- Email: [email protected]
Heraeus expands silver paste line for solar cells
Company showcase
Heraeus expands silver paste line for solar cells The HeraSol line of screen-printable silver front side conductor pastes from German precious metals and technology group Heraeus, now offers tailored solutions for either Silicon Nitride (SiNx) or titanium oxide (TiOx) anti-reflective coatings on single or multicrystalline wafers, the company reports. Developed by the USA, Pennsylvania-based Heraeus Thick Film Materials business unit, the SOL950 series of fired pastes is said to provide higher efficiency, due to low contact resistance and high fill factors. In addition, the pastes penetrate the anti-reflective coating during the firing process and provide low contact
resistance. The series is cadmium-free and cofireable with commercial back side metallisations, a statement explained. Heraeus worked with the University Center of Excellence for Photovoltaics, at the Georgia Institute of Technology, to optimise the paste formulation. Independent testing labs in Germany also conducted tests to ensure that the HeraSol line is compatible with current PV materials. David Malanga, worldwide technical service manager for the Thick Film Materials Division, said that the new pastes “expand the company’s product portfolio for solar cell applications, which also includes a line of sputtering targets and connector ribbons”.
Sol donates solar PV lighting for Peru earthquake victims Florida-based Sol Inc. is to donate 42 solar PV lighting systems to 11 communities in Peru, affected by last August’s 8.0 magnitude earthquake. Philanthropist David Russell, who funded the donation with the assistance of Practical Action of Peru and local Governments, also facilitated a partnership with Sol to ensure that the lights were installed in areas of maximum need. Sol claims to be the oldest manufacturer focused on outdoor solar PV lighting. The systems light streets, pathways, and community “plaza” squares. Michael W. Sonnenfeldt, Sol’s chairman, said, “public lighting is often critically important to the economic and social activities of a community, and our solar lights will enhance the safety and security of these communities.”
Investor to boost biomass stake Low Carbon Accelerator (LCA) Ltd. has raised its equity stake in Eco-Solids International – a sewageto-energy company – to 45%. LCA’s total investment is £850,000. As part of a proposed wider third party financing round, LCA’s investment will help EcoSolids market and develop CELLRUPTOR and the ES-PROCESS. CELLRUPTOR is a cell disintegration technology that enhances the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. It is also used for the disruption of oil-bearing microalgae. The ES-PROCESS is a lime-stabilisation process for treating sewage sludge and other industrial wastes. LCA has also acquired new shares in EnergyMixx AG, a Swiss company, with a value of up to £2.93 million, in exchange for LCA’s entire holding in HelioDynamics Ltd. EnergyMixx is a major customer for HelioDynamics’ solar PV system.
XL produces algae at the Super Trough Arizona, USA-based XL Renewables Inc. has developed a cost-effective, efficient system to grow algae biomass as a source of high-grade oil for biofuel and edible oils, as well as proteins for food and animal feed. In large-scale commercial applications, algae biomass could circumvent and relieve the current “food-for-fuel” controversy. Ben Cloud, XL’s president and coo, said, “the emergence of algae biomass as a renewable source of vegetable oils, proteins and carbohydrates is what our world needs today to lower the demand pressures on corn and soybeans.” The XL Super Trough will enable algae biomass producers to extract three primary products: high-grade oil for biofuel production; fatty acids for omega and edible oils; and animal feed high in protein. The key component is the Super Trough liner, which provides integrated aeration and lighting systems to optimise algae biomass production. The laser-levelled troughs are 18-inch deep and 1,250 feet long. The company is also planning a 400 acre algae farm and processing facility in Western Arizona.
