Directory:AVA Solar Inc
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W. S. Sampath, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University has developed a method for manufacturing low-cost, high-efficiency solar panels, bringing solar electricity to approximately the same cost as traditional grid electricity.
AVA Solar Inc is expected to commence mass production of the panels by beginning of 2009. Its proprietary technology will significantly reduce the cost of generating solar electricity. The factory will be able to produce enough panels in one year to generate 200 megawatts if all the panels were running at once, which is enough to power around 40,000 U.S. homes.
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Official Website
- http://www.avasolar.com/
- Technology (http://www.avasolar.com/technology/avatech.php)
- PV Modules (http://www.avasolar.com/products/moudles.php)
- Applications (http://www.avasolar.com/products/applications.php)
- Press Released (http://www.avasolar.com/news/press.php)
- Company Overview (http://www.avasolar.com/about/overview.php)
Manufacturing Edge
Prof. Sampath has developed a continuous, automated manufacturing process for solar panels using glass coating with a cadmium telluride thin film instead of the standard high-cost crystalline silicon. Additional savings are realized in that the manufacturing can be done at a very high rate and yield. Also, the resulting panels have a relatively high efficiency (11-13%) for conversion of the sun's energy to electricity. [1] (http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=14932)
Quoting from http://www.avasolar.com/technology/avatech.php
- High throughput – Because we do not have to batch process steps and only enter and exit vacuum once, we can achieve very high throughputs on our equipment.
- Low waste – Our processing chambers are specially designed to minimize material waste. This not only cuts our processing costs and minimizes recycling, it also allows us to run our equipment continually without the need for frequent chamber cleaning.
- High yield – Due to our tightly controlled process parameters and ability to ensure highly uniform thickness of our thin films, we can achieve extremely high yields.
Cost
The panels are expected to cost the consumer as little as $2 per watt, which is roughly half as much as what present solar panels cost.
- Correction
- "We have not set a final price for the modules yet, so the information under 'Cost' is not accurate." (Rebecca Morris, Project Coordinator, AVA Solar; May 09, 2008)
Advantages
The process is a low waste process with less than 2% of the materials used in production needing to be recycled. It also makes better use of raw materials since the process converts solar energy into electricity more efficiently. Cadmium telluride solar panels require 100 times less semiconductor material than high-cost crystalline silicon panels. [2] (http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=14932)
Profiles
Company: AVA Solar Inc.
http://www.avasolar.com/about/overview.php
"AVA Solar has developed a thin film photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing technology which is the culmination of 15 years of scientific and engineering effort. During all aspects of this development, mass manufacturing was emphasized.
"By the end of 2008, AVA Solar intends to be the lowest cost PV module manufacturer in the world – with a cost below $1 / watt."
"AVA Solar recently won the DOE Inventions and Innovations (http://www1.eere.energy.gov/inventions/)’ Category III award, awarded only once in the 25-year history of this prestigious program."
The new facility is anticipated to employ as many as 500 people.
Inventor: W.S. Sampath
W.S. Sampath, Professor of mechanical engineering at Colorado State University, has been refining this technology since 1991.
Coverage
In the News
- Solar plant seen for state (http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_6802112) (The Denver Post; Sep 2007)
- Solar-panel plant could employ 500 (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/energy/article/0,2777,DRMN_23914_5689842,00.html) (Rocky Mountain News; Sep 2007)
- Professor improves solar panels' efficiency (http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070905/CSUZONE01/709050333/1002) (Coloradoan; Sep 2007)
- Solar power (http://www.avasolar.com/news/newsDisplay.php?i=10) (The Tribune (Sep 2007)
- New Low Cost Solar Panels Ready for Mass Production (http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=14932&SectionID=4) (IndustryWeek; Sep. 10, 2007)
- New Solar Panels Produced at Less Than $1 Per Watt (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/09/industry_week.php) (TreeHugger; Sept. 24, 2007)
- Method for $1/Watt Solar Panels Will Soon See Commercial Use (http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/23/1639205) (Slashdot; Sept. 23, 2007)
- On Nov. 1, 2007, the company wrote: "We are no longer making reference to the 'at less than $1/watt'."
- AVA Solar Starts Solar Panel Production (http://www.avasolar.com/news/newsDisplay.php?i=6) (www.techrockies.com; Sep 2007)
- Sun shines on solar startup: New plant, 500 jobs on horizon for AVA Solar (http://www.avasolar.com/news/newsDisplay.php?i=5) (Northern *[Colorado Business Report; Aug 2007)
- Solar Breakthrough: Fort Collins firm hits pay dirt (http://www.avasolar.com/news/newsDisplay.php?i=4) (North Forty News; Aug 2007)
Related Technologies
- First Solar stands alone (http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9821209-54.html?tag=cd.blog) - First Solar (http://www.firstsolar.com/), which makes cadmium-telluride (CdTe) solar cells, is having one of those years that corporate managers and investors dream about. So the question is, how come they don't have any major competitors? Copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) solar cells aren't even on the market. CdTe works and there are customers. (CNET News; Nov. 20, 2007)
- Cadmium telluride photovoltaic modules (http://media.cleantech.com/2020/q-cells-buys-solar-fields-for-5m) - Germany-based Q-Cells (http://www.qcells.de/cmadmin_2_474_0.html) has acquired Ohio's Solar Fields in a deal that merges their production of cadmium telluride thin film photovoltaic modules. The first prototype facility with a capacity of 25 megawatts is expected to start production in the first quarter of 2008. (Cleantech.com; Nov. 1, 2007)
- PrimeStar to commercialize NREL solar cells (http://www.insidegreentech.com/node/805) - PrimeStar Solar (http://www.primestarsolar.com/) announced an agreement to commercialize high efficiency photovoltaic (PV) technology developed by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (http://www.nrel.gov/pv/cdte/) (NREL). The agreement is to transition NREL's record 16.5% efficiency cadmium telluride (CdTe) technology to commercial module production. (Inside Greentech; Feb. 28, 2007)
Contact
AVA Solar, Inc.
4557 Denrose Court, Unit B
Ft. Collins, CO 80524
Phone: (970) 472-1580
Fax: (970) 482-3999
email: info@avasolar.com (mailto:info@avasolar.com?subject=AVA_Solar_featured_at_PESWiki.com)
See also
GENERAL:
- Directory:Solar - index of resources
- PowerPedia:Solar Energy - Encyclopedic review of history and future
MODALITIES:
- Directory:Concentrated Solar Power
- Directory:Home Generation:Solar PV
- Directory:Home Generation:Solar Heating
- Directory:Thin Film Solar
- Directory:Solar:Photosynthesis Imitation
- Directory:Solar Tower
- Directory:Floating Solar Chimney
- Directory:Space Based Solar Power
- Directory:Solar Sails
INFRASTRUCTURE
- Directory:Plastic Solar Cells
- Directory:Silicon - more efficient uses, alternatives, methods
- Directory:Black Silicon
- Directory:Synchronous Solar Heliostat
- Directory:Solar:Installation and Consultation
- Directory:Solar:Largest
APPLICATIONS:
- Directory:Solar:Chargers
- Directory:Solar:Vehicles
- Directory:Solar Hydrogen
- OS:Solar Ethanol - distiller design
- Directory:Solar Pavement - black-body absorption of the asphalt
- Other Directory listings
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