SolarPA has deployed its own nanocrystal coating on solar cells in a collaborative program with Solar Power Industries to enhance the efficiency of solar cells by 11.5%.
According to Dr. Robert Castellano, chief executive officer of SolarPA, this development will help a solar cell plant to immediately enhance its yield by 11.5%. Additionally, cells that are only partly efficient, including those at 15% efficiency and discarded, could now be installed into a panel.
The company is analyzing various technologies to install its NanoCoat at manufacture throughputs. These include dip coating and screen printing. The application does not disturb the production line, and the coating is applied only after a cell has been constructed.
Dr. Castellano says the technology will enable U.S. and European solar cell producers to replace cost -efficient products made in China. The company estimates that over 20GWatts of solar cells will be installed in 2011. Chinese solar cell producers manufacture over half the global cells, exporting over 90%.
It has been a consistent endeavor by solar producers to lower costs and enhance efficiency. First Solar has been consistent in its CdSe thin film solar cell manufacture. Amorphous silicon producers endeavor to produce cost- efficient solar cells, while maintaining efficiency above 10% to maintain competetiveness. U.S.-based SunPower will also manufacture cells at a low cost with a large plant in Malaysia.
Source: http://solarpa-inc.com