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    Siemens Solar Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules Exceed
    12 Percent Efficiency

    National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Verifies New Record,
    Calls it `Stunning'


    CAMARILLO, Calif., April 19, 1999 --     Record breaking efficiencies of more than 12 percent have been confirmed for a new Siemens Solar thin-film product.  The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently verified a new record for thin-film power modules  -- 12.1 percent conversion efficiency  -- for Siemens Solar ST40 large-area copper indium diselenide (CIS) thinfilm module.

    ``With over 50 percent higher performance than other thin-film modules presently in the marketplace, this accomplishment demonstrates major progress toward Department of Energy (DOE) photovoltaic (PV) program goals and proves the outstanding performance for these new CIS PV products", said Chet Farris, Chief Operating Officer, Siemens Solar. ``The collaboration resulted in world-record module performance."

     ``The increased efficiencies in solar technology brings us one step closer to the goal of developing this renewable energy resource for practical use in our everyday lives", said Energy Secretary Bill Richardson.  ``This joint effort between the Department of Energy and Siemens Solar is a concrete example of a public private partnership working to benefit American families." 

     DOE goals move forward significantly with the introduction of this new CIS PV product. This new generation of thin-film products demonstrates practical efficiency (typically over 11 percent efficiency modules), long-term outdoor stability, and great potential for production cost reductions.  For example, Siemens Solar delivered 32 one-by-four foot CIS modules, 1.2 kW, to upgrade the test array at the NREL Outdoor Test Facility in Golden, Colo.  The NREL measured 11.4 percent average efficiency at standard test conditions which is the highest average module efficiency for any thin-film technology.  The array efficiency is 40 percent above the closest thin-film contender.  All the modules delivered to NREL far exceed the 10 percent DOE year 2000 goal for commercial CIS modules. James Rannels, Acting Director, Office of PV and Wind Technology, DOE, stated, ``This is an important research milestone and a stunning achievement."

    CIS research and development at Siemens Solar has been partially funded by the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.  This new thin-film product introduction is one example of the successful fulfillment of DOE and NREL efforts to move promising technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace.  Ongoing programs at NREL in cooperation with companies such as Siemens Solar will support additional advancements.  For example, Siemens Solar participates in national CIS R&D teams to accelerate key thin-film PV technology development. 

     Siemens Solar recently announced the addition of large area ST20 (20 Wp) and ST40 (38 Wp) modules to the CIS product line.  In 1998, Siemens Solar was the first company in the world to start CIS module production by introducing ST5 (5 Wp) and ST10 (10 Wp) modules.  ST5, ST10 and ST20 modules are ideally suited to low power battery-charging applications, with the ST20 especially suitable for applications such in emergency telephones or telemetry systems.  Higher power modules, like the ST40, are also used in grid-connected systems.  Now, Siemens Solar thin-film CIS technology can be applied in applications where efficiency requirements previously limited options to crystalline silicon.  The matte-black solar module, which is particularly homogeneous in appearance, also opens up new possibilities for architects and designers of PV systems integrated with building facades.

     The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory is the nation's leading laboratory for renewable energy research and technology development.  The record setting one-foot by four-foot modules were developed in collaboration with NREL as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Thin-film Photovoltaics Partnership Program.

    The Siemens Solar Group is the world's leading manufacturer in the photovoltaic industry.  As such, they have the technical and marketing capability to make their new technology a global success.  The Siemens Solar Group is comprised of Siemens Solar GmbH in Munich, Germany (a joint venture of Siemens AG and Bayernwerk AG); Siemens Solar Industries, a limited partnership in Camarillo, California; and two joint ventures, Siemens Showa Solar Ltd. in Singapore, and Showa Solar Energy K.K. in Tokyo, Japan.  For more information, see www.siemenssolar.com.

    # # #

     

Note to editors: Digital photo of the NREL Solar array in Golden, Colo., is available.

