PV-TEC: Service centre for solar cell production on an industrial scale

In March, PV-TEC (representing an investment of 14 million euros) was officially opened, the only service centre of its kind in the world, offering solar cell production on an industrial scale. Its purpose is to accelerate technology transfer from the laboratory to the industry. Last year, the spin-off company, Concentrix Solar GmbH, was created to introduce solar power stations based on high-performance solar cells and optical concentrator systems to the market.

14 official spin-off companies with nearly 100 employees have been founded by the Institute. A notable number of staff members have accepted positions at universities or in industry. Former employees are now active in energy utilities, manufacturing companies or professional associations.

New Institute Director Prof. Eicke Weber, Prof. Luther will retire from leading the Institute

Fraunhofer ISE has played an important role in ensuring that regenerative energy is treated seriously as a scientific and an economic subject. Goetzberger had to overcome considerable resistance in 1981 to found a Fraunhofer Institute - with 18 members of staff. Solar energy was considered to be slightly eccentric and certainly not of interest to industry. Today, Fraunhofer ISE is supporting the newly created industry in its technological leadership. The Institute celebrated its 25th anniversary as part of the "Freiburger Solarnacht" on 23rd June, 2006. On 1st July, Prof. Eicke Weber will become the new Institute Director, Prof. Luther (born 1941) will retire from leading the Institute.

Fraunhofer ISE (06/30/2006)

REPORT: BIOFUELS POISED TO DISPLACE OIL

Biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel can significantly reduce global dependence on oil, according to a new report by the Worldwatch Institute, released in collaboration with the German Agencies for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and Renewable Resources (FNR). Last year, world biofuel production surpassed 670,000 barrels per day, the equivalent of about 1 percent of the global transport fuel market. Although oil still accounts for more than 96 percent of transport fuel use, biofuel production has doubled since 2001 and is poised for even stronger growth as the industry responds to higher fuel prices and supportive government policies. “Coordinated action to expand biofuel markets and advance new technologies could relieve pressure on oil prices while strengthening agricultural economies and reducing climate-altering emissions,” says Worldwatch Institute President Christopher Flavin.

Biofuels to replace 20–30 percent of the oil used in European Union countries within the next 25 years

Brazil is the world’s biofuel leader, with half of its sugar cane crop providing more than 40 percent of its non-diesel transport fuel. In the United States, where 15 percent of the corn crop provides about 2 percent of the non-diesel transport fuel, ethanol production is growing even more rapidly. This surging growth may allow the U.S. to overtake Brazil as the world’s biofuel leader this year. Both countries are now estimated to be producing ethanol at less than the current cost of gasoline. Figures cited in the report reveal that biofuels could provide 37 percent of U.S. transport fuel within the next 25 years, and up to 75 percent if automobile fuel economy doubles. Biofuels could replace 20–30 percent of the oil used in European Union countries during the same time frame.

Agricultural and ecological risks

As the first-ever global assessment of the potential social and environmental impacts of biofuels, "Biofuels for Transportation" warns that the large-scale use of biofuels carries significant agricultural and ecological risks. “It is essential that government incentives be used to minimize competition between food and fuel crops and to discourage expansion onto ecologically valuable lands,” says Worldwatch Biofuels Project Manager Suzanne Hunt. However, the report also finds that biofuels have the potential to increase energy security, create new economic opportunities in rural areas, and reduce local pollution and emissions of greenhouse gases.

Download the report summaries: http://www.worldwatch.org/taxonomy/term/445

Worldwatch Institute (06/27/2006)

DayStar achieves advanced performance with CIGS solar cells

DayStar Technologies, Inc. (Halfmoon, NY; NASDAQ: DSTI), a developer and manufacturer of innovative Photovoltaic Foil products, on June 15th revealed key performance milestones on TerraFoil cells produced using each of their three production line processes. Recent results from measurements performed in DayStar’s characterization laboratory had shown solar cells produced from its Gen I line achieved 16.9 percent total area conversion efficiencies on (1.1 cm2) glass substrates and 15.7 percent on flexible metal substrates, the company states in a press release. Similar size TerraFoil cells made on their commercial-scale Gen II platform have achieved 13 percent efficiencies. However, the most significant achievement was the demonstration of a 13.5 percent larger area device (14 cm2) produced using processes being developed for their high-capacity Gen IIIä production platform, DayStar emphasizes.

DayStar has engaged in a multi-generational solar cell development and production strategy. The Company presently operates two separate cell lines (Gen I and Gen II) in their Halfmoon, NY facility as a means of demonstrating product capability and low volume manufacturing techniques. Volume manufacturing and increased capacity will occur with the development and operation of their more advanced Gen III, roll-to-roll production platform, planned for implementation in early 2007.

DayStar Technologies, Inc (06/21/2006)

IEA: Solar thermal market grows 10 times faster
than overall economy

This year’s edition of the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme’s, "Solar Heat Worldwide: Markets and Contributions to the Energy Supply 2004", reports that the solar thermal sector has become a market leader in the past five years, growing 10 times faster than the overall economy. The annual collector yield (energy produced) in 2004 was 58,117 GWh – an oil equivalent of 9.3 billion liters and annual avoidance of 25.4 million tons of CO2 emissions. Initial 2005 data estimates an annual collector yield of 68 GWh, second only to wind:

Cumulative Capacity (yellow; GW) 2005 and annually energy generated (green; TWh).

