30 May 2014

TSMC Solar engages ex-NREL CIGS expert Rommel Noufi

TSMC Solar Ltd of Taichung, Taiwan, which was founded in May 2009 as a subsidiary of the world’s biggest silicon wafer foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Inc (TSMC), has announced the engagement of Dr Rommel Noufi in a long-term consulting capacity, to augment its copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) R&D program.

Noufi is a 33-year veteran of the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where he was principal scientist and led the team driving CIGS and CdTe (cadmium telluride) cell research. He has authored over 190 publications and has 8 patents.

TSMC Solar’s track record of R&D achievements include producing a TUV-SUD-verified 15.7%-efficient CIGS PV module using production equipment on its production line in mid-2013. The firm is currently expanding its annual capacity from 40MW to reach 120MW in fourth-quarter 2014.

“Noufi played a key role in the development of CIGS as a leading photovoltaic material,” comments TSMC Solar’s president Ying-Chen Chao. “The addition of his deep CIGS experience to our R&D effort puts us on solid footing to maintain our rapid improvement of module efficiency over the next several years,” he adds.
Noufi sees great potential for CIGS efficiency improvements. “CIGS efficiencies in the lab have reached 20.9%, with a clear path to achieving 23%,” he notes. “With its strong R&D, manufacturing and equipment engineering skill set, TSMC Solar is uniquely equipped to develop this potential and bring it into production.”

Tags: TSMC Solar CIGS

Visit: www.tsmc-solar.com