Xunlight Corporation, a technology spinoff from UT and a recipient of several ODOD grants, is a leader in the design, development and manufacture of flexible and lightweight thin-film silicon solar modules. This shipment of modules represents the first sale produced using its proprietary 25MW wide-web, roll-to-roll PV manufacturing equipment, which is redefining the industry as a low-cost, high-throughput solution to large-scale solar cell production. The 25MW solar cell manufacturing equipment, a 200-feet long series of connected vacuum deposition chambers, uses a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process to deposit thin-film silicon solar cells on a 3ft wide, one-mile-long thin stainless steel substrate at a speed of 720-square feet per hour. This manufacturing process is inherently lower-cost and more productive than competing technologies, and is designed, developed and constructed by Xunlight Corporation.
"Our first sale and delivery of solar modules marks a significant milestone for Xunlight, and it is especially noteworthy that The University of Toledo is our first customer," said Xunlight CEO Dr. Xunming Deng. "Our deep roots and strong relationship with both UT and ODOD have been instrumental in the development of our technology and the success of our company to date, and Xunlight is thankful for those important relationships." "This is a watershed moment for the University of Toledo as Xunlight, one of our technology spinoffs and a company developed in our Clean and Alternative Energy Incubator, has now reached commercialization. UT is proud of the accomplishments Dr. Deng and Xunlight have achieved and it’s a great honor to be the company’s first customer," said UT President Dr.
Xunlight Products
Xunlight Corporation products are thin-film silicon based solar cells and PV modules. These products utilize various thin film Si based alloys, including amorphous silicon (a-Si), amorphous silicon germanium (a-SiGe), and nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si). Products with two different device structures are produced. These include:
* a-Si/a-SiGe/a-SiGe triple-junction solar cells
* a-Si/nc-Si/nc-Si triple-junction solar cells
Xunlight Corporation’s academic partner, Dr. Xunming Deng’s Thin Film Silicon Photovoltaic Laboratory at the University of Toledo (UT), maintains the world record for efficiency of single-junction a-Si based solar cells. This is an important world record since it is a record for the most inexpensive type of silicon-based solar cells. Dr. Deng and his associates (students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scholars) at UT utilize a low-germanium content a-SiGe material and a specially designed p-type semiconductor layer for its solar cells; achieving single-junction solar cells with ~13% initial efficiency and 10.4% stabilized efficiency. Figure 4 illustrates the structure of this a-SiGe solar cell.
Xunlight/UT also fabricates triple-junction solar cells with a-Si, a-SiGe, a-SiGe having bandgaps of 1.8 eV, 1.6eV and 1.4 eV as the semiconductor absorber layers. The solar cells were measured at UT and at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Below: photos showing single and triple junction cells structures, and the current-voltage performance of UT’s triple-junction solar cell measured at NREL, showing 11.8% total-area efficiency, corresponding to a 12.5% active-area efficiency.
Xunlight Corporation’s principal PV products are flexible and lightweight. These modules are made with flexible lamination, deposited on thin stainless steel substrates. There are a wide-variety of applications for Xunlight modules including:
* Commercial Rooftops
* Residential Rooftops
* Ground Mounted Systems
* Off Grid Applications
The different product sizes at rated peak power output of 330W and 110W will be offered. Additionally, Xunlight offers the XP Series of lightweight, flexible solar modules which are ideal for your portable power needs. Each XP Series solar charger utilizes triple junction amorphous silicon thin film based solar cells produced on Xunlight’s proprietary continuous roll-to-roll deposition process. The modules are encapsulated in UV stabilized polymers creating durable, weather resistant chargers that perform well in diverse conditions. The XP Series portable power modules can easily be rolled during stowage and transport, and provide recharging solutions for:
* Remote lighting, refrigeration or pumping
* Consumer electronics such as cell phones, laptops or GPS units
* Recreational activities such as marine use or recreational vehicle
* Provides power for emergency needs
Lloyd Jacobs.
"Xunlight is an invaluable partner with the state in our aggressive work to foster the development and production of advanced energy technologies," said Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Interim Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "We applaud Xunlight and Dr. Deng for this important achievement and we look forward to continuing our very successful public-private partnership." Recently, Xunlight has been highlighted in several global publications and media outlets including The Economist (Aug. 15, 2009), The New York Times (July 20, 2009) and Voice of America (July 28, 2009). To see these stories, please use the links below: The Economist – http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14214855 The New York Times – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/business/economy/21manufacture.html Voice of America – http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-07-28-voa65.cfm
About Xunlight Corporation Xunlight Corporation engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of lightweight and flexible photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight into electricity. Xunlight has received over $40 million of institutional investments from Emerald Technology Ventures, Trident Capital, NGP Energy Technology Partners, and Rabo Ventures. The Company has also received over $13 million of R&D funding from the US Department of Energy, US Department of Commerce and Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) and $7 million loan from the State of Ohio to develop its products and manufacturing process.
Xunlight has been featured on Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, CNN, FOX News, The New York Times, the Associated Press and ABC World News. The company is headquartered in a 122,000 sqft manufacturing facility in Toledo, Ohio. For additional information, visit www.xunlight.com.
About the University of Toledo The University of Toledo is one of 13 state universities in Ohio. The university was established in 1872 and became a member of the state university system in 1967. The University of Toledo and the Medical University of Ohio merged July 2006 to form the third-largest public university operating budget in the State of Ohio.
About Ohio Department of Development Ohio Department of Development works with their partners across business, state and local governments, academia, and the non-profit sector, to attract, create, grow, and retain businesses through competitive incentives and targeted investments. Engaged every day in marketing, deal-making, innovating, investing, and collaborating, the Ohio Department of Development works at the speed of business to accelerate and support the teamwork that is absolutely necessary for success by providing financial, informational, and technical assistance to those making an investment in Ohio’s future.
