Solar Frontier CIS modules

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Solar Frontier

(2)

AGENDA



Company Presentation



CIS Technology



Product Information

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The Company Mission:

To create the most

economical, ecological

solar energy solutions on Earth

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About Solar Frontier



100% subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu, with 110+ years

experience in energy



30+ years experience in solar



1.600+ employees



Offices in Tokyo, Munich, Santa Clara and Al Khobar



Module production capacity of > 1.000 MW / year

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Solar Frontier Global Footprint

Santa Clara, USA

Tokyo, Japan

Munich, Germany

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Japan Business Locations

TOKYO

MIYAZAKI

ATSUGI

Atsugi Research

Center (ARC)

Head office

(Daiba)

Miyazaki No.2 Plant

Kunitomi Plant

Sales Offices

NAGOYA

OSAKA

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Group Structure

Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K.

Solar Frontier

Americas Inc.

Showa Shell Sekiyu

Downstream oil refining &

marketing company

Basic Data FY 2009

(US$)*

Tokyo Stock Exchange Class 1

Turnover

$28 B

Total Assets

$41 B

Solar Frontier

Europe GmbH

Saudi Aramco Royal Dutch Shell Other Investors

100%

100% Subsidiary

15% 35% 50%

Showa Shell Sekiyu

Downstream oil refining &

marketing company

Basic Data FY 2012

(USD)

Tokyo Stock Exchange Class 1

Turnover

$27 billion

Total Assets

$12 billion

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History

crystalline-Si

amorphous-Si

CIS

2005 Commitment to CIS production 1993 Start CIS research funded by NEDO 2004 Shell Solar Japan established 2006 Showa Shell Solar established 2007 Commercial production in Miyazaki Plant 1 2009 Production at 2nd_{plant begins;} Atsugi R&D Center opens

2011 Launching world’s largest PV plant 1GW Scale 1978 1981 Technical partnership with Arco Solar

1983 Started c-Si production 1986 Launched Showa Arco Solar JV with Arco Solar 1990 Showa Arco Solar renamed Showa Solar Energy

Showa Shell

starts PV R&D

1987 Co-founded JPEA Shell Solar acquired Siemens Solar 2010 New Global Name SolarFrontier 1974

Oil crisis sparks joint solar project with Japanese

government

2003

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R & D and Production

Atsugi Research Centre

Next Gen production

technology

via

three key processes:

enlarged substrate size,

higher throughput, higher

efficiency

Laboratory

Key technology

development

achieved

world record of

17.8%

(march 2012)

R&D

Miyazaki Plant 3

bldg: 158,000 m

2

Capex : USD 1 bn

JPY 100 bn

2007

2009

2011

Production

Miyazaki Plant 2

Bldg: 27,000 m

2

Capex : USD 150 M

JPY 15 bn

Miyazaki Plant 1

Bldg = 6,300 m

2

Capex = USD 50 M

JPY 5 bn

20 MW

60 MW

1.000 MW

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What is CIS?

CIS is a thin-film

compound-semiconductor PV consisting of

three major elements:

C

u

Copper

I

n

Indium

S

e

Selenium

Sometimes called “CIGS” since

portions of

In

are replaced by

Ga

（

Crystal structure of CIS

Chalcopyrite structure

）

Cu

In

*

Se

**

* Partially Ga ** Partially S

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Cover glass

Backsheet

CIS substrate

Encapsulant

TCO electrode ( – )

Buffer layer

Light-Absorbing layer

Mo electrode ( + )

Glass

Structure of the CIS Modules

Buffer layer using

Zn(S,O) instead of

CdS; responsible for

Light Soaking Effekt

Cover glass

(3.2 mm)

Frame

Sealing material

CIS substrate

Extremely low

MVTR film

Encapsulant

Buffer layer: some nm

Light absorbing layer: some μm

back glass: 1.8 mm

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Solar Frontier CIS Module production:

minimal use of PV-relevant materials



Required amount of raw

materials for the daily output

of Myasaki Module

production plant (~2.5 MW):



ca. 60 kg



Required raw materials for

production of the same

amount of crystalline

Si-modules:

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Quelle: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)

The data presented in this document is the proprietary information of Solar Frontier K.K. and is intended for discussion purposes only.

Solar Frontier does not intend to warranty any data beyond the performance specifications of CIS modules as indicated in their respective specification datasheets..

Energy Payback Time



Energy Payback Time (EPT): the time required for a module to

generate the amount of energy spent in its production



CIS modules have a faster EPT than conventional silicon

0,5

1 1,5

Crystalline

Silicon

Amorphous

Silicon

CIS

Ye

ar

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Efficiency of 17.8% achieved March 2012 at Atsugi Research Center

Performance

Record Efficiency of 30 x 30cm

2 _{Mini Module}

March, 2012

Eff. (%)

17.80 Voc (cell//V)

0.668 Jsc (mA/cm

2 ₎

_37.0

F.F.

