Flexible, Affordable Solar Cell Manufacturing
From ECD Production Technology Division
Photovoltaic (PV) energy generation is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.'s (ECD) proprietary thin-film, multi-junction, triple-band-gap, continuous web technology is an outstanding solution for PV energy production. Compared with traditional crystalline PVs, ECD's thin-film PV can provide more overall energy than similarly rated crystalline PV installations, since its triple-band-gap technology can utilize up to 20% more of the sun's daily radiation.
ECD's Production Technology Division (PT Division) designs and builds the automated production equipment that has enabled ECD's wholly owned subsidiary - United Solar Ovonic (USO) - to set a new standard for PV products. This PT Division has developed sophisticated proprietary technology for roll-to-roll processing and production of semiconductor and thin film materials, and has designed and built many generations of photovoltaic production lines for USO and ECD's licensees. Each of the most recent lines built for USO is capable of an annual production of solar modules with a total power output exceeding 30 MW. The equipment for these production lines includes not only roll-to-roll deposition machines for amorphous silicon triple-junction layers, back reflector layers, and transparent conductor layers, but also automated machines for cell formation and module assembly, and automated module lamination and test lines. To support these production machines, the PT division has also developed advanced test and process control devices, including the sophisticated USO Multiline™ plasma emission monitor, and many inline monitoring and process control systems.
ECD is expanding, not only by building up its own USO production capacity, but also by making ECD's production technology and machine building expertise available to other companies, to provide production and R&D machines for their requirements. Besides the PV production machines for USO, ECD's PT Division has designed and fabricated production equipment for commercial customers, licensees, joint ventures, and strategic partners. These include vacuum deposition machines, pilot production coating lines, R&D equipment, and hydride storage containers. Major systems provided for other companies include a vapor barrier coating system, a production coating and patterning line for OLED lighting materials, a patterning and etching line for ITO on polymer web, and a high resolution particle inspection system for web substrates. The PT Division has also developed advanced atmosphere-to-vacuum gas gates that allow flexible webs to pass continuously from processes at atmospheric pressure to processes in vacuum without touching the active surface of the web.
ECD's experienced technical support group can ensure successful machine solutions and production control equipment for a broad range of high-technology applications - from the conceptual stage to the volume production stage. Contact our team to discuss your needs.
Sample photographs of the successful machines we have designed and built over the last three decades are available below, including the high-output, roll-to-roll machines developed for United Solar Ovonic. These photographs demonstrate ECD's Production Technology Division's (PT Division) capability to design and build high capacity and efficient equipment, not only for for solar cell manufacturing applications, but also for a variety of other applications in high-technology manufacturing.