Saturday 22 September 2007

$1 a watt coming of age

Sept. 10, 2007 -- Colorado State University's method for manufacturing low-cost, high-efficiency solar panels is nearing mass production. AVA Solar Inc. will start production by the end of next year on the technology developed by mechanical engineering Professor W.S. Sampath at Colorado State. The new 200-megawatt factory is expected to employ up to 500 people. Based on the average household usage, 200 megawatts will power 40,000 U.S. homes.


Produced at less than $1 per watt, the panels will dramatically reduce the cost of generating solar electricity and could power homes and businesses around the globe with clean energy for roughly the same cost as traditionally generated electricity.

Sampath has developed a continuous, automated manufacturing process for solar panels using glass coating with a cadmium telluride thin film instead of the standard high-cost crystalline silicon. Because the process produces high efficiency devices (ranging from 11% to 13%) at a very high rate and yield, it can be done much more cheaply than with existing technologies. The cost to the consumer could be as low as $2 per watt, about half the current cost of solar panels. In addition, this solar technology need not be tied to a grid, so it can be affordably installed and operated in nearly any location.

The process is a low waste process with less than 2% of the materials used in production needing to be recycled. It also makes better use of raw materials since the process converts solar energy into electricity more efficiently. Cadmium telluride solar panels require 100 times less semiconductor material than high-cost crystalline silicon panels.

"This technology offers a significant improvement in capital and labor productivity and overall manufacturing efficiency," said Sampath, director of Colorado State's Materials Engineering Laboratory.

Sampath has spent the past 16 years perfecting the technology. In that time, annual global sales of photovoltaic technology have grown to approximately 2 gigawatts or two billion watts -- roughly a $6 billion industry. Demand has increased nearly 40% a year for each of the past five years -- a trend that analysts and industry experts expect to continue.

By 2010, solar cell manufacturing is expected to be a $25 billion-plus industry.

Tuesday 4 September 2007

Dyesol acheives more targets

Dyesol Achieves Third Major Milestone with Corus Ahead of
Schedule

The collaborative development project between Dyesol and Corus Colors achieved another leap forward on 30 th August when Corus approved the third Milestone of the development project to demonstrate rapid production of DSC films on metal substrates. Achieving good performance of the titania films
on metal substrates at high curing rates was considered the key technical challenge in bringing DSC to production as a steel based construction product. For this Milestone, Dyesol demonstrated scientifically and with demonstrable examples that the target specifications are within reach.

Dyesol achieved the Milestone well in advance of the end of September contract date and has declared high confidence to meet the final Milestone in December. Each Milestone triggers a payment by Corus of 25% of the contract value.

Project Director, Dr Gavin Tulloch, President Dyesol International said, ‘Once again our team has shown the benefit of commitment, enthusiasm and professional excellence in meeting the Corus goals ahead of schedule. The demonstration of prototype product has been a bonus that certainly encouraged
Corus management”

For this review, Dyesol was represented by a larger team than normal. As well as the Project Technical leader, Olivier Bellon and Chief Scientist, Hans Desilvestro, Dyesol Senior Projects Engineer, Niall Howe and VP Marketing, Dyesol International, Ken McKeen were also present as part of the planning team
for establishment of Dyesol’s technology and demonstration facilities in UK. The team was rounded out by Dyesol UK Ltd directors, Andrew King and Gavin Tulloch.

As part of the formal project review Corus and Dyesol also accelerated the planning for the next phase of the project, subject of a recent invited bid to the Carbon Trust. The project team for the next phase involves Oxford University. During the next three months there will be increased effort associated
with planned expansion of the project in 2008 to accelerate introduction of the steel based products.

Dr Desilvestro and Dr Bellon also met with the research team from Bangor University, recently expanded to carry out R&D for the project, to assist with planning of the next generation development programme. Dyesol has recently supplied test and analysis equipment to Bangor and Swansea Universities as part
of their R&D programmes. Dyesol continues its strategic partnership with these universities in providing DSC materials and components to assist expansion of the technology base in Wales.

For further information contact Dyesol’s managing director Mrs Sylvia Tulloch on 61 2 6299 1592 or Viv Hardy at Callidus PR on 61 2 9283 4113


Background Information for Media Release

DYESOL Limited is located in Queanbeyan NSW (near Canberra) and in August 2005 was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX Code ‘DYE”). Dyesol manufactures and supplies a range of Dye Solar Cell products comprising equipment, chemicals, materials, components and
related services to researchers and manufacturers of DSC. The Company is playing a key role in taking this third generation solar technology out of the laboratory and into the community.

Corus Group Plc (LSE/AEX: CS; NYSE: CGA) is one of the world’s largest metal producers with annual turnover of £9 billion and major operating facilities in the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany, France
and Norway. Corus’ four divisions comprising Strip Products, Long Products, Distribution & Building Systems and Aluminium provide innovative solutions to the construction, automotive, rail, general engineering and packaging markets worldwide. Corus has 41,100 employees in over 40 countries and sales offices and service centres worldwide. Combining international expertise with local customer service, the Corus brand represents quality and strength.