Solar group 3S, the world’s market leader for production equipment for the manufacture of solar modules. and CEA Liten (Laboratory of Innovation for New Energy Technologies), a French technological research organization, have signed a three year agreement to collaborate on the development of photovoltaic modules based on silicon-based heterojunction? solar cells and of associated tools to produce these type of modules.
By using the INES (National Institute of Solar Energy) platforms, CEA Liten conducts research on improving the performance of silicon photovoltaic cells by optimization of manufacturing processes and the introduction of new cell designs based on micro and nanotechnologies. A vanguard technology developed by CEA Liten is the heterojunction solar cell with efficiencies targeting well over 20%.
The objective of the Joint Development Program between 3S and CEA Liten is to speed up development of innovative applications based on these highly-efficient heterojunction solar cells. The technical challenges that need to be tackled are related to dedicated processes for the interconnection and encapsulation of these heterojunction cells into solar modules, as well as to subsequent testing of these modules. In all three domains 3S has a proven track record of process and equipment innovation.
CEA Liten already has a number of equipment installed in the INES. Created in 2006, INES has successfully completed its first phase and its future was assured by the President of the French Republic during his visit on June 9, 2009. In his statement Mr. Sarkozy said he hoped the creation of new platforms in the field of renewable energy, including INES for solar energy. Government support for developing the second phase of INES is acquired.
Over the last decade 3S has been leading in the entire value chain of photovoltaic (PV) module development and manufacturing through their subsidiaries SOMONT (string soldering), 3S Swiss Solar Systems (module lamination) and PASAN (module testing). This has made 3S the major supplier of production equipment for the manufacture of solar modules. Under the terms of the Joint Development Agreement 3S will deliver expertise and equipment necessary for the interconnection and encapsulation of heterojunction cells.
The equipment will be installed at INES, in le Bourget-du-Lac (Savoie, French Alps).
The 3S expertise and technological capability on cell interconnection and encapsulation for module fabrication will boost heterojunction module development in the INES laboratories.
In a next step the Joint Development Program will exploit the inherent bifacial potential of the heterojunction cells, which offers the possibility to harvest the energy of the sun from both sides of the cell. When this bifacial cell potential is fully exploited during design and manufacture of a bifacial module, the resulting module efficiency can be increased by as much as 30%. The long-year experience of 3S concerning PV module design combined with the knowledge present at INES will also lead to significant progress in this field.
3S Industries AG
The solar concern 3S with its holding company 3S Industries and its subsidiaries Somont, 3S Swiss Solar Systems and Pasan, is the world's market leader for production equipment for the manufacture of solar modules. The Group covers the entire value-creation chain of solar module production and combines the key competences in the fields of soldering, laminating and testing under a single roof. Production installations from the solar concern guarantee stable, reliable processes, a high throughput and outstanding product quality with low wastage and high up-times.
With the automatic string soldering machines from Somont, the laminating lines from 3S Swiss Solar Systems and the testers from Pasan, customers around the globe produce solar modules whose performance, useful life, quality and output match the highest demands. The range encompasses individual machines as well as turnkey production lines with varying degrees of automation. 3S Swiss Solar Systems also develops and produces advanced, building-integrated solar systems for roofs, facades and shading solutions and makes full use of its comprehensive know-how in photovoltaics and production technology.
The headquarters of 3S Industries as well as the factories operated by 3S Swiss Solar Systems are located in Switzerland. The domicile and factory of Pasan is also in Switzerland, whereas Somont is located in Germany. The solar concern is also present with subsidiaries in the USA and Asia.
CEA Liten & INES
CEA is a government-funded technological research organisation. Drawing on its excellence in fundamental research, its activities cover three main areas: Energy, Information and Health Technologies, and Defence and Security. Based mainly in Grenoble, the Laboratory for Innovation of New Energy Technologies (CEA Liten) and its 600 researchers aim at developing new energy technologies and focus on three keys areas: solar energy and low energy consumption buildings, electrical technologies for transportation and nanomaterials for energy.
CEA Liten has developed strong links with industry and offers cutting-edge semi-industrial production facilities to allow rapid transfer of the technologies and processes developed to its commercial partners. CEA Liten has acquired significant laboratory-scale know-how in high efficiency photovoltaic cells by using micro and nanotechnologies. It is the main contributor to the French National Institute for Solar Energy, INES, a centre of excellence bringing together French expertise and resources in solar energy technology. Created in 2006 and located at the Technolac campus in Le-Bourget-du-Lac near Chambery (Savoie), INES currently employs over 150 researchers. The research interests of INES include both thermal and photovoltaic solar energy.
The photovoltaic activities at INES cover the complete PV value chain, including processes for producing solar grade silicon, silicon and organic solar cells, new processes for module manufacturing, system integration and building integrated photovoltaic, battery storage systems and intelligent networks as well as outdoor test facilities.
