News Article
Midsummer CIGS cells up the ante with 16.2 percent efficiency
This increased energy efficiency further strengthens the business case and attractiveness of thin film CIGS solar cells
Swedish solar developer Midsummer, a supplier of production lines for the manufacturing of flexible thin film CIGS solar cells, has increased the efficiency of its solar cells from 15 percent to 16.2 percent aperture area of the full 156 × 156 mm solar cell.
The solar cell was manufactured in a regular production run and the process is already implemented in the production line.
“Considering that the solar cell is made on stainless steel, contains no cadmium and that the production process is an all-dry, all vacuum process where all layers (including the buffer layer) are deposited by sputtering, this achievement by our engineers is truly impressive,” says Sven Lindström, CEO Midsummer.
Inexpensive lightweight flexible modules
With the production system from Midsummer the solar cells are manufactured individually and then stringed together into modules just like crystalline solar cells. This way, lightweight flexible modules can easily be made in any size and shape.
A dry, all-vacuum process has less stringent requirements for cleanrooms. Avoiding cadmium in the manufacturing process is desirable for the sake of the production staff and also makes it easier to begin low cost manufacturing of CIGS solar cells.
Market shifts towards rooftop installations
“The global solar cell market is facing a paradigm shift,” adds Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer. “Fewer large solar energy parks are being built in Europe. Instead, focus is moving to installations on large buildings in cities. The lightweight and flexible thin film solar cells are ideal for this use. It is economically and environmentally more beneficial to use solar energy locally, where it is produced.”
“Midsummer's objective is that our technology shall be a leader in the market segment lightweight, flexible solar panels, and that the company shall grow in tandem with this rapidly growing segment.”
Market shifts towards rooftop installations
According to Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer, “The global solar cell market is facing a paradigm shift”. “Fewer large solar energy parks are being built in Europe. Instead, focus is moving to installations on large buildings in cities. The lightweight and flexible thin film solar cells are ideal for this use. It is economically and environmentally more beneficial to use solar energy locally, where it is produced.”
“Midsummer's objective is that our technology shall be a leader in the market segment lightweight, flexible solar panels, and that the company shall grow in tandem with this rapidly growing segment.”
The solar cell was manufactured in a regular production run and the process is already implemented in the production line.
“Considering that the solar cell is made on stainless steel, contains no cadmium and that the production process is an all-dry, all vacuum process where all layers (including the buffer layer) are deposited by sputtering, this achievement by our engineers is truly impressive,” says Sven Lindström, CEO Midsummer.
Inexpensive lightweight flexible modules
With the production system from Midsummer the solar cells are manufactured individually and then stringed together into modules just like crystalline solar cells. This way, lightweight flexible modules can easily be made in any size and shape.
A dry, all-vacuum process has less stringent requirements for cleanrooms. Avoiding cadmium in the manufacturing process is desirable for the sake of the production staff and also makes it easier to begin low cost manufacturing of CIGS solar cells.
Market shifts towards rooftop installations
“The global solar cell market is facing a paradigm shift,” adds Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer. “Fewer large solar energy parks are being built in Europe. Instead, focus is moving to installations on large buildings in cities. The lightweight and flexible thin film solar cells are ideal for this use. It is economically and environmentally more beneficial to use solar energy locally, where it is produced.”
“Midsummer's objective is that our technology shall be a leader in the market segment lightweight, flexible solar panels, and that the company shall grow in tandem with this rapidly growing segment.”
Market shifts towards rooftop installations
According to Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer, “The global solar cell market is facing a paradigm shift”. “Fewer large solar energy parks are being built in Europe. Instead, focus is moving to installations on large buildings in cities. The lightweight and flexible thin film solar cells are ideal for this use. It is economically and environmentally more beneficial to use solar energy locally, where it is produced.”
“Midsummer's objective is that our technology shall be a leader in the market segment lightweight, flexible solar panels, and that the company shall grow in tandem with this rapidly growing segment.”
