From PV-tech:
The subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Uni-Solar has detailed its technology roadmap, which is intended to push conversion efficiencies to 12% and a cost-per-watt of 95 cents by 2012. Importantly, the efficiency gains and cost reductions come from material improvements and process optimizations rather than fundamental cell changes, which should ensure a smooth demand driven production ramp in 2011. Initially, Uni-Solar is targeting area conversion efficiency gains to 8.2% in 2010 and by close of 2011 calendar year approximately 10%, with fully loaded production cost-per-watt of US$1.50.
“We are continuing to develop our technology by focusing on improving our conversion efficiency to 12 percent and beyond,” commented Mark Morelli, President and CEO of UNI-SOLAR’s parent company, Energy Conversion Devices. “We have demonstrated that our core technology is capable of conversion efficiency of 15.4 percent in the lab, and we are now focused on translating those results into commercial production volumes at 12 percent and ultimately improve the conversion efficiency to 20-plus percent.”
Key process development has centred initially on improved light trapping using a significantly improved back reflector layer, according to Dr. Subhendu Guha, Executive Vice President of PV Technology at ECD and Chairman of United Solar Ovonic....MORE
