SolarPVInvestor Forums

http://investing.businessweek.com/resear…SLR&ticker=FSLR

Full area efficiency for a normal size module (1200x600).

Corresponds to a 265W standard c-Si module.

How bout that?

Quoted from "odyd12"

Based on SEMI publication, CTM (cell to module) ratio will be 99.5 to 101% in 2017 for alcaline and acid texturing. By 2017, this is the time line for the production of this Cdte module, cells from mc-si p-type will have 18.5% to 23.5% for mono n-type. so with CTM of 101%, this is about 25% at the top of the line.
Exciting indeed.

The CTO actually stated today in his analyst day presentation that they will overtake mc-si in average efficiency by 2017 if I'm not mistaken. Once the presentation becomes available we can post here to discuss.

Also if I'm not mistaken CTM-ratios alone cannot be used to convert cell efficiencies into module efficiencies, since the difference also depends on the amount of inactive area (including. space between cells, frame, ribbons)

For example with a mc-si cell efficiency of 18.5% you get 156mm cells of 4.502 W. 60 Cells will give you 270.1 W and with a CTM of 101% your module will give you 272.8 W. Now at a standard size of 1.65 m2 this equates to a module efficiency of 16.5%

Quoted from "odyd12"

Clearly their purchase of silicon based maker of cells is the statement of diversification in the direction which is far superior than CdTe.

Do you mean far more efficient or far superior? If you mean far more efficient than CdTe I agree. If you mean far superior I disagree. Imho superiority in the end means having the lowest efficiency-adjusted cpw (as the master ECD Fan himself said). FS believes they will be clearly superior to their head-on competition mc-Si (or hpmc-Si) by 2016-2017, by having both higher efficiency and lower cpw:


If I look at the cpw forecast for 2017 of 34-37 cents it is evident that mc-si or hpmc-si will have a hard time beating this. With sustainable poly @$25/kg non-si cost will have to drop to 21-24 cents for mc-Si to match FS. With poly @$20/kg non-si cost will have to drop to 24-27 cents.

Quoted from "odyd12"

First Solar is becoming a second company using copper instead of silver (SPWR is the first). Huge saving on metalization pastes etc. Someone better get Schott division bought pretty quick or Chinese will be following again technology curve.
SEMI recognized that single instance of copper replacing silver as a silver bullet ( I could not help myself) to change the costing.

Fraunhofer already bought the Schott patents, and apparently they are keen on keeping the know-how in Europe:
“Of course we are concentrating on the licensing and implementation of property rights with German and European industry partners.”
http://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/press-an…om-schott-solar