News

Siemens Solar Sets Thin-Film Record

April 25, 1999 by Jeff Shepard

Siemens Solar (Camarillo, CA) announced that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently verified a new thin-film power module conversion efficiency record of 12.1 percent for Siemens Solar's ST40 large-area copper indium diselenide (CIS) thin-film module."With over 50 percent higher performance than other thin-film modules presently in the marketplace, this accomplishment demonstrates major progress toward Department of Energy photovoltaic program goals and proves the outstanding performance for these new CIS PV products," stated Siemens Solar COO Chet Farris. "The collaboration resulted in world-record module performance."According to Siemens Solar, the company delivered 32 one-by-four foot CIS modules, rated at 1.2kW, to upgrade the test array at the NREL Outdoor Test Facility in Golden, Colorado. NREL measured 11.4 percent average efficiency at standard test conditions, which is 40 percent above the closest thin-film contender, according to Siemens Solar. The company stated that all of the modules delivered to NREL far exceed the 10 percent DOE year 2000 goal for commercial CIS modules.