According to masdar PV, the increase of over 15 % was made possible over the past six months by in-house process know-how, as a result of which additional and optimised production steps and improved quality checks have been introduced. Masdar PV is thus reinforcing its position as one of the most efficient providers of a-Si thin-film modules.
"We have achieved this substantial increase in the efficiency of our modules because we have consistently focussed on optimising the production line in line with market requirements from the very outset. A decisive factor in this respect was the work undertaken by our expert team, and for the future we see the possibility of increasing the efficiencies of our modules even further", says Dr. Harald Bloeß, Manager Engineering/Transfer at Masdar PV, explaining the reasons for this accomplishment.
Amongst others, this achievement is due to seven 'Inline Metrology' systems, which permit the precise characterisation of the modules. On the basis of the expertise available within the company, further non-proprietary additions and optimisations are now in the pipeline.
"For our customers, this increase in efficiency signifies a cost advantage. For this reason, we are anticipating a further increase in the demand for our modules, which come into their own particularly in diffuse lighting conditions and high environmental temperatures", says Frank Wouters, CEO of Masdar PV.
Taking thin-film into India
Masdar PV has signed a contract for the supply of silicon-based thin-film PV modules for a total of 1.5 MWp in India. The solar modules will be used in new buildings of the Indian construction project developer MAG, who constructs villages under the aspect of sustainability. To begin with, ten of these projects will be implemented over the coming twelve months.
The aim of the project, which Masdar PV is involved in alongside contract partner, IG Solar PVT Ltd, is to construct cost-efficient, sustainable carbon-neutral private houses equipped with renewable energy sources.
As well as Masdar PV solar modules, houses will be fitted with biogas generators, which uses the fermented organic domestic waste as fuel. What is more, all the houses have running water and a gas connection in the kitchen.
“India has major problems in providing a regular energy supply for the population. It is not uncommon for households to be without electricity for eight to ten hours a day. For this reason, we construct energy-self-sufficient villages, which improve India’s energy supply and offer sections of the population which, thus far have only had a poor electricity supply, access to a regular electricity supply based on renewable energy sources”, explains Yogesh Sachdeva, Managing Director of IG Solar, when signing the supply contract in Ichtershausen. With this idea, the enterprise is pursuing a similar concept to the one being implemented by Masdar, the parent company of Masdar PV, in the high-profile project Masdar City near to Abu Dhabi. “Just like Masdar, IG Solar and MAG are pioneers in the field of using renewable energy sources. Here, the vision and basic idea of Masdar City is being realized in small units. This is why we are delighted that Masdar PV has been chosen as our partner for these trend-setting future projects”, says Frank Wouters, Managing Director of Masdar PV. For Masdar PV, this is the second project to be implemented within only two months in India with Masdar PV modules.
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