Tallaght-based solar cell equipment manufacturer Nines Photovoltaics has completed the build of its first industrial silicon wafer processing tool. The solar cell manufacturing unit has recently been shipped to Fraunhofer ISE Germany – the largest solar energy research institute in Europe – where it will be installed and validated in a production environment.
Nines Photovoltaics’ technology is focused on changing the processes used to manufacture solar cells, reducing production costs while increasing cell efficiencies.
Fraunhofer ISE is one of only two places in the world that can certify solar cell efficiencies. They will provide a platform to benchmark Nines Photovoltaics process against state-of-the-art solar cell production, and promote the technology to solar cell manufacturers worldwide.
Nines CEO Edward Duffy (pictured) said: "Our tool is now installed in a world-renowned pilot production line at the cutting edge of solar technology. This is a major step for Nines as we unveil our technology to the world at a time when the need for lower cost manufacturing solutions has never been greater and when the world is quietly waking up to the potential of solar PV."
Nines Photovoltaics has been partially funded via Enterprise Ireland and the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme.
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