HelioVolt

Last updated
HelioVolt Corporation
Type Private
Industry Photovoltaics
Founded2001
Founder Dr. B.J. Stanbery
Defunct2014
Headquarters
Austin, Texas
,
United States
Key people
Dr. B.J. Stanbery
Steve Darnell
John Prater
Dr. Peter Hersh
Dr. Bao Sang
Products CIGS solar cells
Website www.heliovolt.net   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

HelioVolt Corporation was a privately held solar energy company based in Austin, Texas that suspended operations in 2014. The company manufactured photovoltaic (PV) solar modules using a thin film semiconductor process based on copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) to produce CIGS solar cells. HelioVolt manufactured these thin film modules for commercial rooftop, utility-scale ground mount, residential, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and custom installations. The company raised over $230 million in investments, including over $80 million by SK Group. [1]

Contents

History

HelioVolt Corporation was founded in 2001 to develop and commercialize its FASST® process for applying CIGS thin-film photovoltaics directly onto conventional construction materials. The company’s FASST® process, [2] [3] based on semiconductor printing, was conceived by HelioVolt founder Dr. Billy J. Stanbery, an expert in the materials science of CIGS and related compound semiconductors. [4] FASST® is a patented manufacturing process for CIGS synthesis. [5]

HelioVolt produced thin film solar PV modules for commercial rooftop, utility-scale ground mount, residential, BIPV and custom installations. HelioVolt suspended operations in 2014 [6] and the contents of the Austin facility were auctioned in January 2015 [7]

Investments

Large-scale investment in HelioVolt began with $8 million in Series A funding from New Enterprise Associates in 2005. [8] A further $77 million was added in a Series B funding round co-led by Paladin Capital Group and the Masdar Clean Tech Fund in August 2007. [9] The Series B funding round was closed for a total of $101 million in October 2007 with investments from Sequel Venture Partners, Noventi, and Passport Capital. [10] The latest investment will fund factory expansion preparation activities.

Technology

HelioVolt developed a new way to manufacture thin-film CIGS semiconductor coatings for solar panels, based on research into the fundamental device physics of the CIGS semiconductor material. [11] However, this solar thin-film processing method was flawed and failed to scale economically, leading to the company's demise in 2014. [12] The contents of the Austin facility were auctioned in January 2015. [13] Conventional semiconductor processing requires a vacuum process to deposit the semiconductor film on the substrate. The need for vacuum chambers makes this a lengthy batch-oriented production process. HelioVolt developed a nanomaterial-based coating that could be sprayed onto a wide variety of substrates without requiring a vacuum. Non-vacuum or atmospheric deposition processes offer a combination of lower costs, process simplicity and reduced manufacturing times. [3] The company's FASST manufacturing process [14] won a Nanotech Briefs "Nano 50" nanotechnology award in 2006. In 2008, HelioVolt and NREL won an R&D 100 Award for their innovative Thin Film Solar Printing Process, [15] as well as the year's coveted R&D Magazine's Editor’s Choice for Most Revolutionary Technology. [16] [17]

HelioVolt produced thin film solar cells that could convert 14% of the sunlight that hit them into electricity, and solar modules with conversion efficiencies of above 12 percent, as certified by NREL. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photovoltaics</span> Method to produce electricity from solar radiation

Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and electrochemistry. The photovoltaic effect is commercially used for electricity generation and as photosensors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Renewable Energy Laboratory</span> United States national laboratory

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the US specializes in the research and development of renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy systems integration, and sustainable transportation. NREL is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the Department of Energy and operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, a joint venture between MRIGlobal and Battelle. Located in Golden, Colorado, NREL is home to the National Center for Photovoltaics, the National Bioenergy Center, and the National Wind Technology Center.

Nanosolar was a developer of solar power technology. Based in San Jose, CA, Nanosolar developed and briefly commercialized a low-cost printable solar cell manufacturing process. The company started selling thin-film CIGS panels mid-December 2007, and planned to sell them at 99 cents per watt, much below the market at the time. However, prices for solar panels made of crystalline silicon declined significantly during the following years, reducing most of Nanosolar's cost advantage. By February 2013 Nanosolar had laid off 75% of its work force. Nanosolar began auctioning off its equipment in August 2013. Co-Founder of Nanosolar Martin Roscheisen stated on his personal blog that nanosolar "ultimately failed commercially." and that he would not enter this industry again because of slow-development cycle, complex production problems and the impact of cheap Chinese solar power production. Nanosolar ultimately produced less than 50 MW of solar power capacity despite having raised more than $400 million in investment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Building-integrated photovoltaics</span> Photovoltaic materials used to replace conventional building materials

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are photovoltaic materials that are used to replace conventional building materials in parts of the building envelope such as the roof, skylights, or façades. They are increasingly being incorporated into the construction of new buildings as a principal or ancillary source of electrical power, although existing buildings may be retrofitted with similar technology. The advantage of integrated photovoltaics over more common non-integrated systems is that the initial cost can be offset by reducing the amount spent on building materials and labor that would normally be used to construct the part of the building that the BIPV modules replace. In addition, BIPV allows for more widespread solar adoption when the building's aesthetics matter and traditional rack-mounted solar panels would disrupt the intended look of the building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Solar</span> American solar power company

First Solar, Inc. is an American manufacturer of solar panels, and a provider of utility-scale PV power plants and supporting services that include finance, construction, maintenance and end-of-life panel recycling. First Solar uses rigid thin-film modules for its solar panels, and produces CdTe panels using cadmium telluride (CdTe) as a semiconductor. The company was founded in 1990 by inventor Harold McMaster as Solar Cells, Inc. and the Florida Corporation in 1993 with JD Polk. In 1999 it was purchased by True North Partners, LLC, who rebranded it as First Solar, Inc.

