Title :
Ten years of manufacturing R&D in PVMAT-technical accomplishments, return on investment, and where we go next
Author :
Witt, C. Edwin ; Mitchell, Richard L. ; Symko-Davies, Martha ; Thomas, Holly P. ; King, Richard ; Ruby, Douglas S.
Author_Institution :
Nat. Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO, USA
Abstract :
The Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology Project (PVMaT) has been conducting cost-shared R&D with industry for ten years. Objectives of this project are to improve photovoltaic manufacturing processes and products and to lower manufacturing costs. The majority of the efforts have been module related. Results in terms of automation, yield, and throughput have provided a significant reduction in direct manufacturing costs. Some of these results are detailed, and a measure of the return due to these efforts is discussed. Finally, technical directions for future activities are identified
Keywords :
investment; manufacturing processes; research and development management; solar cells; PVMaT; Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology Project; cost-shared R&D; direct manufacturing costs; manufacturing R&D; manufacturing costs reduction; photovoltaic manufacturing processes improvement; photovoltaic products improvement; return on investment; technical accomplishments; Costs; Crystallization; Investments; Manufacturing automation; Manufacturing industries; Manufacturing processes; Photovoltaic systems; Research and development; Solar power generation; Subcontracting;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2000. Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE
Conference_Location :
Anchorage, AK
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5772-8
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.2000.916179
