29 August 2011

Global Solar starts production at Berlin CIGS PV module plant   

Global Solar Energy Inc, which makes copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic cells and modules at its 40MW-capacity plant in Tucson, AZ, USA, has commissioned its new production facility in Berlin-Adlershof, Germany.

Founded in 1996, Global Solar Energy’s solar modules are lightweight and flexible, suiting building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications and solar power plants or foldable charging devices.

The new Berlin factory has a production area of 2100m2 and processes solar cells fabricated in-house. The latter are laminated between a number of films to ensure durability. High module efficiencies of up to 12.6% (claimed to be the most efficient of their kind) are achieved due to a “unique mixing ratio” of copper indium gallium diselenide. Also, several of the factory’s machines are custom-built, ensuring that series production is optimized, it is reckoned. Global Solar Energy commissioned and installed equipment in the new factory in just five months, says Jens Mühling, managing director of the firm’s German branch.

After starting pilot operation earlier this month, the Berlin plant is now manufacturing modules on a two-shift rotation. More than 60 vacancies have already been filled (taking total company staffing to 300). The plant (which has an annual production capacity of 35MW) should move to three-shift operation at the beginning of third-quarter 2011. A further 100 jobs are due to be created by the end of 2012.

Weighing just 3.5kg/m2, Global Solar’s PowerFLEX BIPV modules are suited to use on flat industrial roofs, as the structural design of such buildings often prevents the use of heavy, thick-film modules, says the firm. After being rolled onto the roof surface, the flexible thin-film modules are affixed in position and require no support frames or stands. The roof membrane is not pierced and no additional wind loads are produced. Measuring 5.74m x 0.5m, PowerFLEX modules offer a power density of up to 300W, and are therefore roughly twice as efficient as flexible amorphous silicon solar modules, it is claimed.

Tags: Global Solar Energy CIGS BIPV

Visit: www.globalsolar.com