Papendorf tool monitors large-scale PV plants The SOL. Connect Control Centre from Papendorf Software Engineering GmbH is a new, manufacturer-independent tool to monitor and visualise large-scale PV plants. This “industrial computer” tests and visualises the processes and measured values of sub-plants independently, and triggers an alarm when an error occurs. According to a company source, the system is openly configurable and can be adapted to users’ individual needs at any time. Independent of web portals or servers, the system groups, builds sums of output and entries, and prioritises malfunctions, so that monitoring personnel can maintain an overview of largescale plants with up to 500 inverters of differing manufacturers. Output data can be visualised on large displays. Papendorf provides software services and hardware to system operators and manufacturers. The spectrum of products ranges from data loggers to completely automated monitoring solutions for solar power plants. renewable energy focus
ref0904_pg10_11.indd 11
July/August 2008
11
10/07/2008 10:30:48
Heraeus expands silver paste line for solar cells The HeraSol line of screen-printable silver front side conductor pastes from German precious metals and technology group Heraeus, now offers tailored solutions for either Silicon Nitride (SiNx) or titanium oxide (TiOx) anti-reflective coatings on single or multicrystalline wafers, the company reports. Developed by the USA, Pennsylvania-based Heraeus Thick Film Materials business unit, the SOL950 series of fired pastes is said to provide higher efficiency, due to low contact resistance and high fill factors. In addition, the pastes penetrate the anti-reflective coating during the firing process and provide low contact
resistance. The series is cadmium-free and cofireable with commercial back side metallisations, a statement explained. Heraeus worked with the University Center of Excellence for Photovoltaics, at the Georgia Institute of Technology, to optimise the paste formulation. Independent testing labs in Germany also conducted tests to ensure that the HeraSol line is compatible with current PV materials. David Malanga, worldwide technical service manager for the Thick Film Materials Division, said that the new pastes “expand the company’s product portfolio for solar cell applications, which also includes a line of sputtering targets and connector ribbons”.
Sol donates solar PV lighting for Peru earthquake victims Florida-based Sol Inc. is to donate 42 solar PV lighting systems to 11 communities in Peru, affected by last August’s 8.0 magnitude earthquake. Philanthropist David Russell, who funded the donation with the assistance of Practical Action of Peru and local Governments, also facilitated a partnership with Sol to ensure that the lights were installed in areas of maximum need. Sol claims to be the oldest manufacturer focused on outdoor solar PV lighting. The systems light streets, pathways, and community “plaza” squares. Michael W. Sonnenfeldt, Sol’s chairman, said, “public lighting is often critically important to the economic and social activities of a community, and our solar lights will enhance the safety and security of these communities.”
Investor to boost biomass stake Low Carbon Accelerator (LCA) Ltd. has raised its equity stake in Eco-Solids International – a sewageto-energy company – to 45%. LCA’s total investment is £850,000. As part of a proposed wider third party financing round, LCA’s investment will help EcoSolids market and develop CELLRUPTOR and the ES-PROCESS. CELLRUPTOR is a cell disintegration technology that enhances the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. It is also used for the disruption of oil-bearing microalgae. The ES-PROCESS is a lime-stabilisation process for treating sewage sludge and other industrial wastes. LCA has also acquired new shares in EnergyMixx AG, a Swiss company, with a value of up to £2.93 million, in exchange for LCA’s entire holding in HelioDynamics Ltd. EnergyMixx is a major customer for HelioDynamics’ solar PV system.
XL produces algae at the Super Trough Arizona, USA-based XL Renewables Inc. has developed a cost-effective, efficient system to grow algae biomass as a source of high-grade oil for biofuel and edible oils, as well as proteins for food and animal feed. In large-scale commercial applications, algae biomass could circumvent and relieve the current “food-for-fuel” controversy. Ben Cloud, XL’s president and coo, said, “the emergence of algae biomass as a renewable source of vegetable oils, proteins and carbohydrates is what our world needs today to lower the demand pressures on corn and soybeans.” The XL Super Trough will enable algae biomass producers to extract three primary products: high-grade oil for biofuel production; fatty acids for omega and edible oils; and animal feed high in protein. The key component is the Super Trough liner, which provides integrated aeration and lighting systems to optimise algae biomass production. The laser-levelled troughs are 18-inch deep and 1,250 feet long. The company is also planning a 400 acre algae farm and processing facility in Western Arizona.
Papendorf tool monitors large-scale PV plants The SOL. Connect Control Centre from Papendorf Software Engineering GmbH is a new, manufacturer-independent tool to monitor and visualise large-scale PV plants. This “industrial computer” tests and visualises the processes and measured values of sub-plants independently, and triggers an alarm when an error occurs. According to a company source, the system is openly configurable and can be adapted to users’ individual needs at any time. Independent of web portals or servers, the system groups, builds sums of output and entries, and prioritises malfunctions, so that monitoring personnel can maintain an overview of largescale plants with up to 500 inverters of differing manufacturers. Output data can be visualised on large displays. Papendorf provides software services and hardware to system operators and manufacturers. The spectrum of products ranges from data loggers to completely automated monitoring solutions for solar power plants. renewable energy focus
ref0904_pg10_11.indd 11
July/August 2008
11
10/07/2008 10:30:48