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Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumStartup Makes Peel-Off Solar Cells
http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/39519/[font face=Times, Serif][font size=5]Startup Makes Peel-Off Solar Cells[/font]
[font size=4]Astrowatt's wafer-making method could mean cheaper solar power.[/font]
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 | By Kevin Bullis
[font size=3]Today, most solar cells are made with a process that turns almost half of the raw materialhighly refined and processed crystalline siliconinto sawdust. A new process developed by startup Astrowatt aims to eliminate most of this waste while making solar cells more efficient.
Conventional solar manufacturing requires sawing a block of crystalline silicon into wafers about 180 micrometers thick. As the saw cuts through the silicon, it turns almost the same amount of silicon (a layer 100 to 150 micrometers thick) into sawdust that can't typically be reused.
With the conventional process, a millimeter of silicon can produce about three solar-cell wafers. Astrowatt says it can make five or more wafers from the same amount of material by mostly replacing the sawing with a technique that allows it to peel thin layers of silicon away from a thick silicon wafer.
Astrowatt is one of several companies hoping to substantially reduce the amount of silicon needed to make solar cells. Although the price of silicon has dropped in recent years, it's still the most expensive item in solar-panel manufacturing.
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[font size=4]Astrowatt's wafer-making method could mean cheaper solar power.[/font]
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 | By Kevin Bullis
[font size=3]Today, most solar cells are made with a process that turns almost half of the raw materialhighly refined and processed crystalline siliconinto sawdust. A new process developed by startup Astrowatt aims to eliminate most of this waste while making solar cells more efficient.
Conventional solar manufacturing requires sawing a block of crystalline silicon into wafers about 180 micrometers thick. As the saw cuts through the silicon, it turns almost the same amount of silicon (a layer 100 to 150 micrometers thick) into sawdust that can't typically be reused.
With the conventional process, a millimeter of silicon can produce about three solar-cell wafers. Astrowatt says it can make five or more wafers from the same amount of material by mostly replacing the sawing with a technique that allows it to peel thin layers of silicon away from a thick silicon wafer.
Astrowatt is one of several companies hoping to substantially reduce the amount of silicon needed to make solar cells. Although the price of silicon has dropped in recent years, it's still the most expensive item in solar-panel manufacturing.
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Startup Makes Peel-Off Solar Cells (Original Post)
OKIsItJustMe
Jan 2012
OP
liberal N proud
(60,332 posts)1. Any time new technology saves resources it is a great leap forward.
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)2. why would they use a saw and not somthing more high tech like a laser?
madokie
(51,076 posts)4. I'd say because they can't
thats my thought anyway. If there was a better way than sawing I'm sure they would be doing it.
I worked ten years in a foundry and if I learned anything it was that if there is a better, cheaper way of doing something Industry will do it.
aquart
(69,014 posts)3. What a lovely thing to start.