BP Solar Develops New Silicon Growth Process

[jpak]

http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsNAPT145.htm

BP Solar has developed a new silicon growth process that significantly increases cell efficiency over traditional multi-crystalline-based solar cells. The new technique, named Mono©˜™, enhances BP Solar’s technological expertise in the silicon growth and wafering arenas where silicon ingots and wafering technology are key to future growth.

Solar cells made with these wafers, in combination with other BP Solar advances in cell process technology, will be able to produce in excess of five to eight percent more power than solar cells made with conventional processes. This translates into an equivalent module power increase and hence a substantial cost reduction at the installed system level.

BP Solar plans to implement the Mono©˜ technique in its existing equipment at the Frederick facility with the goal to achieve large-scale production.

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The first modules to incorporate this process will be available in 2007. The development of Mono©˜ is funded in part through a manufacturing contract with the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

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[Ready4Change]

1. Sounds like money well spent.

"The development of Mono©˜ is funded in part through a manufacturing contract with the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory."