International Solar Awards recognise industry success
The 5th Annual International Solar Awards were awarded in Paris at a function coinciding with the 2013 EUPVSEC conference. A total of fifteen awards were decided which highlighted innovation, achievement and success across the industry value chain.
This year the Awards organised by Solar International media platform, attracted over 18 thousand votes and saw a wide variety of company, products and people recognised for achievements in the solar and PV industries.
The event was hosted by David Ridsdale, Editor in Chief who pointed out that the industry was facing a revolution that needed a cohesive industry response.
The revolution required was in response to the negative tactics employed by traditional energy suppliers seeing their market share threatened by a solar industry growing faster than they anticipated. Those gathered were welcomed by Tomasz Slusarz, CEO of Solar PV Consulting and SolarPV.TV and media partner to the awards. Slusarz pointed out that even competitors could work together towards a common goal.
All but four of the awards are voted for by the industry providing companies and individuals with positive feedback of the excellent relationships they have with their clients and customers. The winning entries were as follows.
PV Materials Enabling Award
Merck for their isishape SolarEtch tool that enables etching for anti-reflective coatings and passivation layers on solar cells. The technology will likely replace current technologies with a less expensive and environmentally friendly alternative.
Thin Film Innovation Award
3D-Micromac for their microSCRIBE OSP which is the first production equipment worldwide that can conduct the integrated series-connection of a thin- film solar module on one single platform and in one single production step.
Silicon Innovation Award
GT Solar for their DSS MonoCast Crystal Growth System which will enable monocrystalline PV module manufacturers to develop wafers with higher cell efficiencies and improve their current product performance.
System Integration Award
Trina Solar for their Trinasmart which is a performance optimiser integrated into Trina Solar's monocrystalline module range. It enables the monitoring and control of arrays at a modular level and increases system performance by up to 20 per cent.
PV Tool Award
DEK for its Apollo integrated cell manufacturing metallization platform designed to help manufacturers to improve production performance with ±10 micron accuracy @ 2 Cpk capability.
PV Process Award
SoLayTec for their InPassion Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) tool that will enable high-volume ALD deposition for mass production for the first time.
PV Balance of System
Wagner Solar for their TRIC F Box which is a low ballast flat roof mounting system allowing PV for flat industrial roofs previously unable to join the solar revolution.
Energy Usage Enabling Award
Upsolar for their Smart Modules that increases power harvesting at the module level reducing overall cost of ownership.
Turnkey Supplier Award
M W Group for their consistent ability to develop and build PV manufacturing plants- be it with c-Si or thin film technology.
Industry Development Award
Meyer Burger for their Atacama Slate which is a bi-facial, frameless, glass/glass module design that can withstand extremes of temperature found in desert environments.
Module Manufacturing Innovation Award
Jinko Solar for their Double 85 PID-free EAGLE Module which is the world's first PID free polycrystalline module to be certified by TÜV .
Rural Electrification Development Award
Steca for their Tarom 4545 which is a solar charge controller with a large interface and easy to implement controls for rural areas with limited infrastructure.
Project Development Award
Masdar for Shams 1, the world's largest CSP plant, which is a 100 MW concentrating solar power station which uses parabolic trough technology.
As well as the peer selected awards there was also four Awards of Excellence that were selected by the awards committee.
Solar Awards for Excellence: Technology
SolarReserve for their molten salt power tower technology that tackles the growing issue of energy storage and this solution provided an environmentally benign approach that impressed the panel.
Solar Award For Excellence: Innovation
Arcelor Mittal was chosen for the development of a range of photovoltaic products based on steel. For the first time, steel will not only serve as the outer layer of buildings - it will also produce energy.
Solar Award For Excellence: Company
First Solar was the panel's choice for company excellence following their stellar achievements in thin film PV despite a general perception that thin film's future was limited. The company has continued to confound such critics.
Solar Award For Excellence: Individual
Jeremy Leggett, the non executive Chairman of UK based Solar Century for his long term commitment to improving energy accessibility around the world. For his continued outspoken approach to environmental and energy issues and for proving that business and social concerns can be part of a company's success.