Contact 3S Industries AG:
Dr. Anja Knaus
Head of Corporate Communications
Schachenweg 24
CH 3250 Lyss
fon +41(0)32 391 1136 fax +41(0)32 391 1112
anja.knaus@3-s.ch
www-3-s.ch
Contact CEA-Liten:
Clément Moulet,
Press officer
fon +334.38.78.03.26
clement.moulet@cea.fr
www.cea.fr
www.liten.cea.fr
www.ines-solaire.fr
By using the INES (National Institute of Solar Energy) platforms, CEA Liten conducts research on improving the performance of silicon photovoltaic cells by optimization of manufacturing processes and the introduction of new cell designs based on micro and nanotechnologies. A vanguard technology developed by CEA Liten is the heterojunction solar cell with efficiencies targeting well over 20%.
The objective of the Joint Development Program between 3S and CEA Liten is to speed up development of innovative applications based on these highly-efficient heterojunction solar cells. The technical challenges that need to be tackled are related to dedicated processes for the interconnection and encapsulation of these heterojunction cells into solar modules, as well as to subsequent testing of these modules. In all three domains 3S has a proven track record of process and equipment innovation.
CEA Liten already has a number of equipment installed in the INES. Created in 2006, INES has successfully completed its first phase and its future was assured by the President of the French Republic during his visit on June 9, 2009. In his statement Mr. Sarkozy said he hoped the creation of new platforms in the field of renewable energy, including INES for solar energy. Government support for developing the second phase of INES is acquired.
Over the last decade 3S has been leading in the entire value chain of photovoltaic (PV) module development and manufacturing through their subsidiaries SOMONT (string soldering), 3S Swiss Solar Systems (module lamination) and PASAN (module testing). This has made 3S the major supplier of production equipment for the manufacture of solar modules. Under the terms of the Joint Development Agreement 3S will deliver expertise and equipment necessary for the interconnection and encapsulation of heterojunction cells.
The equipment will be installed at INES, in le Bourget-du-Lac (Savoie, French Alps).
The 3S expertise and technological capability on cell interconnection and encapsulation for module fabrication will boost heterojunction module development in the INES laboratories.
In a next step the Joint Development Program will exploit the inherent bifacial potential of the heterojunction cells, which offers the possibility to harvest the energy of the sun from both sides of the cell. When this bifacial cell potential is fully exploited during design and manufacture of a bifacial module, the resulting module efficiency can be increased by as much as 30%. The long-year experience of 3S concerning PV module design combined with the knowledge present at INES will also lead to significant progress in this field.
3S Industries AG
The solar concern 3S with its holding company 3S Industries and its subsidiaries Somont, 3S Swiss Solar Systems and Pasan, is the world's market leader for production equipment for the manufacture of solar modules. The Group covers the entire value-creation chain of solar module production and combines the key competences in the fields of soldering, laminating and testing under a single roof. Production installations from the solar concern guarantee stable, reliable processes, a high throughput and outstanding product quality with low wastage and high up-times.
With the automatic string soldering machines from Somont, the laminating lines from 3S Swiss Solar Systems and the testers from Pasan, customers around the globe produce solar modules whose performance, useful life, quality and output match the highest demands. The range encompasses individual machines as well as turnkey production lines with varying degrees of automation. 3S Swiss Solar Systems also develops and produces advanced, building-integrated solar systems for roofs, facades and shading solutions and makes full use of its comprehensive know-how in photovoltaics and production technology.
The headquarters of 3S Industries as well as the factories operated by 3S Swiss Solar Systems are located in Switzerland. The domicile and factory of Pasan is also in Switzerland, whereas Somont is located in Germany. The solar concern is also present with subsidiaries in the USA and Asia.
CEA Liten & INES
CEA is a government-funded technological research organisation. Drawing on its excellence in fundamental research, its activities cover three main areas: Energy, Information and Health Technologies, and Defence and Security. Based mainly in Grenoble, the Laboratory for Innovation of New Energy Technologies (CEA Liten) and its 600 researchers aim at developing new energy technologies and focus on three keys areas: solar energy and low energy consumption buildings, electrical technologies for transportation and nanomaterials for energy.
CEA Liten has developed strong links with industry and offers cutting-edge semi-industrial production facilities to allow rapid transfer of the technologies and processes developed to its commercial partners. CEA Liten has acquired significant laboratory-scale know-how in high efficiency photovoltaic cells by using micro and nanotechnologies. It is the main contributor to the French National Institute for Solar Energy, INES, a centre of excellence bringing together French expertise and resources in solar energy technology. Created in 2006 and located at the Technolac campus in Le-Bourget-du-Lac near Chambery (Savoie), INES currently employs over 150 researchers. The research interests of INES include both thermal and photovoltaic solar energy.
The photovoltaic activities at INES cover the complete PV value chain, including processes for producing solar grade silicon, silicon and organic solar cells, new processes for module manufacturing, system integration and building integrated photovoltaic, battery storage systems and intelligent networks as well as outdoor test facilities.
Contact 3S Industries AG:
Dr. Anja Knaus
Head of Corporate Communications
Schachenweg 24
CH 3250 Lyss
fon +41(0)32 391 1136 fax +41(0)32 391 1112
anja.knaus@3-s.ch
www-3-s.ch
Contact CEA-Liten:
Clément Moulet,
Press officer
fon +334.38.78.03.26
clement.moulet@cea.fr
www.cea.fr
www.liten.cea.fr
www.ines-solaire.fr
