Oerlikon Solar Wins Solar Industry Award
Thin Film Innovation Award 2009 for Oerlikon Solar s TCO 1200 Deposition System
Enabling highest thin film silicon efficiency on the market
Higher efficiency leads to project cost savings
Second renowned industry award for Oerlikon Solar in 2009
EU PVSEC Hamburg (Germany), 23 September 2009. Oerlikon Solar, the world s leading supplier of thin film silicon photovoltaic (PV) process and production equipment and end-to-end manufacturing lines, has been named winner of the 2009 Solar Industry Award, presented at the EU PVSEC 2009 Conference in Hamburg. The jury selected Oerlikon Solar s TCO 1200 system as winner of the Thin Film Innovation Award .
With this award, the mass production maturity of Oerlikon Solar s TCO technology has been recognized. We are very proud of this recognition of Oerlikon Solar s technology and market leadership, said Jeannine Sargent, CEO of Oerlikon Solar. The award reflects our intensive research and development in thin film PV and our clear dedication to making solar power economically viable.
The Oerlikon Solar TCO 1200 is a fully automated, high volume, low pressure chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD) system for the deposition of a novel and adjustable transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film. The TCO 1200 process technology allows adjustment of film morphology and conductivity to match ideal parameters for the PV absorber stack while utilizing an innovative zinc oxide film composition. The zinc oxide composition offers superior light trapping compared to prior TCO solutions. The TCO 1200 LPCVD manufacturing system deposits a single layer that optimizes the tandem absorber stack with very high haze light scattering, very low sheet resistance and excellent transmission characteristics.
Also, the low temperature nature of the deposition allows the same TCO layer to be used successfully for the TCO back contact, again increasing light trapping within the cell.
Oerlikon Solar is the number one supplier of end-to-end production lines according to VLSI Research. With 10 customers representing over 450 MWp of installed production capacity, the TCO 1200 systems have become the de facto industry standard for the production of thin film silicon solar modules.
Enabling Next Generation Thin Film PV Cells
To develop next generation thin film silicon PV cells, light trapping by advanced TCO is essential. The new LPCVD process from Oerlikon Solar has demonstrated higher light-trapping abilities compared to competing technologies. This is especially important for Micromorph solar cells where the absorber layers are engineered to be as thin as possible while keeping the efficiency high. In addition,amorphous silicon single junction cells have an enhanced susceptibility to Staebler-Wronski degradation. Efficient light management allows a reduction in layer thickness, fundamental for high stabilized module performance.
Direct Cost Saving
Over 960,000 panels have been produced using TCO 1200 systems from Oerlikon Solar for front and back contacts. The additional 0.5 percent efficiency gained translates into higher power-per-module and also in a significant economic benefit.
For example, 100-watt modules become 105-watt modules, which offer the solar farm developer a direct module savings of 5 percent. In a 30 megawatt solar farm with 300,000 modules, this means saving 15,000 installed panels or about $ 3 million.
Just one more milestone in Oerlikon Solar s mission to make Solar Power economically viable.
About Oerlikon Solar
Oerlikon Solar offers field-proven equipment and end-to-end manufacturing lines for the mass production of thin film silicon solar modules. Engineered to reduce manufacturing cost and maximize productivity, its end-to-end solutions feature high yield production with high equipment uptime, and low maintenance requirements.
The production lines are complete systems, yet modular and upgradeable in both throughput and process technology. As a global leader in thin film PV technology, the company provides its customers with extensive experience in both amorphous and high-efficiency Micromorph tandem technology.
Oerlikon Solar is ranked global number one solar turnkey line supplier by VLSI and has been named winner of the 2009 CELL AWARD for the best technical product for thin film module manufacturing.
Oerlikon Solar is headquartered in Switzerland, has over 750 employees in 13 locations world wide and maintains sales and service centers in the USA, Europe and China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and Japan.
For further information visit: www.oerlikon.com/solar
About Oerlikon
Oerlikon (SIX: OERL) is one of the world's leading international high-tech industrial groups specializing in machine and plant engineering. The company is a leader in the field of industrial solutions and innovative technologies for textile manufacture,thin film solar and thin film coating, drive, precision and vacuum systems. With roots in Switzerland and a long tradition stretching back100 years, Oerlikon is a global player with a workforce of nearly 16 500 at 158 locations in 37 different countries. The company's sales amounted to CHF 4.8 billion in 2008 and it ranks either first or second in the respective global markets.
For further information visit: www.oerlikon.com
