Oerlikon Solar has passed all tests required forits Micromorph thin-film silicon solar PV modules to receive TÜVRheinland’s IEC certification.

The TÜV master certificateenables Oerlikon Solar’s customers to accelerate their own IECcertification process, reducing time-to-market for certifiedhigh-performance modules from six months to less than six weeks. Thecertification is valid worldwide and is just one part of theestablished portfolio of solutions Oerlikon Solar offers its customersto enable rapid ramp-ups to mass production of thin-film solar PVmodules.

"Oerlikon Solar enables its customers to significantlyreduce their time to market for IEC certified modules, and guaranteesleading module performance with the highest levels of reliability andcost-effective processes," said Jeannine Sargent, CEO of Oerlikon Solar.

Oerlikonsuccessfully completed both IEC 61646 (Module Performance Test) and IEC61730 (Module Safety Test). TÜV Rheinland, recognized globally for itsmodule certification, put the modules through months of rigoroustesting before issuing the IEC master certificate. Accelerated lifetests for climate (changing of climates, coldness, warmth, humidity)and UV exposure were conducted in addition to mechanical impact tests(hail, wind suction, wind pressure, snow). All tests were passedsuccessfully.

"We believe Oerlikon Solar is one of the premierequipment and module technology providers in the thin-film siliconsolar PV market. They have proven their ability to scale a world-classtechnology and process to mass production, and passed all of ourtests," states Willi Vaassen, Head of Renewable Energy division, TÜVRheinland.

Leading efficiency and power output
Oerlikon’standem-junction Micromorph process improves solar cell efficiency by upto 50 percent and increases overall module power, offering a keycompetitive advantage for solar PV manufacturers.

TheMicromorph process significantly boosts solar cell efficiency by addinga second microcrystalline absorber to the amorphous silicon (a-Si)layer. This layer converts the energy of the red- and near-infraredspectrum, yielding efficiency gains of up to 50 percent.

TheMicromorph technology also bolsters overall module power, enablingcustomers to produce high-performance thin-film silicon solar PVmodules at competitive cost.

Unsurpassed time-to-market
Inearly 2008, Oerlikon Solar implemented the world’s first Micromorph®production line at its customer Inventux in Berlin, Germany, andrapidly brought it to full production. "We were extremely impressed athow quickly and professionally Oerlikon Solar’s expert team was able toready our factory for mass production and further enhance moduleperformance," said Volko Loewenstein, chairman of Inventux.

OerlikonSolar is currently in the process of ramping four additionalMicromorph® factories (Auria Solar, Chint, Heliosphera, Pramac), aswell as two factories using its Amorph technology (Tianwei, Gadir). Thecombined 2009 ramp projects represent a production capacity of over 240MWp globally bringing the cumulative shipped capacity of Oerlikon Solarto 600 MWp in the last two years.

Record performance and IEC certification
Justrecently, Inventux announced record efficiencies achieved in real-timemass production. All panels where produced with Oerlikon Solar’sproprietary Micromorph tandem junction technology. The 1.4 square-metermodules exceeded 9 percent stabilized efficiency during the course ofhigh-volume production and reached over 120 watt power output.

OnApril 27, 2009, Inventux successfully passed all tests required forcertification to IEC 61646 by TÜV Rheinland. This achievement reflectsthe first for a European based manufacturer of tandem thin film siliconmodules.

Expanding customer and partner relationships
Agrowing number of global customers are ramping up Oerlikon Solar’sleading thin-film solar PV technology. Recent sales to customersinclude Tianwei and Chint (Mainland China), Sun Well Solar and AuriaSolar Co. Ltd. (Taiwan), Inventux, ersol Thin Film GmbH, SCHOTT SolarAG (Germany), Pramac SpA (Italy), Gadir Solar (Spain) and Heliosphera(Greece).

Oerlikon Solar has significant partnerships withleading industrial partners such as Tokyo Electron (sales and customerservice) and Flextronics (manufacturing) to guarantee comprehensivecustomer service and support and rapid scalability throughout differentgeographies. 

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