Green Technology

Applied Materials makes technical advancements in solar photovoltaics design and process manufacturing.  …

…   “all contacts are placed at the back of the cell.

Using EWT cell architecture with p-type wafers, single-crystal silicon and proven manufacturing processes, Applied has achieved 18.4% cell efficiency on large area cells in R&D testing.

In addition to providing higher conversion efficiency, back contacts lend themselves to new, automated module assembly techniques which eliminate the complex and error-prone task of stringing cells together.

Process results using this technique, called monolithic module assembly (MMA), have shown encapsulation losses of less than 1%, demonstrating the robustness of this high-efficiency, module fabrication technique. ”   …

Via Applied Materials: PV Technology Advancements.

Posted by Green Tech at 05:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Solar cell manufacturing gets a boost through cell efficiency and reduction in raw material usage.  …

…   “This combination of higher efficiency and reduced material expense is projected to lower manufacturing cost by over 3 cents-per-watt and deliver a return on investment in as little as 8 months.  Esatto Technology is a high precision, multi-step printing capability for Applied's market-leading Baccini back-end solar cell processing systems.

This production-proven screen printing technology is used to fabricate advanced contact structures in crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar photovoltaic (PV) cells.”   …

Via Applied Materials: Manufacture Higher Efficiency, Lower Cost Solar Cells.

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... "Photovoltaic metallization pastes are screen printed onto the surface of solar cells in a pattern of grid lines which serve to collect electricity produced by the cell and transport it out. To maximize efficiency in the solar cell, the multiple printing technology will reduce the shadowing effect of wide grid lines on solar cells and improve electrical conductivity. Applied Baccini Esatto Technology together with DuPont Solamet photovoltaic metallization pastes enables narrower and taller grid lines to be precisely printed in two or more layers. In addition to demanding precise alignment of the patterning system, multiple printing requires the paste to be finely tuned to perform consistently during all printing passes. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 06:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The EPA has recognized Applied Materials with a 2009 Green Power Leadership Award for its dedication to green power from on-premise generation and renewable energy procurement.  Applied has responded to the EPA Fortune 500 challenge with solar energy generation and the purchasing of green power.  ...

 ...   "Applied Materials was one of only three organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award for the on-site generation of green power. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves using on-site renewable energy applications, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) or wind energy projects. Applied Materials is currently generating 3.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually in the U.S. using on-site solar power generation at the company’s California and Texas facilities. In addition, Applied Materials purchases more than 31 million kWh of green power annually. In total, the company uses enough green power to meet more than 15 percent of its electricity use. "   ...

Via Applied Materials: EPA Green Power Leadership Award

Continue reading "On-Site Green Power Generation Leadership at Applied Materials" »

Posted by Green Tech at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The findings indicate that a majority of people surveyed believe in the potential of solar technology and want the U.S. government and utilities to do more to speed its adoption, although some have outdated views. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 05:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "By making thinner wafers, PV cell manufacturers can reduce the amount of silicon per wafer and lower the cost-per-watt of solar electricity. To produce thinner wafers, traditional wire saws must reduce the ingot length (load) and the cutting speed. The uniquely designed MaxEdge system delivers ultra-thin wafers without sacrificing throughput by enabling larger loads and using thinner wires at higher cutting speeds. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 05:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Applied Materials  ... announced completion of two SunPower solar power systems totaling 2.1 megawatts at Applied Materials' corporate facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif. ...the largest solar power deployment at a corporate facility in the United States."

" ... includes a 950 kilowatt SunPower PowerGuard(R) installation 
and a 1.2 megawatt SunPower(R) Tracker installation atop an 
elevated parking canopy. ... follows the sun as it moves across the
 sky, increasing sunlight capture by up to 25 percent over 
conventional fixed-tilt systems. Both systems use  SunPower solar
 panels, ...  SunPower uses Applied Materials' Baccini technology in
 its solar cell manufacturing process.

" ... reports that its solar installation has generated 1,413 megawatt hours of power. ... system is 
expected to replace more than 2,700 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, ... equivalent to 
the annual carbon emissions from approximately 450 passenger cars."

Via:  PRNewsWire  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)