Contact:
Tina Nickerson at (805)388-6519
FAX: (805)388-6395

 
 

 Siemens Solar panels

Solar panel
From solar panel, the free solar panels
• Ten things you may not know about solar panel •Jump to: navigation, search

A photovoltaic (PV) module that is composed of multiple PV cells. Two or more interconnected PV modules create an array.conservs the energy of THE LIGHT . Electrons from these excited atoms form an electric current, which can be used by external devices. Solar panels were in use over one hundred years ago for water heating in homes. Solar panels can also be made with a specially shaped mirror that concentrates light onto a tube of oil. The oil then heats up, and travels through a vat of water, instantly boiling it. The steam created turns a turbine for power.[1]

Contents [hide]
1 History 
2 How Solar Panels Work 
3 See also 
4 References 



solar panels History
The history of solar panels dates back to 1839, when French physicist Antoine César Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect during an experiment involving an electrolytic cell that was made up of two metal electrodes placed in an electrolyte solution. Becquerel discovered that when his device was exposed to light the amount of electricity generated increased.[2]

Then in 1883, the first genuine solar cell was built by Charles Fritts. Fritts' solar cell was formed by coating sheets of selenium with a thin layer of gold.[3]

Between 1883 and 1941 many scientists, inventors and companies experimented with solar energy. During these years Clarence Kemp, a Baltimore inventor patented the first commercial water heater powered from solar energy. In addition, Albert Einstein published his thesis on the photoelectric effect and a few years later received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his research. William Bailey, an employee of the Carnegie Steel Company, invented the first solar collector with copper coils contained in an insulated box.[2]

In 1941, Russell Ohl, an American inventor who worked for Bell Laboratories, patented the first silicon solar cell. Ohl’s new invention led Bell Laboratories to produce the first crystalline silicon solar panel in 1954. This solar cell achieved a 4% return on energy conversion. In the years that followed, other scientists continued to improve on this original solar cell and began to produce solar cells with 6% efficiency.[4]

The first large scale use for solar electrical energy was space satellites. With government backing much of the research the US was able to produce a solar cell with twenty percent efficiency by 1980 and by early 2000 had produced solar cells with 24% efficiency. As of November 2007 two companies, Spectrolab and Emcore Photovoltaics dominate world solar cell production and have the ability to produce cells with 28% efficiency.[4]


solar panels How Solar Panels Work
The basic element of solar panels is pure silicon. When stripped of impurities, silicon makes an ideal neutral platform for transmission of electrons. In silicon’s natural state, it carries four electrons, but has room for eight. Therefore silicon has room for four more electrons. If a silicon atom comes in contact with another silicon atom, each receives the other atom's four electrons. Eight electrons satisfy the atoms' needs, this creates a strong bond, but there is no positive or negative charge. This material is used on the plates of solar panels. Combining silicon with other elements that have a positive or negative charge can also create solar panels.[5]

For example, phosphorus has five electrons to offer to other atoms. If silicon and phosphorus are combined chemically, the results are a stable eight electrons with an additional free electron. The silicon does not need the free electron, but it can not leave because it is bonded to the other phosphorous atom. Therefore, this silicon and phosphorus plate is considered to be negatively charged.[5]

A positive charge must also be created in order for electricity to flow. Combining silicon with an element such as boron, which only has three electrons to offer, creates a positive charge. A silicon and boron plate still has one spot available for another electron. Therefore, the plate has a positive charge. The two plates are sandwiched together to make solar panels, with conductive wires running between them.[5]

Photons bombard the silicon/phosphorus atoms when the negative plates of solar cells are pointed at the sun. Eventually, the 9th electron is knocked off the outer ring. Since the positive silicon/boron plate draws it into the open spot on its own outer band, this electron doesn't remain free for long. As the sun's photons break off more electrons, electricity is then generated. When all of the conductive wires draw the free electrons away from the plates, there is enough electricity to power low amperage motors or other electronics, although the electricity generated by one solar cell is not very impressive by itself. When electrons are not used or lost to the air they are returned to the negative plate and the entire process begins again.[5]


solar panels See also
Battery (electricity) 
Energy economics 
Photovoltaic array 
Photovoltaics in transport 
Renewable energy 
Solar power satellite 
Solar lamp 

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