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THINFILM
frontal sections because of a specially treated
surface and thinner electric contacts. This brings
up efficiency from 15.2 to 17.5 per cent for
multicrystalline cells and from 17.2 to 19 per cent
for monocrystalline makes. Their manufacturing
process builds on German know how: in 2008
Suntech took over KSL Kuttler, a Black Forest
equipment maker. The latter supplies equipment
and automation sets for making Pluto cells.
Issue V 2009
Experts also view so-called back contact cells as
offering great potential. Bus bars and contacts are
no longer to be found at the front but rather at the
back side of solar cells, thus enlarging the solar-
active surface of these modules. A US-based
company, Sunpower, the leading manufacturer of
-pv-management.com backside collectors, already produces cells with
efficiencies of more than 20 per cent. Modules
.solar
Handle with care: because of this that scientists are of the opinion using these cells reach efficiency levels of 19.6 per
www
Careful intermediate that also in future there will be no way of cent and generate 315 watt of electricity. There is
storage procedures bypassing conventional solar techniques. As Mr. no stronger module.
34
after semiconductor Stefan Glunz, head of the division of development
coating. (source: and research into the properties of silicon solar Falling silicon prices
Oerlikon Solar) cells of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy The drop in silicon prices is a boon for companies
Systems ISE at Freiburg (Germany), puts it: in this sector. Semiconductor demand had
“Crystalline silicon cells will continue playing their increased so strongly over the past few years that
dominant role”. manufacturers could hardly keep pace with their
output. In 2008 this brought spot market prices up
This means that there is intense competition at the to USD 400 (about € 285) a kilo. Now, silicon
high end of the efficiency scales. Research prices are dropping significantly below that as the
workers from the University of New South Wales, solar energy sector does not longer grow that
Sydney, Australia, managed 24.7 per cent rapidly because of the crisis. According to iSupply,
Semiconductor efficiency under laboratory conditions using a a market researcher, the price stood at only USD
checkup: A member monocrystalline cell, and industry is moving closer 75 (about € 53) in June this year and there is a
of staff of China’s and closer to this world record. Suntech Power, for tendency for that price to drop even further.
Suntech Power instance, a Chinese solar energy company, this
company preparing summer offers a module generating seven per cent Manufacturers of thin-film modules will therefore
a wafer for cell more electricity than its most highly performing face fierce battles to retain or conquer market
processing. panel before. The core elements of their new shares. To begin with, their technology may face
(Source: Suntech technology are what they call Pluto cells, difficulties where large outputs are to be generated
Power) innovative elements, absorbing more light at their from a small surface area, because of fairly low
efficiencies. House owners in countries, where
solar energy enjoys active promotion, such as
Germany, will instead prefer putting crystalline
silicon panels on their roofs, because these simply
generate more electricity per square metre of roof
area and also result in higher compensation for
electricity fed into the grid.
The latter will be more than enough to offset the
pricing disadvantage as compared to thin-film
collectors. These, however, will find short-term
chances on large industrial and commercial roofs
or in free-range areas offering plenty of space and
where there is less pressure on generating
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