Oerlikon Solar’s 2nd generation ThinFabTM resets the standard for low cost, high quality solar module manufacturing. The new design allows a capital expenditure (Capex) reduction of more than 20 %. The estimated price for the complete end-to-end production line is just $ 1/Wp including engineering support and performance guarantees. The production line enables customers to produce high quality thin film silicon modules for cost of around $ 0.5/Wp (€ 0.35/Wp), a new record-low in the solar industry.
Key improvements in the 2nd generation ThinFabTM include increased manufacturing line output, guaranteed higher module efficiency and new narrow-gap reactor design for silicon deposition. The new generation of the ThinFabTM retains all the advantages of Oerlikon Solar’s thin film technology which represents the best in the industry:
- Energy efficiency: Compared to other solar manufacturing processes, the production of Oerlikon thin film silicon modules requires the least amount of energy. The “energy payback time” with Oerlikon technology is less than one year.
- Practical benefits: Thin film silicon modules gain advantages under real operational conditions, e.g. high temperatures, where the efficiency of crystalline solar cells declines significantly.
- Environmentally friendly: Thin film silicon modules do not contain toxic additives like Cadmium.
- Sustainability: Oerlikon’s solar technology has further potential to increase efficiency and productivity, demonstrated by Oerlikon’s record cell.
