Midsummer surpasses Chinese solar module efficiency requirements
Midsummer, a supplier of production lines for manufacturing of flexible thin film CIGS solar cells, claims that it has increased the conversion efficiency of its solar modules to more than 13 per cent to meet the requirements of Chinese authorities for receiving government support for solar installations in China.
On June 1st, 2015, China's National Energy Bureau changed the minimum requirement for CIGS thin film solar modules to 13 per cent. It was raised from the previous level of 11 per cent.
Midsummer recently passed this requirement by the Chinese authorities by increasing the efficiency of its CIGS thin film solar modules to above 13 per cent (corresponding to 14.3 per cent aperture area). The tests were carried out and verified by the certified Japanese independent testing laboratory Chemitox, Inc in March 2016.
The Chinese government's new guidelines for CIGS modules are clear: the conversion efficiency has to exceed 13 per cent in order for qualification to its "elite program", which gives access to large government subsidies, priority in government contracts, bank loans or any public/private projects.
"It is very important to gain entry to China's "˜elite program' in order to enjoy all the benefits and subsidies by the Chinese government, "said Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer. "I am happy to announce that we have indeed passed the 13 per cent efficiency threshold as verified by an independent testing laboratory. As always, our customers can rely on Midsummer being at the forefront of advanced solar technology and efficiency requirements."
Inexpensive lightweight flexible solar modules
With the production system from Midsummer the solar cells are manufactured individually and then stringed together into modules just like crystalline solar cells. This way, lightweight flexible modules can easily be made in any size and shape.
A dry, all-vacuum process has less stringent requirements for clean-rooms. Avoiding cadmium in the manufacturing process is desirable for the sake of the production staff and also makes it easier to commence low cost manufacturing of CIGS solar cells.
"Midsummer's objective is that our technology shall be a leader in the market segment of lightweight, flexible solar panels, and that the company shall grow in tandem with this rapidly growing segment", said Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer. "Thin film solar panels are the future of solar energy since they fit in to the "˜distributed energy' trend and can be fitted on buildings, vehicles etc."
