India's HHV Develops Cell-to-module Production Line for 1x1m Thin-film Si Solar Cell

Jan 23, 2009 20:58 Motonobu Kawai, Nikkei Microdevices

Hind High Vacuum Co Pvt Ltd (HHV), an India-based manufacturing equipment maker, developed a cell-to-module production line for thin-film silicon solar cells made with 1 x 1m substrates.

The company exhibited thin-film Si solar cells prototyped in the production line at the 18th International Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference & Exhibition taking place in Kolkata, India.

HHV prototyped the 1m² thin-film Si solar cell in December 2008. Its stabilized module conversion efficiency is 6.3%, and the module's maximum output is 60W.

For a starter, HHV will introduce the cell-to-module production line at HHV Solar Technologies Pvt Ltd, its manufacturing subsidiary for thin-film Si solar cells. The subsidiary is currently constructing a plant, which is expected to start production as early as June 2009. The new plant's initial production volume is 10MW per year.

Then HHV will start selling the production line as a turnkey solution. The price of the line with a production capacity of 10MW per year is US$12 million, which is lower than the prices of turnkey solutions being supplied by other manufacturing equipment makers. HHV said four companies are currently considering employing the solution.

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