SunPower has launched its ‘Helix’ platform that is claimed to be the world's first fully-integrated commercial solar solution combining PV power production and energy management. Every component is said to be precision-engineered for fast installation, long-term reliability and features snap-in panel installation, a plug-and-play electrical system, and a fully ballasted power station.
Despatch Industries has introduced its patent-pending in-line ‘PowerLock’ LID (Light Induced Degradation) prevention technology that eliminates the need for material handling that can retrofitted into existing Despatch tools and will be offered on all ‘Safire’ firing furnaces.
Korean-based equipment supplier WONIK IPS has developed a turnkey CIGS thin-film technology from previous collaborations with Samsung. WONIK IPS has taken over all of the CIGS technology and IP acquired by Samsung SDI during its intensive and long-running CIGS R&D development phase.
Luvata has launched an online solar ribbon calculator called the Sunwire Calculator. The Sunwire Calculator enables photovoltaic module manufacturers to make more informed decisions concerning their solar ribbon needs such as weight, ribbon length per spool and ribbon length per solar panel. ‘Sunwire’ is Luvata’s branded photovoltaic solar ribbon.
HORIBA has developed a Phosphorus Oxychloride (POCl3) delivery systems that is being implemented for atmospheric and low pressure diffusion furnaces in Europe and Asia. The system comprises HORIBA’s advanced bubblers mounted in the diffusion furnace linked to HORIBA’s automatic bulk refill system. More than 120 production furnace tubes are running with the HORIBA system with a further 100 tubes installed before the end of 2015, according to the company.
RENA’s ‘InCellPlate Cu’ inline equipment for direct plating of a Ni/Cu/Ag stack on silicon, when combined with laser ablation of the silicon nitride layer and subsequent inline anneal, is said to provide complete front-side metallization for solar cell manufacturing. Compared with screen-printing, the technology allows cutting the cell production cost by US$0.06 (cents) and at the same time offers potential for cell efficiency improvement.
JA Solar Holdings one of the world's largest manufacturers of high-performance PV modules has announced the availability of a new line of easy-to-install Spice Solar frames for the US market. JA Solar modules with Spice frames install faster than ordinary modules with fewer parts, saving rooftop installers time and money on every job.
centrotherm photovoltaics is offering a one-step PECVD aluminum axide (AlOx/SiNx) process upgrade for advanced solar cell concepts such as PERC that are applied in mono and multicrystalline cell processing. The centrotherm direct plasma process provides superior dielectric AlOx/SiNx stacks with excellent passivation properties and is said to be the fastest and easiest way to start PERC solar cell manufacturing in a cost effective way.
REC Solar’s ‘TwinPeak’ multicrystalline module series combines a number of enhancements to provide 280 watt peak (Wp) performance. The new module features 120 half-cut multicrystalline cells, four bus bars, passivated emitter rear cell (PERC) technology, and a split junction box. Together, these technologies enhance power output by around 10Wp per module.
Belectric’s Energy Buffer Unit (EBU) has been successfully prequalified for 1.3MW frequency response by a German transmission network operator (TNO) that provides frequency response balancing for reliable grid operation when taking into account large quantities of renewable energy being connected to grid. Belectric’s EBU system delivers a state-of-the-art battery based energy storage system in a container solution.
