Monday 16/3/2009 Page: 5
NEW technology that was developed in Sydney and allows solar panels to capture more sunshine is expected to influence panel production around the world. The technology is about to be demonstrated at the University of New South Wales. A world-first silicon solar cell production line will be built at the university, using funds from a German energy corporation and the Federal Government.
It is expected to help revitalise the local solar industry, which has been badly affected by the closure last year of its largest factory, run by BP Solar in Homebush, and from a perceived lack of incentive for people who want to install solar energy at home. The pilot program at the university will demonstrate new production techniques that allow traditional panels to catch more light from the blue end of the spectrum, the short wavelengths.
The problem with many existing solar cells is that the shorter wavelengths of light are reflected back by a layer of phosphate ducting within the panel. The new technique allows the phosphate ducts to be better aligned, so more light can be absorbed, without adding to production costs. It will also deploy new laser cutting techniques that allow greater precision when cutting the edges of wafer-thin silicon and aligning it to the metal frames which conduct electricity from the panel to the battery.
The work will be done at the university's new Solar Industrial Research Facility, which will focus on applying Australian research to commercial production. "There have been a lot of people looking at solutions to these problems around the world for a long time, but I think we've got it," said Dr Richard Corkish, head of the university's School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering.
The plant is designed to demonstrate technology and enhance the skills of industry workers, but it will also produce functioning panels that could be fitted to the university's buildings, Dr Corkish said. The new centre will be operational early next year.
''This is something we've dreamed of for many, many years, and it's been a challenge putting it all together," Dr Corkish said. "But all the pieces seem to have fallen into place right now, and that's exciting." A German solar panel manufacturer, Roth and Ran, said it was pleased to be partnering the university in its first foray into the Asia-Pacific region.
The renewable energy industry in Australia is growing fast, but it is still struggling to provide electricity at a rate as cheap as that of coal-fired power stations. The NSW Government has followed other states and is committed to introducing feed-in tariffs under which people who generate power at home get paid more than a market rate for feeding it back into the energy grid.
But the type of feed-in tariff it introduces will make a significant difference to the growth of the industry. A net tariff would mean most households would be unable to earn any benefits from their solar panels, whereas the more generous gross tariff would mean much larger benefits. The Government is expected to announce its preference this week.
A Ray Of Power
- Only 0.1% of Australia's electricity is generated by solar panels, and 40,000 households out of 8 million have them.
- Government rebates of up to $8000 are available for households that install rooftop solar panels before June 30.
- Experts estimate that "grid parity", in which renewable energy becomes as cheap as fossil fuel power, is still a decade or more away.
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