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Suniva Inc. announced that its R&D team has developed several silicon solar cells in its lab with more than 20% conversion efficiencies using its patented combination of cell designs and screen printing technologies.
Suniva Produces Screen Printed Solar Cells with Record 20% Efficiency
University of Utah engineers devised a new way to slice thin wafers of the chemical element germanium for use in the most efficient type of solar cells. They say the new method should lower the cost of such cells by reducing the waste and breakage of the brittle semiconductor.
Engineers have devised a new way to slice thin wafers of the chemical element germanium for use in the most efficient type of solar power cells. They say the new method should lower the cost of such cells by reducing the waste and breakage of the brittle semiconductor.
Slicing Solar Power Costs: New Method Cuts Waste In Making Most Efficient Solar Cells
Product Briefing Outline: Adept Technology has launched its ‘Adept Quattro’ s650 robot that comes with a Bernoulli gripper. The new system integrates high resolution inspection with high speed solar cell handling. The Quattro robot is claimed to be the world’s fastest robot with over 200 systems sold worldwide. The Bernoulli gripper combined with the Quattro robot creates an effective method for manipulating solar cells without the potential for product damage.
New Product: Adept Technology’s new robot streamlines solar cell production
Solar company “BioSolar“ is a company that produces “bio-based” materials from renewable plant sources. This technology reduces the cost per watt of producing solar cells. The company has made a new “backsheet” which is a protective covering used in the production of solar cells. They produce their “Biobacksheet” product from these plant resources. Most backsheets are made of petroleum-based materials resulting in a higher cost.
For the past year and a half BioSolar has managed to keep the “secret” to their ability to produce solar cells at a lower cost. They revealed their new technology at a solar symposium in San Diego. The plants they are using to get the cost down are cotton and caster beans. They have patents pending on the different processes they use and as a result feel more comfortable revealing their information publicly.
Read the rest of the article at Marketwatch.
Photo courtesy of BioSolar
Product Briefing Outline: Enerize Corporation has developed a new design for photovoltaic (PV) modules using a proprietary transparent polymer material that is claimed to outperform glass conventionally used as a protective covering. The proprietary polymer material is highly transparent, and stable under UV and ionizing radiation exposure. The new highly transparent polymer material can be applied directly to the PV module surface at low temperatures, eliminating the need for the adhesives required with glass and some other polymers. Evaluation of the new Enerize polymer encapsulation materials has been carried out using PV modules that include up to 5 solar cells with a surface area of 72 cm2 each.
New Product: Transparent polymer protective covering from Enerize boosts PV module efficiencies
Product Briefing Outline: MANZ print station powered by Optomec Aerosol Jet
Manz offers a new print station for contact-less printing of crystalline solar cells using OPTOMEC Aerosol Jet technology and will be the exclusive sales and marketing partner for the Optomec solar applications. Optomec has developed an advanced contact free metallization process for crystalline solar cells. Manz will integrate the Optomec technology into its back end line platform.
New Product: MANZ/Optomec Aerosol Jet technology prints features below 40 microns
Product Briefing Outline: The MANZ I-series, backend-line, has a throughput of 2400 cells/ hour, and is claimed to be the fastest backend system available in the market today. One single system includes printing, firing, laser edge isolation, cell testing and sorting for crystalline solar cells. Cell manufacturers are able to buy the system including all options such as firing and testing, as a one shop solution from MANZ. The specific design and the very low breakage rates of the system are designed to improve productivity and lowers cost of ownership (CoO).
New Product: MANZ complete Back-end line offers throughput of 2400 cells/ hour
Veeco Instruments Inc. (Nasdaq: VECO), announced today the introduction of its FastFlex line of Web Coating Systems ideally suited for manufacturing CIGS solar cells (those using copper, indium, gallium and selenium).
A new way to help technologists develop efficient and inexpensive plastic electronic devices, such as plastic solar cells and a new type of transistor has been developed. As the probe bobs up and down the force required to keep it oscillating at a steady rate changes measurably, which tells the scientists about the nature of the scanned surface. By using different vibration frequencies, it is possible obtain nanoscale measurements on materials.
Better Technology For Developing Plastic Solar Cells And Plastic Electronic Devices Created
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