Thin Film Technology Applications in Industry

CSIRO Materials and Engineering Division at Lindfield hosted on Wednesday 22nd October 2008, the Thin Film Technology Applications in Industry event. The outstanding event was attended by more than 50 representatives from local Sydney industry, who enjoyed several key presentations on the topic and a site tour of the exceptional & world leading facilities at CSIRO.

The Greater Western Sydney Economic Development Board (GWSEDB) and the Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD) were proud to present Thin Film Technology Applications in Industry as a part of the ongoing Innovation in Manufacturing Series.

CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering is one of CSIRO's largest Divisions. The division provides a coordinated approach to materials design, creation, characterisation and application to a wide range of industries. Their focus is to work in partnership with Australian industries to deliver exciting new technology outcomes.

Thin Film technology is revolutionizing materials and their properties in many key industries. These industries include computers, semiconductors, microelectronics, food, and nanotechnology, metallurgical materials in aerospace and advanced engineering, mining, fabrics and clothing and in coatings for biomed and medical devices.

Dr Avi Bendavid, Research Scientist, CSIRO Materials Science & Engineering Division, spoke on the various uses of Thin Films, which play a key role in many technological and sophisticated industries including microelectronics, optoelectronics, biomedical and sensors. In addition thin films perform a critical function in data storage devices. Such devices include magnetic memory such as hard and floppy disks, and in optical CD memories. Rapid progress and advancement has been achieved in thin film technology over the last two decades in the synthesis of new materials, advanced deposition methods, characterisation and applications.

Benjamin Johnston of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) also presented on the day; ANFF was established in 2007 under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). ANFF links 7 university-based nodes around Australia to provide researchers and industry with state-of-the-art fabrication facilities. The capability provided by ANFF enables users to process hard materials (metals, semiconductors, composites and ceramics) and soft materials (polymers, and polymer-biological moieties) and transform these into new structures that have application in sensors, medical devices, nanophotonics and nanoelectronics. For more information see www.anff.org.au

Professor Mark Hoffman, Head of School of Materials Science, University of NSW (UNSW) and Dr Nagarajan Valanoor, Senior Lecturer, School of Material Science, UNSW, presented the university’s latest thin film technologies. The School of Materials Science & Engineering at UNSW has research efforts ranging from the development of function thin films to abrasion and wear resistant coatings. The School houses a Pulsed Laser Deposition Facility used to synthesise thin film coatings of functional oxides (such as ferroelectrics and dielectrics), superhard nanolayered metallic films and other systems such as a metallic Ti, TiN and transition metal oxides. A large effort takes place in the development of new coating systems for a broad range of applications utilising advanced microscopy and functional property characterisation and finite element modelling.

The Board’s General Manager, Mr Bob Germaine, said
“Today we have seen how Australian research expertise in Thin Film technologies is now delivering a capability in super hard and wear resistant coatings.

We saw how dies for the coins at the Australian Mint are now lasting 5-10 times longer by utilising these new non toxic, super hard, coatings.”

• Nombre: Juan J. Núñez C.
• Asignatura: CRF.
• Fuente: http://www.gws.org.au/page.asp?id=64
  

The Highest Performing Thin Film Products

At HelioVolt, we are driving solar innovation to power a sustainable world. We work hard to ensure our modules are the highest performing thin film products on the market. We work closely with our partners to optimize our products and system designs to best utilize our unique value proposition for every application.

Commercial roof tops

Complex rooftop installations require novel solutions to adapt to existing building orientation, roof structure, shading and wind load. HelioVolt has developed an ultra-efficient solution resulting in superior diffused light performance while maintaining high energy yield with low-tilt mounting.

HelioVolt has relationships with leading BOS providers to ensure compatibility for the most cost-effective implementation, even in complex building environments.

Ground mount
Utility scale solar power calls for reliable high performance modules. HelioVolt modules deliver impressive returns with high power from next generation thin-film technology. With 10 to 20% higher performance than today's c-Si PV technologies, our products are designed to yield the highest energy harvest versus peak power rating.

Residential rooftops

Solar system applications for our homes require the perfect combination of HelioVolt energy yield and aesthetics. Limited options in existing roof orientation can present a challenge for c-Si solar system installations, creating an opportunity for high performance thin film modules.

