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Posted on Tue, 02/7/2012 - 09:25 PM by Bryan Nisperos
viewed 110 times
On Jan. 31, high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) maker Semprius, Inc. broke the record for a photovoltaic module, with an HCPV unit that was rated at 33.9 percent efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, besting the previous record which was 32 percent efficient. The North Carolina-based company is reaching these levels of efficiency as it prepares to start producing commercial modules later this year. The modules, about a third of a square meter in size, were tested at the Instituto de Energía Solar at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (IES-UPM) under lab conditions. “The Spanish lab is the premier location for CPV testing,” said Semprius Vice President of Business Development Russell Kanjorski. “They had the right equipment to do this.” When the modules are introduced to the market in the second half of 2012—albeit in very limited quantity—they will likely be in the range of 33 percent to 34 percent efficient, according to Kanjorski. “There was nothing special done to these modules,” he said. “They were just part of standard build.” The company’s HCPV units are unique among other HCPV companies in that they use a proprietary deposition process called microprinting that creates individual triple-junction gallium arsenide cells that are roughly the size of a pen dot. “Typical cells would be 1 centimeter by 1 centimeter. We’re talking 600 microns for one of our cells,” Kanjorski said. Since each cell is so small, it also allows the company to minimize the optics that focus sunlight on the cells. The module, which consists of many of the small cells, is only 2.5 inches deep, according to Kanjorski. They also are very good at shedding heat, so the units don’t require heat sinks. Many other HCPV modules are thicker, sometimes up to 14 inches thick. “This almost looks like a standard module,” he said. The thinner units are lighter and easier to ship. When installed, they have less resistance to the wind, all of which will help reduce the cost. The company already is field-testing the devices in a number of locations, among them a 3.5-kilowatt unit in Tucson, where they recently upgraded the system to one the company plans to go to market with. Right now the company is installing manufacturing components to automate the assembly of the modules, which now are being produced manually, according to Kanjorski. MORE NEWS FROM CLEAN ENERGY AUTHORITYSolar stocks likely to remain at record lowsWith fundamental issues in the solar industry, including oversupply and consolidation, solar stocks are likely to remain at record lows through the end of 2012 and into 2013. New solar curriculum teaches students about renewable energyOne Million Lights recently teamed up with SunPower to bring a different kind of solar illumination to the world. Commerce Dept. imposes preliminary tariffs on Chinese PV manufacturersIn the trade complaint against Chinese silicon photovoltaic manufacturers the other shoe dropped today and it was louder than the soft thud of the first shoe. The U.S. Commerce Department preliminarily found that Chinese solar PV manufacturers were guilty of dumping PV cells and modules in the U.S. and impose preliminary anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese-based PV manufacturers. Enphase brings the AC/PV roadshow to DenverEnphase, a manufacturer of microinverters for solar photovoltaics is making a lot of noise and on the heels of a successful initial public offering, the company has launched the Enphase Roadshow. Through the roadshow the company is traveling across the country to show off its microinverters and associated technologies that allow each PV module in an array to produce to its maximum ability. The roadshow made a two-day stop in Denver at the World Renewable Energy Forum to show off its latest. DOE Secretary sees bright future for solarYesterday Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Dr. Steven Chu discussed why he got involved in renewable energy and how solar and wind are becoming cost competitive with natural gas—which is currently cheaper than coal in the U.S. He also warned of the U.S. losing ground in terms of manufacturing jobs, unless Congress takes action to continue to support renewable energy. Chu made his remarks at Wednesday’s World Renewable Energy Forum keynote address. RELATED SOLAR NEWSSolarWorld States Anti-Dumping Duties Against ‘Big China Solar’ a Step Toward Restoring Industry CompetitionApple to Power 3 Data Centers with 100 Percent Renewable EnergyGreenpeace advocates gathered outside of Apple's Cupertino headquarters early this week dressed as iPhones and iPods, declaring their outrage about the company's lack of clean energy use. They projected social media messages from supporters on the side of the building:Solar Industry Reacts to Anti-Dumping RulingThe US has imposed higher-than-expected tariffs of around 31% on Chinese PV imports, drawing support from some US manufacturers and sharp criticism from Chinese officials and companies. In its preliminary ruling May 17, the US Commerce Department issued anti-dumping duties of 31.14% on imports of solar cells and panels from Suntech, 31.22% from Trina Solar, 31.18 percent from other companies that had requested but not received individual duty determinations and 249.96 percent from all other Chinese producers, including those controlled by the Chinese government. NREL Director Named Chair of National Science BoardDan Arvizu, director of the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has been elected Chairman of the National Science Board. The 25-member body advises the president and Congress on science and engineering issues, and is the policy-setting and budget-approving body for the National Science Foundation. With an annual budget of $6.9 billion, the foundation funds about 20% of all federally supported basic scientific research at U.S. colleges and universities. Arvizu will serve a two-year term as chairman. Are IT Data Centers Emerging as a 'Killer App' for Green Power? Part 1Last month, Greenpeace launched a series of coordinated protests at Amazon, Apple and Microsoft locations to draw attention to the companies’ use of GHG intensive fuels in powering their data centers. The protests were a follow up to their recently released report, “How Clean is Your Cloud,” which criticized the companies foSOLAR ENERGY ARTICLES
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