Latest Updates: thin film solar RSS

  • Solar at Coal Cost
    09:54:20 am on June 24, 2008 | 0 | # |
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    1366 Technologies a solar energy startup has been named as the best solar energy startup.This event organized at Greentech Media’s PV Annual 2008 conference and 1366 Technologies was named as one of the five top solar startups that presented their technologies and business plans.1366,lead by MIT engineer Ely Sachs has pioneered reduction in cost of multi crystalline solar cells. Multi crystalline solar cells provide greater power output than thin film solar cells.However silicon used in such cells adds to their cost significantly.Sachs method ,increases the efficiency of multi crystalline cells by 25% and also allows for reduction in the manufacturing costs of such cells,thus bringing them closer as an alternative to coal based power.

    1366 Technologies’ goal is to make solar generation as cheap as coal-based energy by 2013," says Dr. Adam Lorenz,  founding member of the company.Adds Lorenz "We intend to take full advantage of the existing infrastructure that supports the manufacture of silicon solar cells. Except for a few key steps, our plants will use standard, commercially available processing equipment"

     
  • Intel To Develop Solar Technology
    01:36:03 pm on June 17, 2008 | 1 | # |
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    Intel has announced a setting up of a new  start up SpectraWatt under its "New Business Initiatives" program.It has also announced a $50 million investment in SpectraWatt and is joined by Cogentrix Energy, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of  Goldman Sachs Group, PCG Clean Energy and Technology Fund (“CETF”) and Solon AG.SpectraWatt will manufacture and supply photovoltaic cells to solar module makers .It is expected that SpectraWatt will break ground on its manufacturing and technology development facility in Oregon in the second half of 2008 with first product shipments by mid-2009.Intel however was tightlipped when it came to which technologies it would focus upon and choose to say that it would focus on "advanced solar technologies" which can mean a whole bunch of things.

    This development comes in heels of IBM‘s decision to partner with Tokyo Ohka Kogyo to improve thin film solar modules.It seems both Intel and IBM plan to leverage their expertise in chip design for advancing solar technology.

     
  • India Goes the Solar Way
    03:58:04 pm on June 9, 2008 | 3 | # |
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    India has also put its belief behind suitability of solar power for energy needs. Moser Baer India,has entered into a MOU with Chennai for investing Rs 2000 crore in a solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing facility.This facility is being planned at the Oragadam-Sriperumbudur SIPCOT SEZ for thin film solar cells.Additionally Moser Baer has also sough 250 acre land in its existing Chennai unit for future expansion plans.Moser Baer is aiming to generate revenues of nearly $1 billion in the coming years through this plant.

    The company is also pursuing crystalline solar technology in addition to thin film solar technology.However Moser Baer ,executive director Mr Puri explains that  Moser Baer India ,is targeting specifically thin film solar technology on account of the temperature conditions in India.Mr Puri highlights “Not only is thin-film growing much more rapidly than crystalline silicon, it is also ideal for India. Crystalline silicon tends to degrade with higher temperature” .

     
  • Solar "Heat" Continues Unabated
    07:17:52 am on June 8, 2008 | 4 | # |
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    Solar energy seems to have found favor with technology developers across the globe.Following the $2 billion investment plans by of UAE based Masdar,German based Q-Cells AG has announced an investment of $3.5 billion in the coming years for building a production capacity for thin film solar modules.This production unit is being planned in the Californian city of Mexicali and is expected to begin production by mid 2009.Thin film solar modules use less quantity of silicon and hence tend to be less expensive than the traditional crystalline solar cells.Stefan Dietich,executive Q-Cells foresees nearly a 20% stake of thin film solar technology in the global energy market by 2010.He however declined to reveal any numbers regarding the anticipated production capacity of Q-Cells proposed facility.

    Q-Cells current production capacities are present only in Germany.The proximity of the Q-Cells proposed production facility in Mexicali ,to the US border will enable it to achieve economical and effective logistics.Thus,this facility may enable Q-Cells to build its presence in the US solar sector in the coming years.

     
  • Solar Sector Heats Up By $2 Billion
    08:18:43 am on June 7, 2008 | 0 | # |
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    UAE  owned Masdar, has announced a whooping $2 billion investment in advancing solar energy technology.Masdar is targeting a a multi phased expansion strategy for manufacturing of thin film solar photovoltaic(PV) modules.The first phases involves investment of $600 million for development of 2 manufacturing facilities ,first one in Germany followed by one in Abu Dhabi.The German facility is expected to go functional by 2009 followed by Abu Dhabi facility in 2010. Masdar, is targeting an annual output of 210MW from both these manufacturing units and further envisages 1 GW of annual production by 2014.It has also entered in an agreement with Applied Materials for supplying SunFab lines to these manufacturing facilities.

    Middle East has been a historic hydrocarbon energy source.However the launch of the launch of such a bold initiative by Abu Dhabi based Masdar in the alternative energy sector, signals the limited supply of hydrocarbon based fuels in the coming years.

     
  • A Power "Plant"
    04:35:31 pm on June 6, 2008 | 0 | # |
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    If you like having potted plants in you home ,then Japan has a gift for you.Now you can satisfy you love for greenery and save on your power bill by producing clean power,both at the same time.Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Mitsubishi Corp, and Tokki Corp,have developed a prototype solar cell module that resembles a potted plant.This prototype solar cell uses organic thin film solar technology to harness solar power.This solar cell consists of a plastic component ,phthalocyanine and fullerene arranged in successive layers .The presence of a thin plastic layer provides stability to the cell structure and also enhances its durability.Serially connected 8 solar cells (7.5cm2 ) make up the complete 60cm2 solar cell module.

    The research team further plans to use this technology in utilities such as walls ,windows, clothing materials, leisure goods, and even toys .Thus further enhancement of this technology may even transform power guzzling applications to power generating sources.

     
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