BIPV

HelioVolt has invested years in developing relationships with leading building material manufacturers and some of the world's top architects in order to deliver the most efficient and cost effective solar solutions for the integrated building environment. We focus on seamlessly incorporating our solar products into building materials to develop variable glass and wall panel sizes while providing the highest efficiency thin-film products available. Only CIGS delivers efficiencies over 10% with dark and uniform color and reflectance properties to offer both maximum energy production and architecturally aesthetic design.

Custom

HelioVolt's technology is the most versatile technology platform. From fields to rooftops and buildings and finally custom structures, such as car shading, HelioVolt's high-performance and aesthetic attributes make our modules ideal for the most demanding climates and applications.

• Nombre: Juan J. Núñez C.
• Asignatura: CRF.
• Fuente: http://www.heliovolt.net/products/applications.php
  

Driving Distributed Solar Energy Growth

HelioVolt modules enable the rapid growth of distributed solar energy. Our glass laminate modules are compatible with existing industry installation tools and practices, and do not require complex and expensive custom mounting solutions. The frameless modules can be deployed in commercial and residential rooftops, ground mount utility scale solar farms, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and custom applications like car parking solar shades.

HelioVolt modules represent the next generation thin film solar technology:

• Our products deliver superior ROI with high efficiency thin-film CIGS technology.
• We design our products to deliver the highest energy harvest versus peak power rating with 10 to 20% higher performance than c-Si PV technologies.
• HelioVolt modules do not contain any hazardous levels of environmentally toxic chemicals or metals and do not require end-of-life recycling provisions.
• Glass-Glass laminate construction has been selected for our first products for durability and superb weathering characteristics.
• Our products are architecturally aesthetic with uniform black appearance.
• To provide the most reliable and durable thin film products for our customers, we go beyond the minimal testing required for certification compliance by investing in additional rigorous environmental testing.
• Our rooftop facility tracks performance of our own, as well as, state of the art competitive products.
• HelioVolt modules are in the process of being tested for IEC 61646, IEC 61730 and UL 1703 certification, and UL 790 Class A fire rating for reliability and safety. CEC listing and CE mark are also in process.

• Nombre: Juan J. Núñez C.
• Asignatura: CRF.
• Fuente: http://www.heliovolt.net/products/
  

America’s Largest Thin Film Solar Project is Up-and-Running in California

The largest thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the United States, recently began commercial operations in California.

According to a company press release, the 21-megawatt (MW) solar power plant, acquired by NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG), was developed and constructed by First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR).

The Blythe plant, located about 200 miles east of Los Angeles, uses thin film solar cells constructed out of cadmium telluride (CdTe) on glass. At peak capacity, the plant will generate enough juice to power an estimated 17,000 homes. Furthermore, the solar power plant will generate over 45,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually. All energy produced by the facility will be sold to Southern California Edison (SCE) under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

The thin film semiconductor technology is said to be the most cost effective in the solar industry. During operation, the modules convert sunlight into electricity with no water use, no waste production and no air emissions. 175 people were employed in the construction of the facility, which took just three months to build. More solar power plants, including several in California, one in Nevada and one in China, are being planned by First Solar.

Arizona-based First Solar, founded in 1999, manufactures cost-effective modules for both residential and small commercial applications in select areas in the US. The company has also established a prefunded module collection and recycling program.

By using advanced solar technology, First Solar continues to grow despite today’s economy. Nicknamed the “Google of solar energy,” First Solar is “focused on creating cost-effective, renewable energy solutions that protect and enhance the environment.”

• Nombre: Juan J. Núñez C.
• Asignatura: CRF.
• Fuente: http://www.energyboom.com/solar/americas-largest-thin-film-solar-project-opens-california
  

First Solar Begins Operation of Largest Thin-Film PV Plant in California

Written by Susan Kraemer
Published on January 18th, 2010 in Solar Energy

First Solar’s utility-scale PV plant has now been quietly up and running, in Blythe, California, for its first full month. Once it got a go-ahead in the summer this project only took three months to build.

Perhaps its relatively smaller size for utility-scale solar holds a key to its success in getting off the ground. Unlike the 250 MW solar trough technologies that are held up in reviews, this project is a modest 21 MW.

PG&E just inked a new deal with First Solar this month, placing an order for the next size up: 48 MW, suggesting that incremental steps are the way to get more solar on the grid in California. The original application with the CPUC had been for a very unassuming 7 MW. With the option to go larger.

