Ascent Solar exceeds ten per cent module efficiency milestone

8 July 2009

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a US developer of flexible thin-film solar modules, has achieved its initial target module efficiency goal of ten per cent for its flexible Copper, Indium, Gallium, Selenide (CIGS) monolithically integrated modules.

The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has independently verified that the modules measured as high as 10.4 per cent in conversion efficiency. The modules tested at NREL were standard 429 cm2 modules produced by the company’s 1.5MW production line that was put into commercial production in the first quarter of 2009.

Dr Prem Nath, Sr vice president of production operations for Ascent Solar, said, ‘This is a significant breakthrough in demonstrating our ability to manufacture monolithically integrated flexible CIGS modules with greater than ten per cent module efficiency in commercial production. Ascent’s high-volume 30MW commercial plant is scheduled to commence initial production at the beginning of 2010. Module efficiency of ten per cent is a vital element for our low-cost-per-watt manufacturing goal in high volume and will establish Ascent Solar as a leader in the production of lightweight flexible photovoltaics used for portable power and building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products.’

Dr Harin S Ullal, senior project manager for the National Center for Photovoltaics at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, added, ‘Ascent Solar has made progress in advancing the state-of-the-art flexible, lightweight thin-film CIGS PV technology. NREL has independently verified module conversion efficiency of more than ten per cent for several thin-film CIGS monolithically integrated modules deposited on flexible, lightweight plastic substrates.’

Last month, Ascent Solar was selected for negotiations for a US Department of Energy Photovoltaic Technology Pre-Incubator project award.

Copyright © 2009 NewNet

Tags: R&D, solar

This story was published on Wednesday, July 8th, 2009 at 1:48 pm and is filed under North America, companies, solar. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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