Sources: Fawer,M.: Sarasin Sustainability Report 2005 / IEA/SHC 2006

98.4 GWth installed solar thermal capacity in 2004

Statistics in this report are based on data collected from 41 countries, representing about 57% of the world’s population and 85-90% of the solar thermal market. Data show that the installed capacity in 2004 was 98.4 GWth. Concerning the installed capacity per 100,000 inhabitants leading countries were Cyprus at 63 MWth, Israel at 52 MWth, Greece, Austria and Barbados at 19 MWth. The Most dynamic market was China with an average growth rate of 25 % annually between 1999 and 2004 and representing 44% of the world market. China was followed by Australia and New Zealand at 19 % and Europe at 13 %.

Solar Heat Report to download at IEA's website

The IEA Solar Heating & Cooling Programme, www.iea-shc.org, is committed to expanding the market share of solar energy. By tracking the changes in the solar thermal market, the Programme is drawing the world’s attention to solar energy as an environmentally sound source for heating and cooling. The Solar Heat Report is published annually and can be downloaded from the SHC web site, http://www.iea-shc.org.
IEA / SHC (06/07/2006)

European Solar Thermal Technology Platform launched with support of Commissioner Piebalgs

The European Solar Thermal Technology Platform (ESTTP) was officially launched in Brussels on May 31st 2006. ESTTP was set-up to develop a comprehensive strategy for research and market deployment of solar thermal technologies in Europe. Commissioner Piebalgs welcomed the initiative of the solar thermal industry and research sector. He said that the ESTTP was “vital to secure the competitiveness of our industry ”.

Vision 2030: Active Solar Building entirely heated and cooled by solar thermal energy

The official launch of the Platform followed almost one year of preparation and discussion on the Solar Thermal Vision 2030, which was developed by industry and research institutes from all around Europe. This document outlines the sector’s vision for the future use of solar thermal energy. For the building sector, which is responsible for 40% of Europe’s energy supply, it presents the concept of the Active Solar Building, which will be entirely heated and cooled by solar thermal energy and which is expected to be the building standard in 2030. The overall vision of the solar thermal branch is to supply up to 50% of the low-temperature energy demand of Europe by solar thermal by 2030.

The Solar Thermal Vision will serve as a guiding point to identify a comprehensive strategy for research and market deployment of solar thermal technologies. Amongst the key research topics will be advanced heat stores, medium-temperature collectors, solar cooling systems and system technology. Some research areas can provide decisive results in the short and medium term, while other areas require a long-term approach.

Potential of solar thermal technologies drastically underestimated up to now

The Chairman of the preliminary ESTTP Steering Committee, Gerhard Stryi-Hipp of the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) said: "So far most people have drastically underestimated the potential of solar thermal technologies. Although applications like solar domestic hot water and space heating are already common in some European regions, the potential for further technological and market development all over Europe is enormous. " Therefore there is a huge need for increased R&D efforts, especially in new applications such as solar cooling and solar industrial process heat. "The solar thermal industry and research institutes have established the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform in order to develop a comprehensive strategy to exploit the full potential of solar thermal energy in Europe", said Stryi-Hipp.

Commissioner Piebalgs: solar thermal industry will maintain the technological leadership and increase world market share of European products
In his speech, EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs expressed his strong conviction that the European solar thermal industry and research institutes had the capacity to maintain the technological leadership and to increase the world market share of European products: "I am convinced that by joining our efforts, the Commission and the ESTIF members will succeed in bringing the solar thermal energy to the place it deserves in the market. I also believe that this will contribute to the move towards sustainable energy schemes, to improve EU industry competitiveness and job creation. "

The first meeting of the preliminary ESTTP Steering Committee is foreseen for 17th July and the foundation of the ESTTP working groups is expected in the autumn.

European Solar Thermal Technology Platform ESTTP; ESTIF (06/07/2006)

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SEM picture of a microcrystalline Si:H film.

Source: Applied Films

Maximizing cell efficiencies by adjusting the parameters of the TCO coating in interaction with the light-absorbing layer and back contact coatings

Micromorph technology is widely seen as superior technology for thin film solar cells. Cells manufactured with this technology evidence higher cell efficiencies as compared to amorphous solar cells owing to improved spectral sensitivity. Applied Films production technology for micromorph solar cells produces modules with surface areas of 1.4 sqm (1.5x0.9 m²). This rectangular substrate format allows the flexibility of designing modules with either high voltage/low current or low voltage/high current power modes. Furthermore, the Applied Films product portfolio enables cell manufacturers to maximize their cell efficiencies by adjusting the parameters of the TCO coating in interaction with the light-absorbing layer and back contact coatings. This approach has been developed in close co-operation with the Institute of Photovoltaics at the Research Center in Jülich, Germany.

micromorph technology for the growing thin film PV market

The market share for thin film solar cells, currently at approx. 5%, is expected to grow strongly. Experts predict a 20% share of annual solar cell production by 2010. Fostering this growth is the current restricted supply of solar grade bulk silicon as a feedstock material for wafer-based solar cells. "We are a leading supplier of large area coating equipment for the flat panel display and the architectural glass industry. Our experience here, underpinned by the cutting edge micromorph technology that we supply, will definitely help us to benefit from the fast growing thin film PV market, and develop it further still", stated Joachim Nell, Executive Vice President Solar & Web, Applied Films.
Applied Films is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange (NASDAQ symbol: AFCO) and has recently signed an agreement with Applied Materials (AMAT) to acquire Applied Films.

About Applied Films (06/06/2006)

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