Thin Epitaxial Silicon Solar Cell Milestone Completed
Crystal Solar has completed a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded
Incubator project regarding technology development and manufacturing
cost-effectiveness of epitaxial solar cells and modules. Thin epitaxial
silicon solar cell technology has the capability to improve the way
silicon is made by eliminating many steps in the current process flow
while retaining the high efficiency of mono-crystalline silicon.
They
estimate this could result in reduction of module costs by
approximately 50% from today's levels to ~$0.40/W, enabling the cost of
solar power to become comparable to existing energy costs in most parts
of the world.
During the eighteen month period of this project,
Crystal Solar demonstrated multiple cell architectures which allow
high-efficiency solar panels, developed and productized industrial grade
production tools for the manufacture of cost-effective Epi Thin Silicon
technology, and completed detailed blue prints for a 100 MW factory.
Scientists from DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) worked
with Crystal Solar in providing overall guidance, assisting with
advanced processing and metrology, and verifying the efficiency and
reliability of the prototype solar panels. Crystal Solar also
collaborated with Georgia Institute of Technology in the silicon solar
cell processing during this project.
Crystal Solar is currently
commercializing this Epi Thin-Silicon technology and plans to complete
pilot production in 2013, followed by high volume manufacturing in
2014.
Wow! this is exactly what we need in the Solar Energy Industry. Costs are roughly floating above 2$ a watt for installers and of course consumers are paying 4-6$ depending on the panels. This is great news!
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