Product Reviews

Saint-Gobain Solar has launched its ‘SolarBond’ Membrane materials for module lamination process in two models, SolarBond Membrane Standard and SolarBond Membrane Premier. The membrane is designed to protect the module and the lamination equipment in extreme temperatures.

Power-One has introduced its new AURORA ULTRA-1400 central inverter with an output power of up to 1.4MW and is the largest product in the Power-One RE offering for large-scale commercial and utility-grade PV power plants. . Industry-leading power conversion efficiencies of up to 98.7% combined with an extra wide input voltage range and multiple MPPT channels optimize energy harvesting across a wide array of operating conditions.

OM Group has been providing plating solutions to the electronics industries for over 40 years. Through this experience, the Solar Chemicals division has developed a revolutionary Ni/Cu/Ag plating process for plating on top of fine line silver screened pastes. This economical and efficient process provides PV cell manufacturers cost savings while generating cells with higher efficiencies, as well as improved cell-to-cell consistencies.

RENA has launched its ‘monoTEX,’ IPA-free alkaline texturing process for solar cells. has established that this process is key for their breakthrough mono-crystalline cell concept. RENA’s combination of pre-cleaning and monoTEX texturing is claimed to provide a homogeneous surface with a distribution of pyramid sizes that, together with an optimization of the complete process sequence, enables a cell efficiency that is well beyond the 20% mark. RENA claims to be ‘best in class’ with the monoTEX texturing and has already more than 200 million wafers production experience at different customer plants such as California-based TetraSun.

Ferro Electronic Materials is introducing a new optimized paste system to enhance performance of p-type Metal Wrap Through (MWT) cells at the 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC), in Hamburg, Germany. The materials include a next-generation rear silver plug hole paste, high efficiency front silver contact pastes, and a back contact aluminum paste.

Trident Solar has initiated the global launch of its new single-step ‘VersaEtch’ Etchant / n-Dopant material for inkjet selective emitter application of solar front contacts (c-Si) at EU PVSEC. Used with the Trident 256Jet-S printhead, the new VersaEtch Etchant/n-Dopant is claimed to match the enhanced cell efficiency (0.5-1.0%) and precise deposition performance (demonstrated 50 micron print) of other selective emitter approaches, while offering the additional benefits of being non-contact, single-step, and cost-effective. Ink jet doping and etching with VersaEtch is said to be a hybrid tool that can be used together with either screen printing or electroplating of metallized contacts.

Henkel has introduced ‘Loctite 3382’ in an effort to simplify silicon ingot bonding and protect against wafer breakages. Loctite 3382 provides improved bonding strength of the ingot in the sawing process and is de-bondable in hot water. This new bonding solution helps to avoid corrosion of the equipment and is free of caustic odor.

Edwards, a global supplier of vacuum and abatement equipment and services, has introduced the GXS 450 and 750 series of dry-vacuum pumps optimized for solar laminator applications. The new GXS series is claimed to deliver higher throughput and productivity, while at the same time providing a lower cost of ownership.

LayTec launched a new in-line metrology system 'PearL' at the Intersolar Europe 2011. PearL is an optical in-line monitoring system, measuring photoluminescence spectra of CIGS thin-film modules in production lines and is part of the LayTec product line for solar applications. Photoluminescence spectra allow a fast detection of the effective Ga content of the absorber during the production process. A product option for CdTe absorbers is also available.