New Record: Thin-Film Manufacturer Soltecture Produces Its First 100-Watt Solar Modules at 13.4% Efficiency
Soltecture, a German manufacturer, has announced that they attained a new CIGSe solar efficiency record of 13.4% (not a worldwide record), and they are producing their first 100-watt solar panels.
CIGSe means Copper Indium Gallium Selenium. CIGSe solar cells are manufactured using a more energy-efficient process than that of traditional silicon wafer solar cells. Thin film solar cells can be printed onto glass and plastic surfaces, and they can also be used to manufacture flexible solar panels. However, their efficiency is relatively low, and low efficiency translates into a greater footprint, which increases their cost of installation.
“Today’s peak results are a very clear confirmation of our technology roadmap,” explains Nikolaus Meyer, CEO and founder of Soltecture. “With our development work, we are on the best track to reaching the next milestone we have set for ourselves: 14 percent efficiency!” Meyer says the company will reach that efficiency by mid-2012 at the latest.
“We will, of course, continue to increase the efficiency of our modules,” says Meyer. “Our research department continues to work full speed on optimization of the manufacturing process. The concrete projects needed to reach a 16 percent goal have already been tackled and drafted.“
With its new broken record, Soltecture continues its success in the solar energy field. When its first thin-film modules were introduced to the market in 2005, their performance peak was 45 watts.
“We are very pleased with this official recognition of our quality management,” explains Henrik Kruepper, Soltecture’s Chief Sales Officer. “We will use the guidelines of the certification to continuously improve our products and solutions and to streamline business processes throughout the entire company. In this way, we will remain adaptive and able to offer the highest degree of service to our clients. Unlike other thin-film module manufacturers, Soltecture has more than a decade of business and client experience. Continuous technological advancement, intelligent system solutions, and efficient production processes elevate the company to the highest rung of players in the thin-film market.”
Solecture says that 16 percent efficiency is within reach, and, of course, if I see that, I will let you know either on Twitter or by writing another article here on CleanTechnica.
h/t Businesswire | Photo Credit: Solecture
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Latest CleanTechnica.TV Video
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.
