Flexible CIGS solar technology allows for lightweight, flexible solar modules that overcome limitations of traditional rigid glass modules. Ascent Solar produces flexible CIGS modules using a roll-to-roll manufacturing process and monolithic integration techniques. This allows their modules to be highly efficient, lightweight and flexible, making them well-suited for applications such as consumer products, transportation, defense, and building integration. Their technology and products target significant market opportunities in areas like portable electronics charging, electric vehicles, and building-integrated photovoltaics.
9. Traditional solar technology in glass modules define the industry brand: the “Blue Square” Positive: Energy Independence, Sustainability, Job Creation Climate Awareness, Clean Energy, etc. Negative: Heavy, Rigid, Limited Aesthetic Expensive, etc. “Blue Square” solar severely limits design and integration options Flexible CIGS » Re-defining the PV Brand Blue Square Ascent Solar is moving beyond the “Blue Square” by providing innovative products that enable the next wave of solar solutions
26. Fab1 manufacturing line begins commercial productionHistoric CIGS » ITN / Ascent Development
27. Technology » Manufacturing Process Thin-Film Roll-to-roll Deposition Process Material Stack Module Manufacturing and Encapsulation Incorporating Monolithic Integration Techniques
28. Technology » Monolithic Integration Discrete Process Deposition on a conductive material Cut material into discrete units “Shingle” cells and assemble module Monolithic Process Deposition on a insolating material Laser scribe: does not cut substrate Screen print leaves complete module; No Assembly Required
36. Value Proposition » Consumer Products Higher power and voltage density Drop resistant (No Glass) A fraction the weigh of crystalline Integrates into a variety of products
37. Value Proposition » Defense Applications Lightweight enables portable solutions Excellent power density Voltages match battery ecosystem Ruggedized per military specs
38. Value Proposition » Transportation Solutions Low profile, minimal air resistance Does not add significant weight to vehicle Conforms to shape of the vehicle body Significant power given constrained space
39. Value Proposition » Building Integrated Flexibility enables design options Does not add significant weight Dual value in shading application Qualifies for BIPV feed-in tariffs
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43. Safaricom reports selling 100,000 units into Kenya aloneSRC: Various including UNDP, MoniBasu (CNN), GSMA; Green Power for Mobile: Charging Choices, GSMA; 20/10/2009
44. Markets » Flexible BIPV Opportunity Product Revenue ($-millions) CAGR: 34% SRC: Building Integrated Markets, 2009 and Beyond; August 2009; NanoMarkets, LLC.
45. Summary Traditional “Blue Square” solar severely limits design options Flexible CIGS enable the next wave of solar solutions Flexible, Lightweight, and High Power solar products have a unique value proposition in multiple premium applications These applications encompass significant market opportunities
The key take-away from the presentation will be this: Traditional photovoltaic technologies severely limit design options. The next generation of flexible products, from companies such as Ascent, enable a wide variety of innovative solar solutions.The value proposition for flexible technologies (next slide)
First Gen:Modern silicon solar cell demonstrated by Bell Labs in 1954Second Gen: Thin film solar technologies developing in the late 60’sThird Gen: The next generation of organic and dye sensitized technologies are, for the most part, not yet ready for commercialization
Monolithic integration is an in situ process for creating cell units from the photovoltaic material
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