28 February 2012

Calyxo reaches CdTe PV module efficiency of 13.4%

Calyxo GmbH of Bitterfeld/Wolfen-Thalheim, Germany (founded by Q-Cells SE in 2005) says that its cadmium telluride (CdTe)-based thin-film photovoltaic module has reached an output of 88.7W at an efficiency of 13.4% (measured on aperture area), as confirmed by testing body SGS Germany.

With the production of the 13.4%-efficient module, development of the next generation of modules is already underway. Calyxo’s standard module is 60cm x 120cm, but the firm’s patented atmospheric continuous manufacturing process can produce modules as wide as 120cm with any length desired, yielding greater flexibility and lower costs.

Calyxo has also been able to further increase the efficiency of its existing CX3-series production module to an average of 11.9% (based on aperture area).

“The Calyxo development team rapidly reached another milestone on its efficiency roadmap, aiming for even higher efficiencies in the near future,” says chief technology officer Michael Bauer. “High module efficiencies, in combination with our low-cost atmospheric deposition technology, are decisive factors for cost-competitive solar energy,” he believes.

At its manufacturing plant in Bitterfeld/Wolfen-Thalheim (known as ‘Solar Valley’ in Saxony-Anhalt), which has been in commercial production since 2009, Calyxo currently has more than 150 staff operating a production line with annual capacity of 25MWp of modules. Based on the latest efficiency results, technology provider Solar Fields LLC of Toledo, OH, USA (Calyxo’s owner since it split from Q-Cells in February 2011) has decided to provide more funding to the firm. In particular, Solar Fields invested in a second production line with a capacity of about 120MWp, which will start production in 2012.

“With the financial contribution of our long-term shareholder Solar Fields, we will reduce our costs by the end of this year to less than 0.60 EUR per Wp, which corresponds to a cost reduction of nearly 30% from the recent level,” says CEO Florian Holzapfel.

Tags: Calyxo CdTe PV module

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