1 September 2011

centrotherm presenting CIGS technology developments at EU PVSEC

In Hall A1, Stand A1/B2 at the 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC 2011) in Hamburg, Germany (5–8 September), centrotherm photovoltaics AG of Blaubeuren, Germany, which provides equipment and turnkey production lines for manufacturing both crystalline silicon solar cells and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar modules, is presenting technology and systems that boost efficiency along the photovoltaic value chain.

centrotherm says that, in view of the intensely competitive market environment among solar cell and module manufacturers, there is currently great demand for efficiency enhancements and lower operating costs. The firm says that it is responding with production systems and corresponding upgrade and retrofit packages.

In the Thin Film area, centrotherm has concluded the development of its new second-generation selenium (Se) systems for manufacturing CIGS PV modules. The systems have exceeded the planned performance improvements in terms of homogeneity and uptime in acceptance tests at Blaubeuren. They will also be offered in the future as single equipment items for producing thin-film modules. centrotherm photovoltaics' selenium and sputtering systems comprise key equipment items for manufacturing thin-film modules that can be adapted in line with customer wishes, says the firm.

centrotherm photovoltaics also says that the efficiency of CIGS PV modules from its production line at Sunshine in Taiwan has been enhanced continuously towards 11%. The 1400mm x 1100mm modules achieve output of more than 150W peak. centrotherm says that the developers have also paid particular attention to the environmental aspects of the CIGS technology: the process uses non-hazardous and recyclable elementary selenium instead of highly toxic hydrogen selenide (H2Se).

Also at EU PVSEC, centrotherm photovoltaics subsidiary GP Solar GmbH is launching three innovations for quality assurance of solar cells and modules:

• GP Solar Inspect CHROME is a completely revised product line for in-line measuring technology, featuring many hardware and software improvements. An in-house development in the camera optics enables the spectral analysis of wafers, cells and modules, and hence what is claimed to be the highest level of measuring precision for innovative processes such as selective emitters or rear-side contacts. The new software enables live defect analysis of up to 600 samples, and renders the smallest process problems visible. The software will also be fitted with a Chinese-language user interface in the future.

• GP TOPO-D .Scan is an in-line inspection system that measures the entire topography of wafers and solar cells on a 3D basis. Measurement occurs within 1 second without interrupting the production process.

• GP TF-SENSE .Scan is a high-quality inspection system that offers 100% inspection of thin-film modules. In particular, each individual substrate can be measured without any detrimental effect on the production cycle.

centrotherm says that all of these developments share the ability to immediately identify the smallest defects, reducing rejections and hence resulting in verifiably lower production costs. The inspection systems can be integrated flexibly, very rapidly and easily within production processes, it is claimed.

In addition, at EU PVSEC centrotherm photovoltaics subsidiary FHR Anlagenbau is demonstrating its expertise in flexible photovoltaics with corresponding foil coating solutions. The roll-to-roll system concepts that deploy PVD or PECVD technology — and which have been developed on a customer-specific basis — are appropriate for various substrate materials and diverse solar cell concepts. FHR claims expertise particularly in the area of foils of solar cells based on CIGS and a-Si. FHR says that it is accompanying several international customers in taking the step from pilot production to mass production, including some partnerships in China. The flexible, light and unbreakable cells are also particularly suited to large industrial roofs, and applications such as the textile, automotive and aerospace industries. Thin-film solar cells generated using this roll-to-roll procedure are unrivalled when it comes to uneven surfaces, it is claimed.

“It is our constant aim to further expand our customers’ advantage with respect to cost-leadership and efficiency in this context,” says centrotherm photovoltaics’ chief technology officer Dr Peter Fath. “New customers benefit in terms of the latest production systems, and our existing customers benefit from our upgrade packages,” he adds. 

Tags: centrotherm photovoltaics CIGS

Visit: www.centrotherm-pv.com