0.718 Aperture

Area (cm

2 ₎

819

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

0

200

400

600

800 Cu

rre

n

t De

n

sit

y

(

mA

/cm

2 )

Voltage (mV/Cell)

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10 Reasons for Solar Frontier CIS Modules

1. High shading tolerance

2. Best behavior under low light and low angle irradiation

3. Temperature stability

4. Light Soaking Effect

5. No module grounding, no inverter restrictions

6. Resistance against Ammonia / Salt corrosion (TÜV-Cert.)

7. Free of lead and cadmium (RoHS compliant)

8. Mechanical stability - Framed Module

9. Superior appearance

10. Superior quality

The PV Module best optimized for real life conditions

The highest output even under toughest conditions!

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

Under partially shaded conditions, the unique patterning of CIS modules

keeps the drop of output to a minimum

0

20

40

60

80

0

20

40

60

80

100 Pm

(

W

)

Shade Area(%)

CIS

c-Si

Shadow

The module’s output drops significantly

under partial shadow

There is a partial loss of

output but the overall

effect is minimum

c-Si

CIS

Shadow

High shading tolerance

100

75

50

25

0 Pm

(%

)

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Source: 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Valencia, Spain, 1–5 September 2008 The Spectral Response

(SR or QE) is governed by the ability of the photons to be absorbed in the Depletion Region of the detector.

Best behavior under low angle irradiation

Best energy yields are achieved with the PV system facing south

and a tilt angle of 30% (values for Germany). Deviations from these

orientation are resulting in less power harvest.

Rooftop BIPV Flat roof Integration Façade vert.BIPV shed roof sun protect.

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Source: 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Valencia, Spain, 1–5 September 2008 The Spectral Response

(SR or QE) is governed by the ability of the photons to be absorbed in the Depletion Region of the detector.

Best behavior under low angle irradiation

Best energy yields are achieved with the PV system facing south

and a tilt angle of 30% (values for Germany). Deviations from these

orientation are resulting in less power harvest.

Rooftop BIPV Flat roof Integration Façade vert.BIPV shed roof sun protect.

Graphics: Solarpraxis AG

97

75

70

95

55

92 A „CIS-house“ could have values like these

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2. Normalized Efficiency Dependence

on Irradiance: “Low Light Behavior”

Irradiance (W/m

2

₎

M

odule

e

ff

icie

nc

y

(

%)

PVSYST

default data

PVSYST characteristics.

based on actual data

Example:

SF 140 module

typ. CdTe module

typ. a-Si module

typ. c-Si module

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Temperature-Coefficient SF-CIS

Temperature Coefficient

I

SC

0.00 (A/

℃

)

0.01 (%/℃)

V

OC

-0.34 (V/

℃

)

-0.30 (%/℃)

P

max

-0.45 (W/

℃

)

-0.31 (%/℃)

Temperature -Coefficient c-Si (example)

Temperature Coefficient

I

SC

0.034 (%/℃)

V

OC

-0.34 (%/℃)

P

max

-0.45 (%/℃)

This means:

Higher stability of energy

production in case of high

module temperatures

Example: 70

o

_{C module temp.:}

SF-CIS module: -13.9%

c-Si-module: -20.3%

> 45% less reduction!

Temperature stability

module temp.

25

o

_C

₇₀

o

_C

SF-CIS

100%

86.1%

c-Si

100%

79.7%

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

What is the RoHS directive?



Restriction of

(the use of)

hazardous substances

This directive prohibits, effective July 1, 2006, electrical and

electronic equipment put on the market in the European Union

from containing specified chemical substances

exceeding the specified value.



Lead (Pb) 1,000ppm

,



Mercury (Hg) 1,000ppm,



Cadmium (Cd) 100ppm

,



Sechswertiges Chrom, (Cr6) 1,000ppm,



PolyBrominated Biphenyls (PBB) 1,000ppm,



PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) 1,000ppm

RoHS compliant



environment-friendly

Although not yet required in the PV market, Solar Frontier is one of

the very few PV module manufaturers compliant with RoHS.

