Product Briefing Outline: Magma Design Automation Inc. has introduced ‘YieldManager Solar,’ a yield enhancement software system customized for solar fabs that is intended to improve energy conversion efficiency, increases yield and reduces the manufacturing costs of solar cells. Based on software proven in the semiconductor industry, YieldManager Solar provides fast, accurate analysis and correlation of all metrology, inspection and performance data used throughout the solar cell manufacturing process. With this information, solar fab test and production engineers can quickly identify and correct root causes of solar energy conversion efficiency and yield degradation caused by subtle fab processing fluctuations or instability – saving time, maximizing equipment utilization, increasing yield and reducing costs.
The Solar America Cities Program was launched as one of the biggest efforts at the Department of Energy aimed towards the adoption of renewable energy in a country with one of the largest carbon boot prints in the world. The program, which saw partnership with 25 cities, made for a huge amount of success as 40 individual solar projects were eventually erected. The time has now come for the DOE to build on this success as it brings out a must-have resource for prospective cities: 'Solar Power in Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments.' Speaking with Charlie Hemmeline, head of the project based at the Department, I delved beneath the surface of the next stage of the Solar America Cities Program.
Product Briefing Outline: Wacker is introducing ‘Tectosil,’ a silicone-based elastic polymer sheet, which is thermo-formable and therefore a fast and easy encapsulant process. Tectosil provides sensitive solar cells with effective and long-lasting protection against mechanical and chemical stresses. It is non-corrosive and can be used with any type of module.
Product Briefing Outline: i2S LineScan, Inc., a supplier of on-line and off-line camera based vision systems for optical defect detection and feature metrology, is introducing a thin film photovoltaic application specific machine design, the PV-4000. Utilizing standard software, the inspection system can inspect glass panel, roll-to-roll metallic, or film substrates, and capture images of visual defects or out of dimension features.
Canadian Solar BIPV modules use double low iron tempered glass with solar cells laminated in between, making them ideal for roofs, skylights and/or facades. The modules use double low iron tempered glass with solar cells laminated in between, this means that the fundamental ideal of building material to generate electrical power is now a reality. With a 55W-115W/m2 output depending on cell spacing; the cells are made up of crystalline (mono or poly 125mm/ 156mm).
Product Briefing Outline: System Photonics has introduced a commercial-scale BIPV 'ROOF' collection system that is designed for ventilated façades. The product line uses ceramic materials combined with next-generation crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells to allow for flexibility in design without compromising functionality. These BIPV modules also take advantage of DuPont PV5300 Series encapsulant sheets made of clear, tough ionomer.
Many industries worldwide are paying more attention to their energy supply, moving slowly but surely down renewable avenues. One industry some may be surprised to find investing in the green energy sector is the multi-billion sports industry. Over the last couple of months, more and more sports companies have announced the use of renewable, and in particular solar PV, installations. Among the most recent to announce these initiatives are the UK's Sheffield Wednesday, Barcelona's RCD Espanyol football club and Italy's Bentegodi Stadium in Verona.
Not all the news from First Solar’s second-quarter conference call was good. Granted, the CdTe thin film leader impressed again with its continued benchmark performance on productivity, lowest cost per watt and revenue generation, however the sombre note regarded pricing pressure seen from the traditional c-Si module manufacturers.
Cabot Consultants, the national search firm with practice areas in technology, clean tech, and renewable energy, has announced its first annual list of "Women to Watch in Solar Energy."
Take any market research firm’s data on end-user demand for solar modules and compare that with manufacturing supply and there is a massive gap to the negative, pushing prices lower from bare wafers to modules. Last week, Q-Cells binned its forecast for revenue for 2009, citing continued lack of demand and falling prices due to the competitive landscape caused by overcapacity.
