Solar ♦ news digest
place as well as the Grand Prize of $10,000 and a visit to Ascent’s world headquarters and manufacturing facility in Colorado.
Second place was awarded to the team from University of California Berkeley, who developed a scalable system of solar panels with a unique, flexible attachment method. Third place went to the team from Texas A&M University for their development of a solar integrated beach umbrella.
The competition, which began in August, 2011, included teams from Boston University, San Diego State University, Texas A&M University, University of California Berkeley and two teams from the University of Orego. The aim was to develop the most innovative applications for Ascent’s lightweight and flexible CIGS solar panels.
The teams each developed working prototypes of their designs, which were enabled using lightweight, flexible, glass-free solar modules provided by Ascent Solar. In addition, Ascent provided financial support to the teams allowing them to fully explore the full potential of portable power.
Say hello to MoTa : the corrosion-resistant material for CIGS
Molybdenum mixed with small amounts of tantalum combine the advanced properties of both metals as a back contact for CIGS solar cells
Thanks to its good adhesion to glass and a high electrical conductivity, molybdenum is the back contact material in CIGS solar cells.
However, exposed to corrosive atmospheres molybdenum can be prone to oxidation.
In order to avoid negative effects during the manufacturing process and solar module operation, Plansee has developed a material with improved corrosion resistance.
The company alloys pure molybdenum with small amounts of corrosion-resistant tantalum, thereby combining the advanced properties of both metals. Plansee says the superior corrosion resistance of molybdenum-tantalum (MoTa) has been proven in numerous tests.
Mill Creek Solar Farm (credit : juwi solar)
The Mill Creek Solar Farm will provide enough emission-free electricity to power about 575 average-size homes. The project illustrates PSE&G’s commitment to solar power and the ever- growing significance of CIS technology in the industry. The Mill Creek Solar Farm is claimed to be the largest project of any thin-film solar technology in the state.
Plansee’s MoTa
Particularly on polymer-based substrates like polyimide, the high water and oxygen permeation can result in an increased
“This is another milestone for Solar Frontier in the U.S. market,” says Greg Ashley, COO of Solar Frontier Americas. “With juwi’s experience, expertise and proven track record, Solar Frontier has all the more confidence in providing economical and ecological solar energy in large-scale solar photovoltaic projects like this PSE&G project in New Jersey.” “We are proud to have worked closely with Solar Frontier on its first deployment of modules to a large-scale utility project in the U.S.,” says Michael Martin, CEO of juwi solar. “We firmly believe performance will meet or exceed our clients’
April/May 2012
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corrosion of the CIGS back contact. With its higher corrosion resistance MoTa can minimise this effect.
But according to Plansee, MoTa is not just suitable as a back contact material. On flexible substrates like stainless steel foil and polyimide the new alloy can function as a corrosion resistant contact and protective layer. It effectively protects the backside of the stainless steel web during the selenisation step in the CIGS manufacturing process.
Solar Frontier supplies 3.8 MW to CIS solar plant in New Jersey
Approximately 29,400 CIS thin-film solar modules will be installed at the Mill Creek Solar Farm in, New Jersey. The solar farm will provide enough emission-free electricity to power about 575 homes
Solar Frontier has supplied modules to a 3.8 MW installation for Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey’s oldest and largest regulated gas and electricity utility. Solar Frontier supplied approximately 29,400 CIS thin-film solar modules to the Mill Creek Solar Farm in Burlington County, New Jersey. The solar farm is part of PSE&G’s Solar 4 All program and was developed, designed, and built by juwi solar Inc (JSI).
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