Global Solar claims 10 percent efficiency for thin-film

Tuscon, Ariz.-based Global Solar Energy announced today that its thin-film solar cells hit a milestone, reaching an average of 10 percent efficiency.

The company said its copper indium gallium diselenide cells achieved the efficiency over several production runs.

"This is the culmination of three full years of being in production and evolving our proprietary production techniques to continuously improve the efficiency and output of our production," said Jeffrey Britt, VP of technology at Global Solar.

Global Solar said it hit the milestone in December, capping off a year in which it said it also manufactured and shipped 4 megawatts of photovoltaic material for commercial, government, military and consumer products.

Last year, the thin-film solar cell maker passed U.S. military tests, receiving MILSTD-810E certification (see Global Solar modules get U.S. military approval).

The barrage of tests on the company's P3 Portable Power Pack included immersion, vibration, and high and low temperature storage.

"Government, commercial and consumer demand for renewable-energy products and building materials are growing at a fast pace, thereby putting pressure on CIGS producers and other types of solar manufacturers to deliver high-efficiency products that are flexible-lightweight and lower cost per watt installed," said Mike Gering, CEO of Global Solar.

The company said it started production of its CIGS thin-film solar cells on a flexible substrate in 2004.

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