European PV manufacturers continue to lead the United States

The United States may in the R & D leader in solar technology, but has been in the manufacturing process behind it, such as Germany, China and Japan this country.

According to iSuppli Corp's report, these countries have gone before in the United States; and Germany and Europe as a result of long-term commitment to solar energy, Germany occupied the fast-growing alternative energy market leader position.

"Actively develop solar energy in Europe earlier, is now the return to the region in the production of photovoltaic cells in a leading position in the world, it is possible to save electricity costs 300 billion euros," iSuppli senior director of photovoltaic and chief analyst Henning Wicht said.

According to data from iSuppli, the supply of 2008-watt photovoltaic count, the European firms of the global photovoltaic cells 27.4%, slightly higher than China's 25.8 percent, and far more than Japan's 16.2% and 13.7% of the United States. The market research firm reports that in 2008 more than 80% of the world's new installation of photovoltaic power generation capacity in Europe, Germany and Spain to occupy new PV capacity in Europe 84%.

"In addition to PV cell manufacturing in the production of the world's leading, the largest in Europe or the application of the installation of solar electricity market," Wicht said. "It is no coincidence that, with Europe over the past 20 years by various government, research institutions and close co-operation between the industry, to reach today's situation." Spare no effort to develop solar power in Europe, mainly based on the European economy out of hydrocarbon-based compounds rely on electricity, while the creation of employment and the establishment of a globally competitive new industries.

Source: www.windosi.com May. 9, 2009

Stepped down from the roof of the ultra-thin solar cells

May 7 message to the University of Illinois Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, headed by John A. Rogers of the research team using a standard printing developed a semi-transparent ultra-thin solar cell, the thickness of less than conventional batteries very Semiconductor 1. According to "The New York Times" reported that this highly flexible battery, it can be printed on the multi-volume plastic surface, it can also be a personalized T-shirts on the signs, even on the tightly wound in the pen.

United States University of California, Berkeley electrical engineer and assistant professor Ali Javey in "Nature Materials" on the comment pointed out that the rigidity of traditional silicon solar cells are heavy and opaque, because of its stability and efficiency advantages in the market to occupy a leading status. However, the brittleness of silicon also limit the scope of its application. Rogers's research results for the mass production of a highly efficient and flexible solar cell provides a new program, in the future it is expected to replace the current fixed at the roof of the solar power device.

At present, the technology has been licensed to North Carolina, Durham, NC-based semiconductor company Semprius, the company plans to produce in a year of battery-related components. At the same time, Semprius solar arrays is also committed to research and development technology. CEO Joe Carr said the solar energy business opportunities in many areas of the Semprius almost overwhelmed, and its potential customers include a number of automotive companies, which want the new battery to make the roof, photovoltaic modules related to the ongoing development.

Source: www.windosi.com May. 7, 2009

South Korea will be an organic thin-film solar cell conversion efficiency increased to 6.1%

Silicon industry online news May 5th Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), researchers announced that it will single-junction thin-film organic solar cell conversion efficiency of the unit increased to 6.1%. Related papers published in the April 26 of the academic journal "Nature Photonics" on. The conversion efficiency of solar cells also received authority to verify one of National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL certification.

GIST of the solar cell from the Kwang-hee Lee and the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) Alan J. Heeger led a research team from the joint development. The group in 2007, a cascade system for organic thin film solar cells, conversion efficiency of 6.5%.

The development of the goods but not a single junction cascade solar cell. Formed in the semiconductor layer using the PCDTBT and Bulk Hetero structure PC70BM layer. It features open up a larger voltage. In particular, it is 425 ~ 575nm wavelength green light, the internal quantum efficiency as high as 90%.

Specific measurements below 6.1% conversion efficiency, open voltage (Voc) for the 0.88V, short-circuit current density (Jsc) for 10.6mA/cm2, form factor (FF) 0.66. These are in the AM (Air Quality) for 1.5G, the incident light intensity measured under the conditions of 100mW/cm2 results.

Source: www.windosi.com May. 5, 2009

Optics Valley of China to introduce the world's leading photovoltaic technology

May 1 news yesterday, the United States and China Evergreen Solar Donghu Development Zone in the Greenway Solar formally hand, Optics Valley will be 450 million U.S. dollars investment in the construction of factories, the formation of perfect "solar silicon - battery - components - engineering," industrial chain.

It is reported that the cooperation between the two sides, Evergreen Solar will be the building of Optics Valley Czochralski polysilicon film ribbon factories, a total investment of 450 million U.S. dollars, for the Greenway Solar provides the world's unique technology to produce silicon. Components of solar cells in 2012 to reach 500 MW capacity. After a completed and put into production in 2010 and added value of up to 20 billion, could provide more than 1000 jobs. Cooperation between the two sides, also marks the first time the world's leading photovoltaic technology to China.

Source: www.windosi.com May. 1, 2009