DISQUS

Mark Wendman · 2 years ago

Back in 2006 I guess I was weatherforcasting a bit, but maybe there was "a grain of silicon" to the purported truths told in my older post. I do think that there will be successes in alternate technologies, but (inexpensive?)low efficiency panels and cell technologies will likely prove marginally viable long term.

Martin Roscheisen talks (?off the record) happily about 12+% efficiency if you ask him about Nanosolar's CIGS, and hopefully it will prove to be true, but if the resulting efficiencies of some of these efforts remains low, say below 10%, the long term business viability will possibly be questionable.

You also have to add Daystar to the list, as they moved from the valley to the east coast, and now seem to be retrenching back here for further (R?&)D after apparently failing reliability testing and delivering low efficiency (? 8% ) which is truly not very good due to significant increases in hardware and panels etc, to deliver a given power capacity ($/Watt increases significantly with lower efficiency panels)

Even Konarka's primary thrust into (low efficiency short lifetime) Polymer PV, is presently overshadowed by their implementing with a partner the Gratzel solar cells in a $100m plant in the UK. These roll to roll processed polymer backplane cells deliver ~11+% and seem to have a pathway to 13-14% using a novel change to the dye composition. What remains unclear if even the Gratzel cell efficiencies quoted will be proven out on the production line later.

There are hints in my older article about various challenges, some proven and others displaced by alternate concerns. Even to make good silicon cells is not trivial...

fun stuff this is.

SB regular · 2 years ago

Concise, well written, informative. Way to go, Matt.

steve hsu · 2 years ago

Applied Materials Names Chris Eberspacher to Lead Advanced Solar Research and Development

Source: BW
Date: 07/16/07

07/16 18:00 Applied Materials Names Chris Eberspacher to Lead Advanced Solar Research and Development

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 16, 2007--

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMAT) announced today that Dr. Chris Eberspacher has joined the company's Solar Business Group to lead advanced R&D programs. In this new role, Dr. Eberspacher will lead efforts for both silicon and non-silicon based solar materials and will report to Dr. Winfried Hoffmann, chief technology officer of Applied's Solar Business Group. Before joining Applied, Dr. Eberspacher was most recently chief scientist at Nanosolar, Inc., a solar start-up focused on roll-to-roll processing of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) products.




"I am pleased to be joining Applied Materials, a world-class manufacturing company uniquely positioned with the expertise, experience and resources necessary to provide the solar industry with the high-volume, low-cost manufacturing infrastructure needed to achieve grid-competitive solar electric power," said Dr. Eberspacher.




Dr. Eberspacher has a doctorate degree in applied physics from Stanford University and brings 25 years of experience in leading edge solar development to Applied Materials. He is well known for his significant contributions to thin-film solar cell technology, in particular solar cells based on thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). Dr. Eberspacher began his career at ARCO Solar, which later became Siemens Solar Industries, where he led development teams in crystalline silicon and thin-film solar cell technologies. Most recently, Dr. Eberspacher delivered pioneering contributions to nanoparticle-based thin-film CIGS solar cell technology at Unisun and Nanosolar.




"We are excited to have Chris join the Applied Materials team at a time of great business and technology momentum for our group," said Charlie Gay, vice president and general manager, Applied Materials Solar Business Group. "He brings a wealth of practical experience in advanced PV technologies that will be critical to delivering next-generation nanomanufacturing innovations that will drive future solar cost reductions."




Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMAT) is the global leader in Nanomanufacturing Technology(TM) solutions with a broad portfolio of innovative equipment, services and software products for the fabrication of semiconductor chips, flat panels, solar photovoltaic cells, flexible electronics and energy efficient glass. At Applied Materials, we apply Nanomanufacturing Technology to improve the way people live. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.


CONTACT: Applied Materials, Inc. David Miller, 408.563.9582 (Business) Betty Newboe, 408.563.0647 (Technical) Randy Bane, 408.986.7916 (Investors) SOURCE: Applied Materials, Inc.Copyright Business Wire 2007

(END)

wiskerbiscuits · 1 year ago

Back in March 2007 CMEA Ventures and Redpoint both private capital Co. raised the $79m for Solyndra Inc. in Fremont CA. AMAT has a strategic partnership with CMEA they both want a piece of the promising CIGS market; however, b/c CIGS substrates are difficult and costly to produce it is a wait and see approach for investors and leading solar producers.
DSTI can't get their CIGS manufacturing rejection rate down to a viable level and are going broke doing it. Miasole can't pull it off either and are laying off staff.
I believe this race will come down to companies like AMAT, HelioVolt, & Nanosolar who have the technology infrastructure background, IP portfolio, & financial resources to scale up the process to commercial afford ability.
This 3rd generation of solar cells coming out of the industry will quickly consolidate to only a hand full of players in less than a decade.
Once the R&D manufacturing phase finishes up then we see who will have the high capacity/low cost CIGS manufacturing capability and the most efficent CIGS solar panel.
In the end; a low cost CIGS collection system that is reliable, scaleable, efficent, and readily available to consumers will grab a good chunk of this market.

gee2010 · 3 months ago

Does anyone know how to create solar cells from scratch...??