Feb 19 2011
Solar Junction, a high efficiency multi junction cell developer for the concentrated PV market, has revealed that after having achieved 40.9% efficiency last month it has now reached a value of 41.4%, a swift leap forward in CPV cell efficiency. This has been validated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
The company has been placed on a short list of finalists for post selection due diligence in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) sponsored Loan Guarantee Program (LGP). This grant would help the commissioning of Solar Junction’s 250 MW manufacturing facility located in its San Jose headquarters in California. Commercial shipments of the cells would begin this year.
According to Jim Weldon, Solar Junction’s CEO, even as the debate rages on PV versus CPV, their stand was that the CPV sector with double efficiency when compared to traditional PVs is undergoing a high growth period. The results from NREL reveal the continued commitment to efficiency gains and also certify the advantages, which the A-SLAM technology would provide for the CPV sector.
The cells produced by Solar Junction incorporate the A-SLAM technology, which would speed up the multi junction cell efficiency. These cells also provide high efficiency levels in a 5.5 mm x 5.5 mm aperture area form factor, which are predominantly used by CPV manufacturers and for other smaller and larger cell varieties.
The LGP has come in a year after the company had received a PV Incubator contract from the DOE. After the diligence process is completed, Solar Junction would increase its in- house manufacturing capability to satisfy the requirements of the CPV module manufacturers.