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Aesthetics of CIS



Solar Frontier CIS modules have superior aesthetics to polysilicon

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Superior appearance

Example E-W –

orientation



SF-CIS:



Elegant integrated

solution



Surface-optimized



Harmony of optics

and technology



c-Si:

• Less esthetical, expensive tilted construction

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Superior Quality –

Risk-minimizing technology



Microcracks



More critical for p-Si than m-Si



Caused by weight on modules



„Snail tracks“



Material defects, can be caused or

boosted by microcracks



PID



Potential-Induced Degradation

_{NO RISK}

for Solar Frontier

CIS modules,

due to different

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PV power production

P

o

we

r

[W]

Power consumption

Own PV Power consumption

Well- balanced daily energy distribution

Marathon vs. Sprinter module

Low Light / Low

irradiation angle

behaviour:

Yield increase in

morning and

evening hours

Temperature

coefficient:

Better yields in

the afternoon

Light Soaking

Effect:

Additional kWh

throughout the

day

Optimisation of self sustainability:

Higher percentage of directly used power

Equalized energy production

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What is the real value?

Powerful modules?

kWp ?

… or best harvest?

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Overview: USP and customer benefit

Customer advantage

Reason / Product Characteristics

Relevant

_{target groups}



Light Soaking Effekt



Good low-light behaviour



Shadow tolerance



Low temperature coefficient



Low distance between module rows in the case of free field pwer

plants and on flat roofs.

ALL:

- installers

- house-owners

- farmers

- industry customers

- EPCs

- communities, etc.



Free of lead and cadmium



No use of cardboards



Re-usable packaging and own return system



Very low Energy Payback Time, EPT < 1 year

ALL, especially:

- house-owners

- installers



Strong partners: Shell & Saudi Aramco



Decades of experience in the energy / solar business



Numerous large power plants as references



Not only sales office, but European centre of operations with all

relevant functions

ALL, especially:

- farmers

- installers



Homogeneous black appearance



Good integration into house and environment



Better integration due to low tilt angle



Free field power plants and flat roofs need a smaller area due to the

low distance required between the module rows.

ALL, especially:

- house-owners

- communities

Highest output even

under toughest

conditions

Aesthetical design

Security

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0 50 100 150 200 250 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

DC

Outp

ut

(kW

h/k

W

p)

Irr

a

dia

tion

(kW

h/m

2

)

DC

P

e

rfo

rma

nce

Ratio (%

)

CIS DC Output (kWh/kWp) Mono- Si DC Output (kWh/kWp) CIS DC-PR (%)

Studies made by neutral reknown institutes:

IWES Fraunhofer, Germany (CIS vs Mono-Si)

- Date onstream:

Mar, 2011

-

System capacity:

CIS: 145W x 2pcs,

Mono-Si: 180W x 2pcs

-

Panel type:

CIS: SF145

Mono-Si

Technical Overview

FDE003_1203

-

Location:

IWES Fraunhofer, Germany

Site Overview

CIS

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Customer´s comparison studies (example 1):

BalticSolar, Germany (CIS vs Other Technologies)

Technical Overview

Site Overview



Solar Frontier CIS module confirmed to

be performing better compared to other

module technology!

Site Overview

Baltic Solar

Technical Overview

Location:

Futterkamp, Germany

Coordinates:

54

o

_{N, 10}

o

_E

Average Irradiance:

974.1 kWh/m2/yr

Average Temp.:

9.0

o

_{C (48.2}

o

_F)

Azimuth:

130

o

_East

Tilt Angle:

15

o System Capacity (kWp) AC Output (kWh/kWp) (Jan'1 1 -May '1 2 ) Inverter Poly-Si (180W) 6.48 1373 SMC 6000TL Poly-Si (220W) 6.60 1379 SMC 6000TL Solar Frontier CIS

(85W) 4.76 1421 SB 5000TL Mono-Si (220W) 5.28 1315 SPR 4600 Poly-Si (230W) 6.90 1349 SMC 6000TL Module 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

A

C

Outp

ut

(kW

h/

k

W

p

)

Month-Year

Poly-Si (180W) Poly-Si (220W) Solar Frontier CIS (85W) Mono-Si (220W) Poly-Si (230W)

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Megawatt power plant, France, 4,190.0 kWp Megawatt power plant, Germany, 4,886.0 kWp

Power plant, Germany, 551.2 kWp Megawatt power plant, Germany, 1,840.0 kWp

(35)

Megawatt power plant, Spain, 1,000.0 kWp Megawatt power plant, Germany, 3,102.0 kWp

Megawatt power plant, Germany, 959 kWp Megawatt power plant, Thailand, 3,300,0 kWp

(36)

Commercial rooftop , Germany, 554.6 kWp

Commercial rooftop, Germany, 906.9 kWp Commercial rooftop, Italy, 370.4 kWp

Rooftops

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Commercial rooftop, Germany, 1,724.0 kWp Commercial rooftop, Italy, 734.0 kWp

Commercial rooftop, Germany, 340.0 kWp Commercial rooftop, Namibia, 302. 4 kWp

(38)

Thanks for your attention!

Any questions remained?