02.05.15
First Solar, Inc. announced it has set yet another world record for cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) research cell conversion efficiency, achieving 21.5% efficiency certified at the Newport Corporation’s Technology and Applications Center (TAC) PV Lab.
Demonstrating that production-scale performance is keeping pace with record R&D advancements, First Solar has also announced its commercial modules have passed Atlas 25+ certification following a rigorous series of long-term combined-stress environmental exposure tests.
The record-setting research cell was constructed at the company’s Perrysburg, OH manufacturing factory and Research & Development Center using processes and materials suitable for commercial-scale manufacturing. The record has been documented in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) “Best Research Cell Efficiencies” reference chart. It is the eighth substantial update to CdTe record efficiency since 2011, firmly establishing a sustained trend of rapid performance improvements.
“Our latest research cell efficiency record is a result of continued learning in the material science and device physics of CdTe solar cells,” said Raffi Garabedian, First Solar’s CTO. “Our work is not done in isolation, but is in part a result of the many fruitful collaborations we have with academia, national labs, and our industrial partners, most notably GE Global Research.
“By virtue of our adaptable thin film manufacturing process and our dedication to science-based design-for-reliability, First Solar is unique in its ability to rapidly scale such new developments into cost-effective and reliable product,” he said.
In March 2014, First Solar presented a technology roadmap anticipating a 22% research cell efficiency milestone in 2015. “Given the slope of our research cell improvements and the fact that it’s still February, we remain confident that we’ll meet or exceed our roadmap expectations,” said Garabedian.
The Atlas 25+ certification stresses durability and degradation against accelerated environmental conditions experienced in long-term service. According to Azmat Siddiqi, SVP for quality and reliability, First Solar modules passed the Atlas 25+ stress tests for all parameters, including power output, insulation resistance and visual damage in the hot/arid, subtropical, temperate and “global composite” climate simulations.
Demonstrating that production-scale performance is keeping pace with record R&D advancements, First Solar has also announced its commercial modules have passed Atlas 25+ certification following a rigorous series of long-term combined-stress environmental exposure tests.
The record-setting research cell was constructed at the company’s Perrysburg, OH manufacturing factory and Research & Development Center using processes and materials suitable for commercial-scale manufacturing. The record has been documented in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) “Best Research Cell Efficiencies” reference chart. It is the eighth substantial update to CdTe record efficiency since 2011, firmly establishing a sustained trend of rapid performance improvements.
“Our latest research cell efficiency record is a result of continued learning in the material science and device physics of CdTe solar cells,” said Raffi Garabedian, First Solar’s CTO. “Our work is not done in isolation, but is in part a result of the many fruitful collaborations we have with academia, national labs, and our industrial partners, most notably GE Global Research.
“By virtue of our adaptable thin film manufacturing process and our dedication to science-based design-for-reliability, First Solar is unique in its ability to rapidly scale such new developments into cost-effective and reliable product,” he said.
In March 2014, First Solar presented a technology roadmap anticipating a 22% research cell efficiency milestone in 2015. “Given the slope of our research cell improvements and the fact that it’s still February, we remain confident that we’ll meet or exceed our roadmap expectations,” said Garabedian.
The Atlas 25+ certification stresses durability and degradation against accelerated environmental conditions experienced in long-term service. According to Azmat Siddiqi, SVP for quality and reliability, First Solar modules passed the Atlas 25+ stress tests for all parameters, including power output, insulation resistance and visual damage in the hot/arid, subtropical, temperate and “global composite” climate simulations.