flexible cigs pv: past, present, and future

104/10/2023 Copyright of Ascent Solar ©

Photovoltaic Europe 2010

13/4/2010

Flexible CIGS PV: Past, Present, and Future


Founded: 2005 (technology development ITNES)

Location: Thornton, CO USA

Technology: CIGS (flexible, plastic substrate)

Efficiency: Verified 10%+ (NREL)

Product: Lightweight and Flexible modules

Status: Commercial production; ramping capacity

Markets: Consumer Products

Transportation Solutions

Defense Applications

Building Integrated

Ascent Solar» Company Overview


Traditional solar technology in glass modules

define the industry brand: the “Blue Square”

Positive: Energy Independence, Sustainability,

Job Creation Climate Awareness, Clean Energy, etc. Negative: Heavy, Rigid, Limited Aesthetic

Expensive, etc.

“Blue Square” solar severely limits design and integration options

Flexible CIGS» Re-defining the PV Brand

Ascent Solar is moving beyond the “Blue Square” by providing innovative products that enable the next wave of solar solutions

Blue Square


Consumer Products

Defense

Applications

Transportation Solutions

Building Integrat

ed

High Power

LightweightLow Profile

Flexibility

Flexible CIGS» Value Proposition


Crystalline Si CellsSingle crystalMulticrystallineThin Si

Thin Film TechnologiesCu(In,Ga)Se2

CdTe

Amorphous Si:H (stabilized)Emerging PV

Organic cells

Historic CIGS» Best Research-Cell Efficiencies

Effic

ienc

y (%

)

Universityof Maine

Boeing

Boeing

Boeing

BoeingARCO

NREL

Boeing

Euro-CIS

200019951990198519801975

RCA

Solarex

UNSW

UNSW

ARCO

UNSWUNSW

UNSWSpire Stanford

UNSWGeorgia TechGeorgia Tech Sharp

AstroPower

NREL

AstroPowerMasushita

MonosolarKodak

Kodak

AMETEK

PhotonEnergy

UniversitySo. Florida

NREL

NREL

Princeton

UniversityKonstanz NREL

NREL

UnitedSolar

United Solar

RCA

RCARCA

RCARCA

RCA

University CaliforniaBerkeley

Solarex

12

8

4

0

16

20

24

SRC: Best Research-Cell Efficiencies ; NREL


20071990 1994 20081999

Thin-film PV development begins at Martin Marietta Aerospace

Roll-to-roll CIGS demonstrated

Ascent Solar spun off from ITN Energy Systems

ITN Energy Systems formed

Intelligent processing demonstrated

Monolithic integration /CIGS on plasticdemonstrated

Ascent Solar completes IPO

Norsk Hydro strategic relationship

Begin construction of Fab2 and new world headquarters

Fab1 production line completed

Pre-production testing facility operational (10-12% cell efficiencies)

Flexible CIGSdemonstrated

2005 2009

10.4% efficiency reached at commercial production, verified by NREL

Fab1 manufacturing line begins commercial production

$61mm secondary offering completed

Begin receiving equipment in Fab2

Historic CIGS» ITN / Ascent Development


Technology» Manufacturing Process

Thin-Film Roll-to-roll Deposition Process

Module Manufacturing and Encapsulation Incorporating Monolithic Integration Techniques

Material Stack


Discrete Process1. Deposition on a conductive material

2. Cut material into discrete units

3. “Shingle” cells and assemble module

Technology» Monolithic Integration

Monolithic Process1. Deposition on a insolating material

2. Laser scribe: does not cut substrate

3. Screen print leaves complete module;

No Assembly Required


Development» Roll to Roll Production

Research and Development• S

tatic Process

• Nominal SubModule Size: 7.5-cm X 7.5-cm

Pilot line• M

ovable web; ~15-cm width

• Nominal SubModule Size: 15-cm X 30-cm

Production Plant: Fab 1• M

ovable web; 33-cm width

• SubModule Size: 15-cm X 30-cm


R&D Toolset Static Process Distinct deposition chambers

Pilot Toolset Moving Web Roll to roll

Fab 1 Industrial equipment Intelligent process controls

Development» CIGS


Pilot Toolset Distinct equipment Proof of concept

Fab 1 Automated equipment High throughput

Development» Monolithic Integration


Enabling Solutions

Roll Products

The unique value proposition enables premium end applications

Charging Modules

Custom Modules


Value Proposition» Consumer Products

Higher power and voltage density Drop resistant (No Glass) A fraction the weigh of crystalline Integrates into a variety of products


Value Proposition» Defense Applications

Lightweight enables portable solutions Excellent power density Voltages match battery ecosystem Ruggedized per military specs


Value Proposition» Transportation Solutions

Low profile, minimal air resistance Does not add significant weight to vehicle Conforms to shape of the vehicle body Significant power given constrained space


Value Proposition» Building Integrated

Flexibility enables design options Does not add significant weight Dual value in shading application Qualifies for BIPV feed-in tariffs


Markets» Solar Mobile Phone Opportunity

Usage growing significantly in the developing world 4.3-billion mobile phone users globally Most of the next billion users will be in emerging markets

Access to power for charging a challenge 2.6-billion people have limited or no daily access to electricity

Significant incentive for operators to solve charging challenge The expected increase in direct revenues to operators (from charging

solutions) total US$2.3-billion per year “60% of mobile operators surveyed already have off-grid charging

initiatives or are investigating off-grid charging solutions.”

Solar accepted as viable solution ZTE (Coral-200), HTW (S116), Samsung (Blue Earth & Crest E1107) Safaricom reports selling 100,000 units into Kenya alone

SRC: Various including UNDP, Moni Basu (CNN), GSMA; Green Power for Mobile: Charging Choices, GSMA; 20/10/2009


2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 $-

$200.00

$400.00

$600.00

$800.00

$1,000.00

$1,200.00

LaminatesIntegrated

Markets» Flexible BIPV Opportunity

Pro

duct

Rev

enue

($-

mill

ions

)

CAGR: 34%

SRC: Building Integrated Markets, 2009 and Beyond; August 2009; NanoMarkets, LLC.


Summary

Traditional “Blue Square” solar severely limits design options

Flexible CIGS enable the next wave of solar solutions

Flexible, Lightweight, and High Power solar products have a unique value proposition in multiple premium applications

These applications encompass significant market opportunities


Daniel Tomlinson

Senior Sales Executive

[email protected]

Thank You

flexible cigs pv: past, present, and future

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