美国公司开始投产铜铟硒电池

Solarstart-upHeliovolt,acompanythatenvisionsbuildingscoatedwithelectricity-generatingroofsandsidings,willbeginbuildingprototypeslaterthismonth.

Heliovoltisoneofseveralcompaniesseekingtocomeupwithcheaperwaystobuildmaterialthatcanconvertlighttoelectricity.

Onthecuspofatechnologyshift
HeliovoltCEOBillyStanberytellsNews.com"sMartinLaMonicawhybuildingscoatedwithinexpensiveelectricity-generatingroofsandsidingsmaterialwillsoonbecomecommonplace.

Mostsolarphotovoltaiccellsaremadeofsilicon,butashortageofsilicon,coupledwiththematurityofthetraditionalsolarindustry,hasmadeithardtolowerthepriceofsolarpanels,accordingtoexperts.

CompaniessuchasHeliovoltspecializeincopperindiumgermaniumselenium,orCIGS,solartechnology,whichproponentssaycanbeasdurableandefficientassiliconcellsbutcanbemanufacturedforlessmoney.

Austin,Texas-basedHeliovoltwillstartbuildingprototypesatitsplantthismonthandstartproductionofproductsthisfall,saidBillyJ.Stanbery,presidentandCEOofHeliovolt.

StanberysaidHeliovoltconsidersitsthin-filmsolarcoatinga"platformtechnology"thatcanbeusedinarangeofapplications,includingreplacementsforsiliconinsolarpanels.

Inaddition,hesaidthatthecompanyintendstomake"building-integratedphotovoltaics"wheretheCIGSsolarfilmsareaddedontobuildingmaterials.

"Byputtingthosecoatingsdirectlyonbuildingmaterial,yousignificantlyreducethemarginalcostofmakingthesolarpowerandyouputitdirectlywhereyouuseit,"Stanberysaid.

Hesaidthethin-filmCIGSmanufacturingtechnologyischeaperthanusingsilicontobuildenergy-harvesting"powerbuildings."

"Powerbuildingsarethefuture.Weneedtobuildabridgetothatfuture,andwe"reinterestedinanyappropriateandprofitablemeansoframpingupproductionandgettingintothatmarket,"Stanberysaid.