PV plants tend not to be as ambitious in scope as utility-scale solar thermal technologies because they are more expensive. This 21 MW thin-film project is so far the biggest PV plant yet built in California.

The First Solar project uses their own advanced thin-film PV, though, that is made of cadmium telluride and is much cheaper than regular PV. This means that it has the same potential as solar thermal technologies to scale up. They have plans to build two more projects in California in the 250 – 300 MW range.

Thin-film is both cheaper and less “efficient” than PV, which is not to be construed as meaning that it doesn’t work very well. One megawatt of PV makes exactly the same power as one megawatt of thin-film. It merely means that it will take a larger area of thin-film to produce the same energy as a smaller PV module.

However, that lower “efficiency” of thin-film tends to go along with lower degradation over time as well, so thin-film is a good long-term investment. Unlike PV which might be 12% less efficient in 25 years (so it can no longer be warrantied at the same output that it was originally rated at ) thin-film keeps on chugging away.

Southern California Edison has signed a 20-year purchase power agreement for the energy it will produce.

• Nombre: Juan J. Núñez C.
• Asignatura: CRF.
• Fuente: http://cleantechnica.com/2010/01/18/first-solar-begins-operation-of-largest-thin-film-pv-plant-in-california/
  

First Solar to Develop 30-MW Thin-film Project

Published: 25 de marzo de 2009

Arizona, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] First Solar has entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement with Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc. The agreement, which represents the largest thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) contract by an electric cooperative in the U.S., calls for First Solar to engineer, procure and construct (EPC) a 30-megawatt ground-mounted PV power plant in northeastern New Mexico. This news follows on First Solar's announcement that it has produced an aggregate total of 1 gigawatt of PV panels.

"This photovoltaic power plant is another demonstration of our ability to provide affordable, utility-scale solar solutions," said John Carrington, First Solar executive vice president of marketing and business development. "In addition to being cost-effective, the plant will create 120 to 140 construction jobs, significantly reduce green house gas emissions and provide enough power to serve the equivalent of approximately 9,000 homes."

Tri-State said that the project will be the first utility-scale solar power plant in the region and is expected to be complete by the end of 2010. Upon completion of construction on the project, First Solar will provide monitoring and maintenance services for the PV power plant over the course of its lifetime. The company expects that by time the project is finished it will have transferred all or substantially all of its equity interest to Tri-State.

• Nombre: Juan J. Núñez C.
• Asignatura: CRF.
• Fuente: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/03/first-solar-to-develop-30-mw-thin-film-project
  

Thin Film Sputtering

Sputtering is a technique used to deposit thin films of a material onto a surface (a.k.a. "substrate"). A gaseous plasma is created and the ions from this plasma are accelerated into a source material (a.k.a. "target") which is eroded by the ions and ejected in the form of neutral particles - either individual atoms, clusters of atoms or molecules. As these particles are ejected they travel in a straight line unless they come into contact with something - other particles or a nearby surface.

The ATC ORION Series Sputtering Systems feature a con-focal sputter source flange oriented at specific angles. The specially designed chimney/ground shield/shutter system allows a high degree of deposition uniformity over substrates over twice the target diameter. Typical deposition profile uniformity with SiO2 on a 3" diameter Si wafer is better than +/- 2% excluding 5 mm edge for 2" sputter source in RF mode. The con-focal geometry results in better uniformity, the ability to co-deposit alloy films and the ability to grow better ultra-thin film multilayers since the substrate is always "in the plasma."

ORION-5-UHV Custom Sputtering System is equipped with two 2" and one 1" sputter sources. There are two Thermal Evaporation Sources mounted in the chamber. To control and calibrate sputter deposition rate a Quartz Crystal Thickness Monitor is installed. Substrate RF Bias can be applied for the pre-cleaning of substrate. Load-Lock chamber is used for substrate loading to prevent the main-chamber contamination and to reduce substrate load time. Substrate can be heated up to 850 C by the radiant heater.

• Nombre: Juan J. Núñez C.
• Asignatura: CRF.
• Fuente: http://www.inspirenano.ie/Equipment/Equipment-Items/MSSI/AJA-ORION-5-UHV-Custom-Sputtering-System.aspx