Product News

Uni-Rac SunFrame Systems Now Compatible with More Solar Modules

Uni-Rac, an Albuquerque, N.M.-based manufacturer of racking systems for PV systems, has announced that its SunFrame systems are now compatible with an additional five manufacturer solar modules, including all 100-watt and larger PV modules manufactured by AstroPower, BP Solar, Evergreen and Kyocera. The SunFrame system is also now available for the ASE 300 from RWE Schott Solar.

The SunFrame system integrates modules into a low, clean, gap-free array that becomes as natural a part of a home as a skylight, according to Uni-Rac. Since its fall 2003 introduction, SunFrame has supported the newest modules manufactured by Sharp. Within the next few months, it will also mount Photowatt and Shell modules, as well as Sharp's older, larger wattage modules, according to the company.

Konarka Announces New PV Cells With More Than Seven Percent Efficiency

Konarka Technologies, Inc. has developed prototypes of its photovoltaic cells that have achieved more than seven percent efficiency. This reinforces Konarka's position in developing a new generation of solar cells for commercial applications, according to the company.

Most solar cells currently in use are so-called "first generation" devices based on crystalline silicon wafers. "Second generation," or thin film solar cells, use semiconductor materials only a few micrometers thick. The performance of a solar cell is measured in terms of its efficiency at turning light into electricity. The efficiencies for first generation cells have been around 15 percent; that is, about one-sixth of the light striking the cell gets converted into electricity. The efficiencies for second generation products that are being manufactured today range from three to seven percent.

Konarka is focused on the development and commercialization of "third generation" cells that are lightweight, flexible and more versatile than previous generations of products. "Konarka's chemistry-based cells represent a new breed of coatable, plastic, flexible photovoltaics that can be used in many applications where traditional photovoltaics can't compete," said Howard Berke, Chairman, Konarka Technologies, Inc. "We have now built functioning, full-size production cells that have achieved close to eight percent efficiency and we expect to exceed 10 percent in the coming months."

Konarka will be the first company to manufacture and commercialize highly efficient, flexible photovoltaics. The company will have pilot-scale production later this year and begin scaling-up production capacity in 2005.

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