Latest Updates: solar cells RSS

• Ceramic Alternative for Solar Cells
  Srikant Rajan 04:54:56 pm on September 14, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: glass, morgan technical ceramics, PV, silica, solar cells, solar energy, tfpv, thin film solar

  No more looking around for silicon for expensive solar cells.Morgan Technical Ceramics , a specialist in engineering of ceramic components is engaging with PV manufacturers across the globe , supplying components for fabricating of both silicon and non-silicon based thin film solar PV cells.Non silicon based thin film Pv are manufactured by a a process similar to the manufacturing of architectural glass.This process involves fused silica rollers that are used to move the hot glass panels through the deposition process. In Thin Film Photovoltaic cells (TFPV) deposition equipment, precursor vapors and gases are transported from a source vessel through a deposition zone onto a heated glass substrate to deposit the PV layer. Morgan Technical Ceramics produces a number of components used in this part of the TFPV process.

  The advantage of using silica for manufacturing of TFPV is its high thermal stability and low coefficient of thermal expansion which is advantageous in high temperature manufacturing process.The use of ceramics my make it possible to reduce the overall cost of manufacturing TFPVs thus , making them a viable alternative to conventional power sources.

   

• Marine Transport Goes Solar
  Srikant Rajan 04:47:02 pm on September 6, 2008 | 2 | # |
  Tags: marine transport, solar cells, solar energy, toyota

  In a distinct departure from solar energy’s historical use a Japanese based firm is planning to use solar power to propel a ship.This project would involve equipping a freighter capable of carrying 6400 automobiles with a mind boggling 328 solar panel.This ambitious project is estimated to cost $1.3 million and  would be used by Toyota Motor Corp for transporting vehicles.

  This is a bold attempt that would help in gauging potential roadblocks in commercialization of solar panels.The conditions in water would are different from land based utilities particularly on account of rapid shakes and thrusts due to ship motion.Thus use of solar panels in such conditions may allow for designing shock resistant and durable solar panels.However there wont be any solar powers ships in the sea soon as this system is expected to contribute just .2% of the ship propulsion power.Additionally due to a low power capacity there wouldn’t be any major impact on the carbon emission front too.

   

• Crystalline Solar Cells Get $9.5 Million
  Srikant Rajan 12:20:47 pm on August 5, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: concentrated solar power, crystalline solar cell, funding, solar cells, thin film solar, wakonda

  Yet another solar startup has plans to unveil the “ god" “ of solar cells.Wakonda Technologies has secured $9.5 million to pursue the development of solar power.Wakonda plans to advance crystalline solar technology to produce cells that offer  30 % energy conversion efficiency(yes that is three and zero kind!)Essentially ,  Wakonda plans to use the crystals used in high end satellites , strip them down and put them back together using inexpensive materials.Thus maintaining the performance level and cutting down the costs significantly.Wakonda an NREL award recipient , describes this technology as “ virtual single crystal (that) uses a proprietary surface treatment that allows a low cost, commercial metal foil to simulate an expensive single crystal wafer “

  Most of the money in the market is being directed towards thin film solar cells that are inexpensive , but low on efficiency.Another technology is the concentrated solar power technology which has slowly been gaining momentum.However Wakonda’s approach aims at a sizable improvement in efficiency ( not just a couple of points ) and may just result in a breakthrough.

   

• Forget Silicon For Solar Cells, Look For Gases !
  Srikant Rajan 05:21:36 pm on July 23, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: linde group, silane gas, solar cells, solar manufacture, thin film solar

  Silicon costs are a major contributor to expensive  solar cells. However manufacturing processes and inputs such as industrial gases also add to the cost of manufacture significantly ,especially when the volume of production is large. Gases such as silane and nitroflouride make nearly 17 % of silicon thin film manufacturing cost . The Linde group says that alteration of the gases in manufacturing process might lead to millions in savings particularly at high volume manufacturing. Anish Tolia, market development manager for gas supplier Linde , predicts  that  gas-related improvements could directly cut costs by 8 cents per watt. Additionally the gases could also increase speed of production could reduce another  of 5 cents per watt, .Tolia adds, “ Even if it’s a few cents per watt, at the 1-gigawatt scale, we’re talking about real money "

  Altering manufacturing inputs makes sense too as the demand for inputs is bound to increase dramatically. Silane in particular is expected to be in high demand with the plethora of manufacturing facilities being planned across the globe. Anticipating this high demand , Linde group is planning a new Silane plant expected to begin production in early 2009.

   

• A “ Window “ that Produces Power
  Srikant Rajan 12:40:13 pm on July 14, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: covalent solar, dye solar, MIT, solar cells, solar concentrator, solar energy, solar window

  Now it may not be all that “ cool ” to close that window in your room ,if you are serious about reducing your power consumption and going green at the same time. Researchers at MIT are currently investigating a technology that allows power generation by adding certain additives to windows in buildings. This process utilizes solar cells that are placed at the glass edges as opposed to spreading them across the flat surface of the glass. This allows reduction in silicon used in solar cells, thus lowering their costs. A further improvement is a method to force sunlight to window edges (where solar cells are placed), filter and concentrate it to generate power.

  Silicon costs have been a major factor driving up the prices of solar energy. This approach eliminates requirement of large quantities of silicon in addition to doing away with supporting mirrors, lenses and trackers. However the quantity of power generated may not be adequate to prompt installation of this system. MIT researchers, however, plan to start a venture -  Covalent Solar to further refine this technology and anticipate a commercial product within 3 years.