SolarPA, based in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania, has achieved an absolute efficiency of 1% by applying its in house NanoCoat on Motech Solar Cells.
This is done by converting solar cells with 17.3% efficiency into cells with 18.3% average efficiency. SolarPA’s CEO, Dr. Robert Castellano stated that this advancement enables Motech and other polycrystalline solar cell plant to enhance its efficiency by 1%.
Currently, SolarPA is assessing different technologies such as screen printing and dip coating to deposit its proprietary nanocrystal coating at production throughputs. Application of NanoCoat is performed after a solar cell is produced and thus, it does not disturb the production line.
It is expected that the installation of over 20 GW of solar cells will take place in 2011, which is higher compared to the 14 GW in 2010. In addition, solar cell manufacturers in China produce over 50% of the global solar cells and export over 90%. Worldwide solar manufacturers continuously struggle to enhance solar cell efficiency and decrease production costs.