 westwärts, erscheint nach drei Stunden inmitten der sonnengebleichten Ödnis der südkalifornischen Wüste plötzlich ein riesiger dunkler Fleck: das "Desert Sunlight"-Solarfeld.
25 July 2016
Solar Isn't A Commodity: The Advantages Of First Solar's CdTe Technology Explained | Seeking Alpha
Many argue that the solar modules are a commodity, where producers can essentially only compete on price. This is brutally true for solar manufacturers within the same technology, such as crystalline silicon (c-Si), as there is little notable opportunity for differentiation outside of module efficiency improvements.
20 July 2016
First Solar - Growing Confidence In CdTe Technology | Seeking Alpha
First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) has experienced an enormous amount of success on the CdTe (cadmium telluride) front over the past few years. In fact, the company is now so confident in its CdTe thin-film technology that it is abandoning its $100 million high-efficiency silicon TetraSun line.
7 July 2016
First Solar, Inc. Again Successfully Completes The Atlas 25+ Testing Program | North American Clean Energy
Atlas Material Testing Technology, LLC, the global leader in weathering technology and services, is pleased to announce that, for a second time, First Solar, Inc. has completed the rigorous Atlas 25+ Comprehensive PV Durability Testing program and received test result certification from Atlas' partner SGS, the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company.
4 July 2016
Solarfolien gewinnen Energie an der Fassade | EnBauSa
Eine Biogasanlage mit großen Fassadenflächen an den Fermentern dient als Teststandort für die organische Solarfolie von Heliatek. Auf einer Fläche von 95 Quadratmetern ist der HeliaFilm direkt auf dem profilierten Stahlblech der Außenfassade installiert.
28 June 2016
First Solar’s ‘game-changing’ Series 5 module to reduce BOS costs and installation times | PV-Tech
Leading thin-film module manufacuturer First Solar revealed its new-to-the-market and highly-anticipated Series 5 thin-film PV module at Intersolar last week. The Series 5 module is entering the market at 365W (Pmax) and consists of a 1.85 metres x 1.2 metres, three horizontal stacked module unit akin to the size and form factor of traditional c-Si 72-cell modules.
28 June 2016
Dünnschicht-Photovoltaik: VON ARDENNE GmbH tritt Vereinigung PVthin bei | SolarServer
Am 23.06.2016 ist die VON ARDENNE GmbH (Dresden) der Non-Profit-Organisation PVthin (International Thin-Film Solar Industry Association) beigetreten. Die Beitrittserklärung wurde im Rahmen der Intersolar Europe in München vom Präsidenten der PVthin, Andreas Wade, und dem Geschäftsführer der VON ARDENNE GmbH, Thomas Krischke, unterzeichnet.
7 June 2016
Perovskite Solar Cells Are Just About Ready for Prime Time | Design News
Solar cells made of perovskite -- a material that has cost, efficiency, and other advantages -- are poised to move from the lab to the commercial market in the next three years, according to a recent Lux Research report.
2 June 2016
Von Ardenne inks 700 MW thin-film coatings deal with China National Building Materials | pv magazine
The German deposition equipment provider is latest beneficiary of China National Building Materials' ambitious solar PV expansion, and will deliver several coating systems for installation at two 300 MW CIGS plants and one 100 MW CdTe fab, all in China.
2 June 2016
Solar cells based on cadmium telluride with an open-circuit voltage greater than 1V | SPIE
Doping cadmium telluride with phosphorus provides increases in acceptor density and minority carrier lifetime to enable the construction of solar cells with an open-circuit voltage greater than 1V.
31 May 2016
Growing Era of Green Technology Driving Thin Films Markets, Reports BCC Research | pv magazine
Rising energy costs and climate change are driving the increase in the use of renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic technologies and thin film batteries.
26 May 2016
CTF Solar to supply equipment for CTIEC’S first CdTe module factory | pv magazine
The two parties signed equipment procurement contracts for the 100 MW factory, which will produce cadmium telluride thin-film modules, during the SNEC tradeshow that is currently taking place in Shanghai.
24 May 2016
Thin Film PV Pulls Ahead in Technology Race | Utility Dive
In the old days, if utility operators wanted to tap the advantages of a thin film, utility-scale photovoltaic system they needed to allow for more land as compared to using crystalline silicon-based panels. But those days are over.
3 May 2016
Avancis hits 17.9% efficiency on 30 cm x 30 cm module | pv magazine
German CIGS developer Avancis has achieved an efficiency of 17.9% with its CIGS technology. The company hit the conversion efficiency on a 30 cm x 30 cm mini module, with the company claiming the technology could be translated into a 170 Wp 1m2 standard-sized module.
23 February 2016
First Solar Hits Record 22.1% Conversion Efficiency for CdTe Solar Cell | gtm
Once again, the company crushes the previous CdTe cell efficiency record.
23 November 2015
Tandem solar cells are simply better | ScienceDaily
Stacking two solar cells one over the other has advantages: Because the energy is 'harvested' in two stages, and overall the sunlight can be converted to electricity more efficiently.