news digest ♦ Solar Solar
MiaSolé CIGS large module raises the bar with 15.5% efficiency
The firm says the latest efficiency gains in large area flexible PV modules has set a new industry benchmark
CIGS developer MiaSolé, has announced that the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has confirmed a 15.5 percent aperture area efficiency on one of its commercial size flexible PV modules.
MiaSolé says this result, for the module measuring 1.68m2, represents over two points of improvement compared to the previous world record for flexible PV of 13.4% set earlier this year.
“Achieving 15.5 percent efficiency is a clear validation of MiaSolé’s unique and innovative approach to delivering high efficiency CIGS flexible cell technology,” says John Carrington, CEO of MiaSolé.
“MiaSolé’s world leading efficiency and low cost flexible PV technology demonstrates the potential of CIGS compared to silicon-based and other thin film technologies.”
MiaSolé believes its proprietary cell technology is creating new and compelling opportunities for its customers by bringing high efficiencies to flexible applications. Companies in the building, vehicle and fabric integrated PV markets that were previously unable to realise the potential of solar, can now explore new and innovative applications for high efficiency, flexible solar panels.
“Along with our current capacity to deliver 14.5 percent glass modules, the NREL verification of our flexible modules highlights the progress we are continuously making against our efficiency roadmap and goal of delivering the lowest levelised cost of electricity to our customers,” adds Carrington.
The cells for the device were made using MiaSolé’s existing production lines in Santa Clara, California. The firm’s large area flexible PV module was
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submitted for evaluation by NREL as part of the company’s ongoing process for third party verification.
SoloPower secures another $7.1 million for CIGS development
The CIGS solar panel manufacturer should do well although prices of conventional silicon solar panels are continuing to shrink
CIGS Solar firm SoloPower is building and staffing a $340 million manufacturing facility in North Portland.
The company last year finalised a $197 million loan guarantee.
The firm says the $20 million round of debt and options closed in December by SoloPower CEO Tim Harris was a “critical step” towards completing the Portland facility. This week’s financing is a follow-up to the December round.
SoloPower has a number of investors, which include Hudson Clean Energy Partners and Crosslink Capital.
While there have been a number of high-profile loan guarantee-backed flameouts, such as Solyndra, Harris has been adamant that SoloPower is advancing quickly and will be successful.
SoloPower reckons its flexible CIGS solar panels are lighter and easier to install than rack-mounted arrays of silicon-based photovoltaics.
But as Greentech Media’s Eric Wesoff points out, the company is wading into a so far unproven market and with the price of conventional silicon solar panels continuing to shrink, its value proposition may be on the decline as well.
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