Wafers
Wafer Bonding at Room Temperature
04 June 2013POSTED IN Research
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE today announced that it has joined forces with EV Group (EVG) to develop equipment and process technology to enable electrically conductive and optically transparent direct wafer bonds at room temperature.
Nanostructure-Coated Black Silicon Solar Cells Via ALD
09 May 2013POSTED IN Research
Aspiring to improve photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency by using latest advances in nanotechnology, researchers at Aalto University, Finland, are combining “black silicon” with the method of atomic layer deposition (ALD). As a result, the nanostructures fabricated by plasma dry etching minimise sunlight reflection. Moreover, a conformal, thin passivating layer, deposited onto the nanostructures through ALD, prevents charge carriers from recombining at the surface.
Yale’s Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Could Advance Si Solar Cells
04 March 2013POSTED IN Research
A carbon nanotube (CNT) thin film developed by researchers at the Yale University could prove a novel and cost-effective way to realise superior photovoltaic properties of crystalline solar cells. The hybrid carbon nanotube/silicon solar cells may have unmatched power conversion efficiency.
1366 Technologies Opens New US Manufacturing Facility
31 January 2013POSTED IN Business News
1366 Technologies has opened a new, 25MW wafer manufacturing facility in Bedford, Massachusetts (US).
The company says the 42,000-square-foot factory, slated to employ 100 people, represents the final step in the path to commercialization of its Direct Wafer technology, a manufacturing process that 1366 says produces a uniformly better wafer at half the cost.
Hanwha SolarOne Secures RMB 3.0 Billion Credit from Bank of Beijing
27 December 2012POSTED IN Business News
Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd. , a manufacturer of silicon ingots, wafers and photovoltaic cells and modules in China, today announced it has reached an agreement with the Bank of Beijing for access to up to RMB 3.0 Billion (approximately $475 million US) of credit over the next twelve-month period. Drawdown of specific amount is subject to approval procedures of the Bank of Beijing, including review of specific project information, as applicable.
CNPV Expands to India
24 December 2012POSTED IN Business News
CNPV Solar Power SA, a public limited liability company organized under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and an integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products, has initiated shipments to Navalakha Group, of Maharashtra, India, against their recently awarded contract to supply 7MWp High Performance CNPV Solar Modules.
Pakistan Promotes Solar to Hundreds of Villages
24 December 2012POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
More than 500 villages will be initially electrified in Pakistan through the promotion of renewable energy in the form of solar power.
Kuwait University, Imec to Collaborate on Silicon Solar Cell Technology
19 December 2012POSTED IN Business News
Nanotechnology research centre Imec (Belgium) and Kuwait University (KU) signed a long-term collaboration agreement for research and development (R&D) on innovative silicon solar cell technologies. The agreement was signed on Wednesday, 19 December 2012, in Kuwait City, Kuwait during a ceremony in the presence of the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Deputy-Prime Minister, Didier Reynders, and Kuwait University President, Professor Abdullatif Al-Bader, and Director General of Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Sciences, Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin.
Baker Solar System for Wet Process Development
15 November 2012POSTED IN New Products
Baker Solar, a division of M.E. Baker, introduces FlexTool mini, an inline wet bench designed specifically for the R&D and pilot-scale requirements of today's PV wafer and cell manufacturers.
LDK Solar Ends Solar Wafer Supply Deal
14 November 2012POSTED IN Business News
LDK Solar is ending a long-term solar wafer supply deal with an unnamed Europe-based customer of its photovoltaic products.
Lux Research: Solar panel makers need equipment upgrades
25 October 2012POSTED IN Business News
Reeling from a glut of production capacity, makers of solar panels need to acquire innovative production equipment in order to cut costs, increase margins, and offer differentiated products, according to research released today by Lux Research.
ISRA Announced Next-Generation PL Inspection Systems
27 September 2012POSTED IN New Products
ISRA Vision Solar today announced its next-generation of contactless photoluminescence (PL) inspection systems, Solarscan-Yieldmaster PL, which the company says provides fast contactless photoluminescence inspection with low false detection rates and accurate defect classification for the mass production of solar cells.
EU PVSEC 2012: Schmid’s APCVD machine achieves 20.74% efficiency in PERC cells
24 September 2012POSTED IN Business News
The Schmid Group today announced an efficiency record of 20.74% in an industry-like production process for PERC solar cells, which has been confirmed independently by the ISE CalLab.
Schmid applied the backside passivation to the PERC solar cell with its APCVD machine, which will be exhibited at EV PVSEC 2012 (booth B06, hall 3.0) in Frankfurt, Germany, 25-28 September.
EU PVSEC 2012: Singulus exhibits PERC solar cells machines
13 September 2012POSTED IN New Products
Singulus Technologies today announced it debut a production solution for rear side passivated silicon solar cells (e.g., PERC: Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) at the 2012 European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference in Frankfurt, Germany, 25-28 September.
SPI 2012: Hanwha Solar announces products, strategic partners
10 September 2012POSTED IN New Products
Hanwha Solar today introduced a suite of innovative products at Solar Power International 2012 in conjunction with strategic partners tenKsolar, Silent Power and Crystal Solar.
EnergyTrend: Cell Prices, Utilization Rates Drop
15 August 2012POSTED IN Business News
A report by EnergyTrend, the green energy research division of TrendForce, says manufacturers’ utilization rates have been on a decline as the market remains in a slump, which in turn affects their inclination to carry out the contracts with suppliers.
EnergyTrend says recently cell makers’ utilization rates ranged between 50% and 70%, with some stronger companies’ utilization rates reaching 70%-80%. Due to the stagnant outlook, companies failing to acquire more orders chose to postpone carrying out their contracts. However, the report says, suppliers are starting to lose patience and put more pressure on their clients.
REC Wafer Norway to File for Bankruptcy
14 August 2012POSTED IN Business News
During 2011 and 2012 the production of REC Wafer Norway AS in Glomfjord and in Herøya, both in Norway, was permanently closed down. Activities were initiated to close the company. As of end of July 2012, REC Wafer Norway's liabilities exceeded its assets by about 1.2 billion NOK (~$202 million USD). Thus, a solvent closing of the company was dependent on continued funding from REC ASA, owner of 100% of the shares in REC Wafer Norway.
ReneSola to Provide Solar Insurance
10 August 2012POSTED IN Business News
ReneSola today announced it has reached an agreement with PowerGuard Specialty Insurance Services to provide a range of long-term insurance and warranty-related coverage for its solar products.
EU PVSEC 2012: Arnold Gruppe process and automation
26 July 2012POSTED IN Business News
The 27th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC 2012) is taking place on 24-28 September 2012 at the exhibition centre (hall 3.0, booth J23) in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. The event is considered a significant platform for exchange between science, industry and the global photovoltaic (PV) and solar markets.
ReneSolar Opens San Francisco Headquarters
20 July 2012POSTED IN Business News
Solar manufacturing company ReneSola has moved its North and South American headquarters to San Francisco, California.
