Technology Overview
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| … Proprietary Technology on Proven Equipment Set |
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Technology: Highest efficiency single junction amorphous silicon thin film technology on large area (5.7m2) glass substrate
- Proprietary process improvements drives higher module efficiency
- Superior performance in high temperature environments and under diffused lighting
- Less degradation in output over the life of the system
Equipment Set: Proven equipment set from Applied Materials, the leading supplier of semiconductor, flat panel, and solar equipment. The equipment set selected by Signet Solar has been adapted from the flat panel and glass industry with over 20 years of successful deployment history.
- Proven and reliable equipment set provides the greatest potential for cost reduction and large-scale manufacturing
- Scalable fabrication plant enables greater economies of scale
- Established and well characterized tools minimizes risk, time to market, and non-recurring engineering costs
Signet Solar’s high efficiency single junction amorphous silicon thin film technology builds on a proven a-Si technology platform that has been deployed for over 20 years. Signet Solar has improved upon this technology by scaling it to very large form factors and by introducing proprietary enhancements that improve module efficiency. Signet Solar’s R & D center in Germany is a leader in single junction a-Si technology. It introduced the world’s first 7% efficient large area module in September 2009. Signet’s R & D team continues to work on advanced optics, nano-materials, and other improvements that have the potential to increase the efficiency of single junction a-Si modules to over ~8%. These improvements not only lower module manufacturing cost, but also increase equipment productivity resulting in higher manufacturing line output.
The large area, high efficiency single junction a-Si modules from Signet Solar will improve the economics of solar PV module manufacturing and PV systems by:
- Lowering manufacturing cost to well below $1.0/Wp for a single manufacturing line (<100MW)
- Lowering manufacturing capex to below $1.50/Wp
- Lowering BOS cost to reach a target system cost of below $2.50 /Wp by 2012
These enhancements will enable a levelized cost of electricity below $0.10 / kWh, a major milestone for achieving grid parity in most regions of the world.
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Largest panels drive lower Balance Of System costs
Decreased component count increases reliability
- 5.7m2 is up to 8x larger than current conventional modules
- 10MW installation requires 25,000 Signet Panels vs 133,000 conventional modules
- Fewer panels >Reduced BOS - less framing, mounting, wiring
- Higher output voltage enables use of smaller gauge wire
- 15 - 20% savings in installation costs:
- Fast install: ~2 minutes per panel
- Fewer components to install
- Bonded rails standard
- Reduced reliability risk - fewer points of failure
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Application Flexibility
Optimum solutions meet your needs
- Full-sized panels ideal for solar farms
- In a distributed urban solar generation model large panels maximize output for available surface area through custom sized BIPV application
- Building skin facades as window spandrels
- Transparency to varying degrees allows use as part of window structure
- Half- and quarter-sized panels suit parking structures or rooftops
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