Solarion has achieved record performance efficiency for its solar cells, printed on plastic substrates.
The 13.4% efficiency rating was verified by German research group Fraunhofer ISE. The rating is a record for Copper-Indium-Gallium-Diselenide (CIGS) solar cells.
Alexander Braun, CTO of the German solar cell manufacturer, comments: 'This result is not only a world record efficiency for flexible CIGS solar cells manufactured on a plastic substrate in an industrial roll-to-roll coating process, but is also the highest efficiency for any thin film solar cell on a flexible polymer substrate from a roll-to-roll process, regardless of the absorber material.'
The company produces its CIGS solar cells using an ion beam process, meaning that the cells can be printed at a lower temperature. Having proven the performance of its cells, the company is planning to enter mass manufacturing in 2010.