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Print Edition StoriesMonday, September 14, 2009
1366's new solar cell manufacturing process sparks new strategy
By Jackie Noblett
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Lexington-based solar cell technology developer 1366 Technologies Inc. unveiled its new processes for making silicon solar cells capture sunlight and transfer it into electricity, as well as a new business plan to make the best use of its research.
CEO Frank van Mierlo said in an interview that the company has decided against building a business around making these more efficient solar cells and has transformed itself into an equipment company, selling its new solar cell architecture systems directly to solar companies. The company was founded last year by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Ely Sachs and van Mierlo to develop a system that produced silicon solar cells at cost parity with coal-based electricity.
“We live in a very different world than we did 14 months ago. I think it’s fair to say it would be irresponsible if we didn’t change our strategy,” van Mierlo said. “We are just focused on the areas that we have developed new technologies, texturing and metallization, and we want to deliver our processes in the form of equipment to sell to solar cell makers.”
The new cell architecture made commercially available today, includes a new way to texture silicon wafers that allow the silicon to capture more solar energy and retain the solar energy longer. The company has also developed a new way to transmit the electrons from the silicon to electrical components using thinner wires made with pure metal.
The two processes combined could help a solar company develop a solar cell with 18 percent efficiency compared with an industry standard 16 percent efficiency, van Mierlo said.
1366 will manufacture the equipment in the United States and has already inked deals with solar makers; it expects to double its head count to around 50 in the next year. The company raised a $12.4 million Series A round of funding from North Bridge Venture Partners and Polaris Venture Partners in March 2008, but van Mierlo said the company has no immediate plans to raise additional funds.
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