Manufacturers Can Save Upto $5 Mn Per GW in Solar Projects With This Process

Atlanta-based firm, Solar Inventions, has shared that it has developed an architecture for PV cells and modules pertaining to PV cells and modules. The firm has said during the process of metalization, each cell can be divided electrically to make various or subcells on a single wafer. Further, the process, known as Configurable Current Cells (C3), needs no capital investment or change in process for solar cell manufacturers. Instead, the process needs solar cell manufacturers to make only minor changes in metalization print patterns and selective doping.

The process has put in place a novel architecture that has made enhancements on cell module, module as well as system performance. At the same time, it offers savings of up to 18% of silver required. In turn, this promises savings ranging from $2 million to $5 million per GW at the current prices of silver. Silver contributes close to 10 per cent in making up the cost for a solar module.

The process has won patents in the United States, China and Israel.

Solar Inventions shared in a whitepaper, “While scientists have long understood the idea of subcells (also called ‘monolithic cells’), creating them required specialized processing and was prohibitively limited in efficiency. Now, any manufacturer can immediately improve their profits, fabrication losses, and warranty returns — all without risk to throughput or quality.”

What’s more, the technology has also shown to suit large-format wafer-based cells. The current loss diminishes because of electrical heat dissipation for raised flows of current for cells that exceed six inches. 

The said technology is applicable for solar shingles that have simplified wiring requirements that bring down the cost of residential solar. It also has application for lower-cost single cells that can directly power up electronics.

The first set of C3 cells have already been installed by Cherry Street Energy- among the largest and renewable energy providers in the Southeast region. They have been employed “in a commercial rooftop installation in Athens, Georgia over two years ago and has enjoyed fantastic performance,” said Gregg Freishtat, Chief Executive Officer at Solar Inventions.