Development of Automated Production Line Processes for Solar Brightfield Modules: Annual Technical Progress Report, 1 January 2003 -- 30 June 2004
This report describes how Spire Corporation is addressing the PV Manufacturing R&D project goals of improving photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing processes and products while reducing costs and providing a technology foundation that supports significant manufacturing scale-up. To accomplish this, we are focusing our efforts on the design of a large-area utility-scale module and the development of the necessary manufacturing techniques and equipment to manufacture such a module in a high-volume production environment. A three-phase program is under way for developing and demonstrating new automated systems for fabricating very large PV modules ideal for use in multi-megawatt grid-connected applications. We designed a large-area 800 W module and we are developing associated module production equipment that will minimize the total installed system cost for utility-scale PV arrays. Unique features of the module design include a cantilevered glass superstrate to reduce the glass thickness a nd internally laminated bypass diodes that simplify internal busing and junction-box designs. Other program activities include the development of automation for solar cell string inspections, string busing, materials lay-up, and lamination; enhancements to the lamination process; and performance testing of large-area modules.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-99-GO10337
- OSTI ID:
- 15016397
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/SR-520-36608; ZDO-3-30628-12; TRN: US200513%%374
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 1 Jun 2005; Related Information: Work performed by Spire Corporation, Bedford, Massachusetts
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
42 ENGINEERING
AUTOMATION
DESIGN
FOCUSING
GLASS
MANUFACTURING
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PRODUCTION
PROGRESS REPORT
SOLAR CELLS
THICKNESS
PV
SOLAR CELL
UTILITY-SCALE MODULE
STRING INSPECTIONS
STRING BUSING
MATERIALS LAY-UP
LAMINATION
MANUFACTURING SCALE-UP
HIGH-VOLUME PRODUCTION
AUTOMATED SYSTEMS
LARGE-AREA MODULE
SOLAR ENERGY - PHOTOVOLTAICS