Product News

Carmanah Introduces a Fully Self-Contained Solar-Powered LED Crosswalk Signal

Carmanah Technologies Corp. has introduced the Model R820 Pedestrian Beacon, a fully self-contained, solar-powered LED crosswalk signal, to the North America market. Key advantages of the signal include wireless installation in as little as 30 minutes, minimal capital cost, zero operational cost, a "green" power source and immunity to electrical blackouts.

Introduced to the U.K. and European markets for extensive field trials in 2001, Carmanah's Model R820 is the first product of its kind in the world. Bristol, England, installed 150 units as school crossing beacons in fall 2002. In April 2002, these school crossing lights were voted runner up in the category "INNOVATIONS: Contribution to Sustainability" as part of the UK Lighting Industry Design Awards. In the first quarter of 2004, the city of Victoria, British Columbia, will become the first North American city to install the R820, with other clients to follow, according to Carmanah. A U.S. patent is pending.

LED lights, which use up to 90 percent less power and last longer than incandescent lightbulbs, are the latest trend in traffic lighting. Retrofitting existing traffic signals with LEDs can pay for itself within a few years through reduced maintenance and electricity costs, according to Carmanah. Carmanah's solar-powered LED technology offers the added advantage of a stand-alone system with no external wiring. Installation costs are much lower and operational costs are zero for the product's five-year lifespan, the company says.

Global Solar Energy Builds Large Area Solar Module With 10.7 Percent Efficiency

Global Solar Energy has built a large area solar module that converts 10.7 percent of the energy in captured sunlight into electricity, staking its claim to the most efficient flexible thin-film module ever built on a production line, according to the company. The module was produced last month among a batch of photovoltaic material with an average conversion efficiency that exceeded 10 percent. On the same production line, Global Solar has built cells with conversion efficiencies up to 12.5 percent, demonstrating the further potential of its technology, the company says.

Global Solar was the first company to manufacture highly efficient flexible thin-film solar material for commercial and military applications. Its solar modules are based on materials and structures that have demonstrated the highest conversion efficiency of any thin-film technology. The company has pioneered high-rate, roll-to-roll production of thin-film photovoltaics and has initiated large-scale manufacturing after successfully completing development and pilot scale production.

The record-setting module produces 42.5 watts from an aperture area of four square feet. It was among a batch of solar material manufactured for use in Global Solar's Military P3 modules, which provide portable power for soldiers. When folded for storage, the module is the size of a small notebook and weighs 2.3 lbs.

Shell Solar to Research Plasma Technology to Reduce PV Cell Costs

Shell Solar, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy (ISE) and other research institutes recently announced their plans to find new procedures to improve cell efficiencies and allow the production of thinner, cheaper solar cells. In the past, the wet chemical etching steps that have been used to remove the phosphorus glass from the cell surface after diffusion have proved to be difficult to automate, required expensive materials and needed disposal methods for the waste produced.

The new research will investigate removal of the layer by a dry, plasma etching process, which is anticipated to be more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly. In addition, the plasma-etching process will incorporate passivation of the cell front and back with nitrogen gas and hydrogen, which will increase the efficiency of the solar cells and also permit the use of thinner, cheaper wafers. Substantial development is to be carried out to combine the benefits of thinner silicon wafers and nitride passivation in combination with conventional contacting steps. The processes will be optimized, for example, with regard to etching rates, process duration, gas throughput and costs and efficiency.

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