strong demand for tft

6

R&D bodies, the World Bank and the UnitedNations Development Programme to promotequality assurance of performance of PV products(components and systems).

PV GAP established the PV Quality Mark forcomponents; PV Quality Seal for PV systems.Requirements to obtain the license for theMark are an IEC QA system for electroniccomponents certification that the manufacturerhas a valid ISO 9001:2000 or similar, and theproducts have a certificate of successfullytesting to an International Standard orSpecification by an accredited PV testing lab orin the in-house testing lab under IECQsurveillance. The manufacturer must completePV GAP’s product QA specification thatprescribes when modules have to be re-tested.

The VDE Testing and Certification Institutein Offenbach, Germany, IECQ’s supervisinginspectorate, issued the approval.

FFoorr ffuurrtthheerr iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn ccoonnttaacctt:: RWE Schott SolarGmbH: Mr. Peter Lechner. Email: Phototronics-dev@solar.rwesolutions.com oorr PV GAP and IECQ: R.Kay Email: rk@iec.ch www.iecq.org

Strong demand for TFT Energy Photovoltaics Inc, (EPV) is findingstrong commercial demand and improvedmanufacturing economics increasing businessinterest.

Under most conditions, amorphous silicon (a-Si) produces more energy per-installed-watt thancrystalline technologies. It was reported at thePV conference in Rome that: ‘Double-junctionamorphous silicon products have been shown togive the greatest energy yields per manufacturer’sdeclared kW peak.’

Together with the lower manufacturing cost ofTFT products, this give the lowest cost per kWh.

The published range of total energyrequirements to produce crystalline siliconmodules is 20-100 MJ/Wp. In contrast, thespecific energy required to produce frameless a-Si thin film modules at 12-15MJ/Wp forCIGS TF modules of 11MJ/Wp is published.

Growth of PV will only benefit if the industryis a net energy producer; otherwise it is simplyusing carbon-emitting kWh to produce fewernon-carbon-emitting kWh. To achieve netenergy contribution at a manufacturing growthrate of 30% pa, specific energy must be less than23MJ/Wp. If a positive energy return from anew factory is desired in less than 10 years, lessthan 18 MJ/Wp is required. This positions TFTas the only option.

EPV focus on the design, manufacture,installation, commission and operation of anintegrated manufacturing systems for thin-film

PV modules. It has recently doubled the capacityof the PV-IMS operating in Budapest, Hungaryto 5MW per year; is completing 2.5MW peryear in Sacramento, California and operating ana-Si manufacturing system and installing acopper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) line inNew Jersey for process improvement R&D. PV-IMS projects in Greece, Germany, and China areexpected to begin early in 2003.

FFoorr mmoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn ccoonnttaacctt:: James Groelinger,

CEO, Energy Photovoltaics Inc, Alan Delahoy VP R&D

Email: j.groelinger@epv.net and a.delahoy@epv.net

Connecticut fails hurdleGreen Mountain Energy Company is todiscontinue serving its 1,312 customers inConnecticut as of March 31, 2003.

Citing regulations that make bringingpollution-free energy to Connecticut costprohibitive, as well as an overall lack of acompetitive electric market, it is to focus on NewJersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

GMEC began marketing to Connecticutcustomers in January 2001. In recent months ithas been the only energy supplier activelysigning up residential customers in Connecticut.

Three factors led to the company’s decision todiscontinue its service in Connecticut. These are:artificially low, fixed Standard Offer rate, notreflecting the true cost of electricity; new rulesadopted by the regional power grid putting placelimitations and excessive costs on GMEC’sability to secure pollution-free wind electricity.With no wind power available GMEC has hadto import from upstate New York.

Clifton Payne, eastern region presidentemphasised GMEC’s commitment to ensurecustomers have uninterrupted service while thereturn to utility service occurs. He paid tributeto customer support allowing the building of thesolar plant at Bridgeport Discovery Museum.

GMEC will maintain its supplier license inConnecticut and advocate for a competitiveenergy market.

FFoorr mmoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn ccoonnttaacctt: Connecticut CustomerService, Green Mountain Energy Company 1-866-GREEN CT. USA Tel: 1-866-473-3628.

Framatome bows out ofDuke SolarSolar Roof International and Framatome (thenuclear engineering company jointly ownedby AREVA (66%) and Siemens (34%), withrevenues exceeding �2.5bn, has agreed to anacquisition and transfer of the Framatomeinterest in Duke Solar to Solar Roof.

Solar Roof was set up in 1995 to acquire solartechnologies applicable for a new roof system forindustrial, and institutional buildings. Non-Imaging Optics technology was developed by DrWinston at University of Chicago. SRI boughtthis and achieved a vested relationship betweenSRI and University of Chicago appointingDrWinston as SRI/Duke Solar chief scientist.

Duke Solar, a JV in 1997 by SRI andFramatome’s Duke Engineering & Services, Incmaximises SRI’s technology. Duke Solar is in thethird year of a contract with the NREL/DOE fordeveloping concentrating solar trough plants.

FFoorr mmoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn ccoonnttaacctt:: http://www.arevagroup.com oorr http://www.dukesolar.com oorrhttp:// www.framatome-anp.com

Minnesota urged to planbetterMinnesota risks serious consequences if itcontinues its current approach to electricityproduction, distribution and use, says a nonprofit public-affairs Citizen’s League group.

The committee began studying the electricitysupply about 18 months ago. About 75% of thestate’s energy comes from coal-fired plants.Another 17% comes from nuclear-power, 3%from hydroelectric and 5% from sources such aswood and wind.

Power plants have a life expectancy of 40 yearsor more, and it is realistic to meet new energypolicy goals in 2040 if the state begins workingtoward these immediately, the report says.

‘A power generating plant installed today willstill be in service in 2040. In 10 years, generatingcapacity representing about 25% of Minnesota’spower supply will be installed, to replace oldcapacity or to add new.’

The report ‘Powering Up Minnesota’s EnergyFuture: Act Now on a Long-Term Vision’ listsamong it conclusions and recommendations:• Neither the state nor the power industry have

been aggressive enough using sources thatprovide supplies without unacceptable,cumulative environmental damage.

• Emphasis on low prices ignores health careand the environmental clean up costs whichMinnesota is paying for in other ways.

• Regulating energy and environmentseparately prevents a needed balancebetween the two. Minnesota lags behind inelectricity conservation and efficient use.

• The state should neither plan for nor expectan increase in nuclear energy. But nuclear fuelwill and should continue to provide asignificant fraction of electricity.

• Companies selling electrical energy on theretail market should operate under a permit

Photovoltaics Bulletin February 2003

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