Two Solar Cell Companies Cut Costs by Making More from Less
Two manufacturers of solar cells recently announced advancements that will yield lower-cost solar cells by squeezing more production out of existing equipment and materials.
Two manufacturers of solar cells recently announced advancements that will yield lower-cost solar cells by squeezing more production out of existing equipment and materials.
Evergreen Solar, Inc. of Marlboro, Mass., found a way to produce two ribbons of silicon simultaneously in one crystal-growth furnace, potentially doubling the company's production capacity. Evergreen Solar uses a proprietary process that avoids sawing silicon blocks, instead melting the silicon and drawing it out between two strings at high temperatures to form a ribbon between the strings. The company has already boosted productivity by making the ribbons 45% wider and increasing the growth rate by 40%. The company now hopes to introduce "double ribbon" production into its furnaces by late 2003.
A different approach to the same problem is being pursued by Origin Energy, an Australian company, which is aiming to make inexpensive solar cells by using less silicon. The company apparently produces its new "Sliver Cell" by using micromachining technology, rather than saws, to slice extremely thin slivers of silicon from a block of silicon. The resulting product is flexible, translucent, and, according to the company, uses about one-thirtieth the amount of silicon used in standard crystalline-silicon solar cells.
The most expensive part of traditional solar power panels is the silicon from which the individual cells are made. The new technologies reduce costs in two main ways -- by using much less expensive silicon for similar efficiency and power output, and needing less capital to build a solar panel plant of similar capacity.
Evergreen Solar, Inc. of Marlboro, Mass., found a way to produce two ribbons of silicon simultaneously in one crystal-growth furnace, potentially doubling the company's production capacity. Evergreen Solar uses a proprietary process that avoids sawing silicon blocks, instead melting the silicon and drawing it out between two strings at high temperatures to form a ribbon between the strings. The company has already boosted productivity by making the ribbons 45% wider and increasing the growth rate by 40%. The company now hopes to introduce "double ribbon" production into its furnaces by late 2003.
A different approach to the same problem is being pursued by Origin Energy, an Australian company, which is aiming to make inexpensive solar cells by using less silicon. The company apparently produces its new "Sliver Cell" by using micromachining technology, rather than saws, to slice extremely thin slivers of silicon from a block of silicon. The resulting product is flexible, translucent, and, according to the company, uses about one-thirtieth the amount of silicon used in standard crystalline-silicon solar cells.
The most expensive part of traditional solar power panels is the silicon from which the individual cells are made. The new technologies reduce costs in two main ways -- by using much less expensive silicon for similar efficiency and power output, and needing less capital to build a solar panel plant of similar capacity.
