Gigawatt-scale tandem solar cell production by 2022? Would you take that bet?
1366 Technologies CEO Frank van Mierlo is a betting man and he’s betting your humble narrator that high-efficiency tandem solar cells are the near-term commercial future of solar.
Solar startup wins $7.6 million in VC funding for innovative ribbon silicon furnaces
Leading Edge Equipment Technologies falls in the kerfless solar wafer or direct solar wafer category. According to the company, its “drop-in” manufacturing technology reduces wafer costs by 50%, increases commercial solar panel power by up to 7%, and reduces manufacturing emissions by over 50%. It’s the emissions piece that might be winning over investors.
1366 Technologies adds $18M in pursuit of cheaper silicon solar cells
The company’s technology falls in the ‘kerfless’ wafer category: Instead of sawing silicon ingots into wafers, a time-consuming and wasteful process, 1366’s technology forms wafers directly using molten silicon.
1366’s Direct Wafers achieve 20.1% and 20.3% cell efficiencies
Independently verified by Fraunhofer ISE CalLab, the company and partner Hanwha Q Cells have reached these milestones using PERC cell technology.
1366 reaches 19.9% cell efficiency with PERC
The company has simultaneously announced its the first deployment of cells made from its Direct Wafer products in a 500 kW commercial solar array in Japan.
1366, Hanwha achieve 19.6% multicrystalline cell efficiency
Using 1366’s groundbreaking kerfless silicon wafers and Hanwha’s proprietary PERC cell process, the cells’ remarkable performance was verified by an independent testing firm.
Rayton Solar tries to revolutionize wafer production
Rayton Solar is trying to revolutionize the way solar panel manufacturers produce their products, claiming its silicon ingot/wafer creation process will shave 60% off the per-watt prices of this crucial component of solar systems.
Wacker Chemie partners with 1366 Technologies
The world’s second-largest polysilicon maker will provide the kerfless wafer startup with a $15 million equity investment, a supply of polysilicon and technical assistance.
