Siva Power claims 18.8% lab CIGS efficiency

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

US-based start-up, Siva Power formerly Solexant, has reported a CIGS cell efficiency of 18.8% that it claims was verified by NREL in December 2013.

The company did provide further details on the cell dimensions or specifications, but touted that it had come close to equalling record cell efficiencies previously reported by the US NREL, the Swiss laboratory, EMPA and ZSW in Germany.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Siva Power noted that it employs a three-stage co-evaporation process that was also used for the majority of previous CIGS cell records.

Charlie Gay joins Siva

The company also announced that former head of Applied Materials PV operations and a former NREL director, Charlie Gay, had agreed to join its Technical Advisory Board.

“I am honoured to join such an experienced team with Beck, Noufi, and Benner,” said Dr. Gay.  “Collectively, they represent one of the most experienced groups ever assembled for CIGS technology and high volume manufacturing.”

Siva Power is targeting mass production of CIGS thin-film modules with sub-US$0.40 per watt costs.

Update
 
Markus Beck, CTO of Siva, told Eric Wesoff from Greentechmedia (GTM) that the verified CIGS solar cell was a 0.5cm2 sample.
 
To prove its production scale capabilities a <0.002mm thin obsorber layer was deposited, generating a cell with 11 millivolts, GTM reported. A fill factor of 79% was claimed by Siva. 

Read Next

Premium
April 29, 2025
“There is an adjustment in the industry [where] there are cycles,” explains Laura Fortes, senior manager for access to finance at GOGLA.
April 29, 2025
Solar cannot be regarded as a 'set and forget' technology and must be fully maintained to prevent systemic underperformance.
April 29, 2025
Spanish inverter manufacturer Ingeteam has secured a contract from Danish developer European Energy to supply its technology to two solar PV power plants in Australia, totalling an installed generation capacity of 137MW.
April 28, 2025
Fraunhofer ISE has developed a solar cell which uses “one-tenth” of the amount of silver as a standard cell.
Premium
April 28, 2025
Carrie Xiao assesses the impact of Chinese policy changes as developers rush to complete projects before rules change and module prices go up.
April 28, 2025
Beleaguered Norwegian silicon producer REC Silicon has received a buyout offer from its largest shareholder, Hanwha Corporation.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 29, 2025
Dallas, Texas
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
May 7, 2025
Munich, Germany
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK