[Vision2020] Nanosolar: World's Largest Solar Cell Factory: San Francisco Area

[Ted Moffett]

All-

Nanosolar has begun development of the largest solar cell fabrication plant
in the world, in the San Francisco bay area, using a new technology, though
I am not sure how their technology differs, if it does, from United Solar
Ovonic:

http://www.nanosolar.com/cache/GlobeSt100MM.htm

>From the article at the web link above:

What's different about Nansolar's technology is that it does not make use of
silicon crystals, which is how 90% of the world's solar energy is currently
produced. Instead, Nanosolar and others such as San Jose-based Miasole are
using a copper alloy that also absorbs light and creates electricity.

Werner Dumanski, Nanosolar's head of manufacturing, says the company's
printing process makes the fully-loaded cell cost -- including materials,
consumables, energy, labor, facility, and capital – "less than the
depreciation expense that vacuum thin-film companies have to pay for the
equipment that produces their cells."
----------------
A more recent news release indicates the Nanosolar plant is still a go...

http://www.earthscan.co.uk/defaultREW_news.asp?sp=&v=3

------------------------------------------
Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett


On 1/17/08, donald edwards <donaledwards at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Here's a system they should consider for solar power that rolls out in
> long flexible sheets that can be hammered and drilled through, doesn't use
> heavy glass and produces even power through out the day even in lower light
> conditions through clouds vs. requiring direct sunlight for max output.
>
> My guess is that they could install several of the small wind turbines
> right on top of a solar roof without much masting since the building is
> already tall.
>
> Maybe the hospital could partner with this project to provide a Fuelcell
> Technologies stand alone hydrogen power generation plant that is about the
> size of industrial air conditioners and makes it's own clean hydrogen power
> in use all over the world at universities and hospitals, etc because they
> are not reliant or affected by grid outages.  These are also being installed
> at existing coal and other power plants to reclaim wasted exhaust heat to
> generate hydrogen power which obviously increases the over all efficiency of
> the existing power plant. (full disclosure-I own shares in each of these
> companies which are founded, based and hire American's, not dead dinosaurs
> in Iraq)
>
> United Solar Ovonic's first football-field long proprietary continuous web
> triple-junction solar cell manufacturing machine — designed and built by ECD
> Ovonics' *Production Technology and Machine Building Division*<http://ovonic.com/se_ovonic_machine_building_division.cfm>— is operating at its full-rated capacity and is considered the world's
> largest and most advanced machine for manufacture of thin-film amorphous
> silicon alloy solar cells and related products used in a variety of
> applications.
>
> Because of United Solar Ovonic's unique solar cell technology
> characteristics, such as lightweight, ruggedness, and flexibility, it is
> ideal for residential and industrial building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV)
> roofing systems. ECD Ovonics and United Solar Ovonic hold the basic patents
> covering the continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing of thin-film amorphous
> silicon alloy multi-junction solar cells and related products.
>
>
>
> *United Solar Ovonic is a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion
> Devices, Inc.*
> **
> **
> *United Solar Ovonic's Second Installation for GM*
>
> *Auburn Hills, Mich., Sept 14, 2007* – United Solar Ovonic, a wholly owned
> subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENER), announced
> today that it has been selected for one of the largest solar power
> installations in corporate use. Uni-Solar PV solar panels will be installed
> on the roof of the GM facility in Fontana, California. When completed in
> December, the installation will produce 1.3 million kilowatt hours of
> electricity a year, roughly the amount needed to power 200 homes for one
> year.
>
> The Fontana solar array will be installed atop GM's 300,000 square foot
> warehouse facility. This installation follows United Solar Ovonic's
> similar-sized installation at another GM facility in Rancho Cucamonga.
>
> Subhendu Guha, President of United Solar Ovonic, said: "This is our second
> installation for GM after the 1MW solar installation in Rancho Cucamonga. We
> are gratified, of course, that *UNI-SOLAR*(R) panels are the product of
> choice for GM and for a growing list of corporations advancing the increased
> use of renewable energy."
>
> "At General Motors we understand that good environmental decisions are
> good business decisions and solar energy is a perfect example of this," said
> Elizabeth A. Lowery, GM vice president, Environment, Energy and Safety
> Policy. "The new solar arrays on our rooftops are reducing our energy costs
> and carbon footprint, while providing green energy to the community."
>
> Constellation Energy Projects & Services Group, a division of
> Constellation Energy, will own and operate the rooftop system and provide
> power to the GM facility under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
>
> **
>
> *About Energy Conversion Devices*
>
> Energy Conversion Devices is the leader in the synthesis of new materials
> and the development of advanced production technology and innovative
> alternative energy products and solutions. The company's portfolio of
> alternative energy solutions and proprietary information processing
> technologies features the latest advances in solar electric power
> generation, NiMH batteries, and fuel cell, solid hydride storage and
> phase-change memory technologies. ECD designs and builds manufacturing
> machinery that incorporates its proprietary production processes, maintains
> ongoing research and development programs to continually improve its
> products and develops new applications for its technologies. ECD holds the
> basic patents in its fields. More information on the Company is available at
> *www.ovonic.com* <http://www.ovonic.com/>.
>
> *About United Solar Ovonic
>
> *United Solar Ovonic, building on technology invented and pioneered by
> ECD, is the world leader in thin-film amorphous photovoltaics. Because of
> characteristics unique to the United Solar Ovonic solar cell technology,
> such as lightweight, ruggedness and flexibility, it is ideal as
> building-integrated photovoltaic roofing systems for residential and
> industrial customers. ECD and United Solar Ovonic hold the basic patents
> covering the continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing of thin-film
> amorphous-silicon alloy multi-junction solar cells and related products.
> More information is available at *http://www.uni-solar.com*<http://www.uni-solar.com/>
> .
>
>
>
> **
>
> **
>
> *About FuelCell Energy*
>
>
>
> *Overview*
>
> Based in Danbury, CT (USA), FuelCell Energy (Nasdaq: FCEL) develops and
> markets Ultra-Clean stationary fuel cell power plants that generate
> electricity with up to twice the efficiency of conventional fossil fuel
> plants – and with virtually no air pollution. With more than 30 years of
> experience, we are recognized as a global leader in the development,
> manufacture, and commercialization of stationary electric power generation.
> FuelCell Energy owns and operates a manufacturing plant in Torrington,
> Connecticut, with a capacity of 50 MW of fuel cells per year. FuelCell
> Energy's Danbury, Connecticut headquarters acts as the nerve center for the
> company's commercial, industrial, and grid-support applications. The Danbury
> facility is also the hub for the company's GTAC (Global Technical Assistance
> Center) monitoring system, which remotely monitors and operates more than 60
> commercial fuel cell units operating at 50 locations all over the world. The
> company's Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) power plants have generated over 200
> million kW hours. Contact us today and turn your electrical requirements
> into a powerful competitive advantage.
>   *Colleges & Universities*The importance of Ultra-Clean energy is
> magnified within institutions of higher learning, where students, faculty,
> alumni and trustees expect campuses to balance environmental impact and
> energy expenses. In addition, growing enrollments, larger campuses, and
> critical power requirements of research laboratories are driving the
> demand from the power grid. On-site fuel cell power plants are quickly
> becoming the choice for distributed power at a variety of colleges and
> universities.
>
> Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) power plants, unlike traditional reciprocating
> engines and gas turbines, produce virtually no nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur
> oxides (SOx), volatile organic compounds or particulate emissions. While the
> average U.S. fossil fuel power plant produces nearly 25 pounds of these
> emissions per megawatt hour, the DFC fuel cell produces just 0.1 pounds of
> these emissions.  DFC power plants also emit dramatically less CO2. This
> represents a significant reduction of greenhouse gases over competing power
> generators. An additional benefit unique to higher education facilities is
> that DFCs offer real-world research opportunities for faculty and students.
> Download an application sheet below, or review one of FuelCell Energy's
> installation spotlights for more information.
>
>
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