The US Department of Energy has awarded $2 million in funding to the high-performance solar technology company Cogenra Solar through its Energy SunShot Initiative, as per a recent press release.
Cogenra is reportedly planning to use this award to scale up its record-setting Dense Cell Interconnect (DCI) technology, via the use of an automated production line to be built in the US.
A bit of background on the DCI technology — the DCI is essentially just an advanced PV cell interconnect technology capable of boosting solar module output by up to 15% as compared to current commercially available solar modules.
The technology has — based on tests performed by third-party laboratories — set world records for peak power output in N-type mono crystalline cells, P-type mono crystalline cells, and multi crystalline cells.
It works through a streamlining process that eliminates the use of copper interconnect ribbons, solder-joints, and inter-cell gaps — thereby reducing the shading effect that these components cause, as well as reducing module degradation.
“DCI technology is directly aligned with the goals of the SunShot Initiative — to deliver clean solar energy at a price point,” stated Cogenra Solar CEO and founder, Dr Gilad Almogy. “The Department of Energy shares our vision to deliver record-setting power as well as enhanced reliability and beautiful aesthetics at a much lower cost-per-watt. We are honored to receive this award to automate and scale this innovative technology while creating manufacturing jobs right here in the United States.”
Module manufacturing lines already in use can be easily upgraded to Cogenra DCI manufacturing lines with “minimal capex addition, increasing module power capacity by up to 15% while significantly reducing cost-per-watt,” according to the company.
The SunShot’s Solar Manufacturing Technology 2 program was created for the purpose of spurring photovoltaic and concentrating solar power manufacturing, and supply chain companies in the US, by rewarding the development of “innovative cost-reducing and efficiency-increasing technology into useable manufacturing equipment and processes.”
Those awarded with funding are then expected to bring their technology from the development stage to the pilot stage of manufacturing, or, alternately, from the pilot stage to full-scale manufacturing — all within 1–4 years time.
Image Credit: Cogenra Solar
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