MiaSolé is an American solar energy company selling copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic products. MiaSolé's manufacturing process lays CIGS on a flexible stainless steel substrate. MiaSolé produces all layers of photovoltaic material in a continuous sputtering process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ascent Solar</span>

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a publicly traded photovoltaic (PV) company located in Thornton, Colorado. Its primary product is a flexible CIGS solar cell on a plastic substrate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadmium telluride photovoltaics</span> Type of solar power cell

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaics is a photovoltaic (PV) technology based on the use of cadmium telluride in a thin semiconductor layer designed to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. Cadmium telluride PV is the only thin film technology with lower costs than conventional solar cells made of crystalline silicon in multi-kilowatt systems.

Odersun was a German photovoltaic (PV) company that developed and manufactured CIGS cells on a flexible copper backing, specifically designed for building-integrated photovoltaics. The insolvent company went into administration on 1 June 2012 and filed for bankruptcy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thin-film solar cell</span> Type of second-generation solar cell

Thin-film solar cells are made by depositing one or more thin layers of photovoltaic material onto a substrate, such as glass, plastic or metal. Thin-film solar cells are typically a few nanometers (nm) to a few microns (µm) thick–much thinner than the wafers used in conventional crystalline silicon (c-Si) based solar cells, which can be up to 200 µm thick. Thin-film solar cells are commercially used in several technologies, including cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), and amorphous thin-film silicon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copper indium gallium selenide solar cell</span>

A copper indium gallium selenide solar cell is a thin-film solar cell used to convert sunlight into electric power. It is manufactured by depositing a thin layer of copper indium gallium selenide solid solution on glass or plastic backing, along with electrodes on the front and back to collect current. Because the material has a high absorption coefficient and strongly absorbs sunlight, a much thinner film is required than of other semiconductor materials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abound Solar</span> Defunct Colorado solar panel manufacturer

Abound Solar was a manufacturer of cadmium telluride modules–a thin-film photovoltaic technology–based in the United States. It operated a production facility in Longmont, Colorado. The company was incorporated as AVA Solar in 2007 and was rebranded as Abound Solar in March 2009. In 2012 the company laid off almost half its employees before suspending operations and filing for bankruptcy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SVTC Technologies</span>

SVTC Technologies was a technology services company that provided development and commercialization services for semiconductor process-based technologies and products. SVTC operated from 2004 to October 2012.

HelioSphera S.A. is a Greek company founded in 2007, with major stakeholders in Greece and the United States of America. Its headquarters is in Athens, Greece, and its production facility is in Tripoli, Greece. The company's primary product is photovoltaic solar panels and modules, made of micromorph thin-film with an annual capacity of 60MWp. The company has significant expertise in solar manufacturing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar Frontier</span>

Solar Frontier Kabushiki Kaisha is a Japanese photovoltaic company that develops and manufactures thin film solar cells using CIGS technology. It is a fully owned subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu and located in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company was founded in 2006 as Showa Shell Solar, and renamed Solar Frontier in April 2010.

SoloPower Systems Inc. technology is used to create ultra-lightweight, thin-film, flexible Solar Panels, based on CIGS. Originally developed by San Jose, California-based Solopower Inc., the technology is now owned by Solopower Systems Inc., a solar panel development & manufacturing company based in Portland, Oregon. SoloPower technology features an electroplating process that utilizes nearly 100% of its materials to manufacture its CIGS cells.

Siva Power, Inc. is an American solar power company that developed thin-film technology. The company designed and manufactured copper indium gallium deselenide (CIGS) photovoltaics. Siva Power is based in San Jose, California. Bruce Sohn is CEO and Mark Heising is Chairman.

Flisom is a developer and manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) thin film solar cells, located near Zurich, Switzerland. The company produces high-efficiency CIGS thin film solar modules on flexible plastic foil using proprietary roll-to-roll manufacturing techniques.

References

  1. ↑ Colthorpe, Andy (2017-08-07). "HelioVolt secures another US$19 million investment from South Korean conglomerate". pv-tech.org. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
  2. ↑ Eldada, Louay (Jan 10, 2010). "Can HelioVolt Challenge First Solar?". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 "HelioVolt and NREL extend CRADA to commercialize solar nanotechnology". Nanotechnology.com. 2006-09-12. Archived from the original on 2016-05-15. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  4. ↑ . [ dead link ]
  5. ↑ "HelioVolt's Solar Technology Awarded Two Wall Street Journal Innovation Honors". Nano Science and Technology Institute. 2006-09-28.
  6. ↑ "Austin-based solar energy company HelioVolt suspends operations". Austin American Statesman.
  7. ↑ "Assets of HelioVolt's failed solar panel plant in Austin heading to auction". Austin Business Journal.
  8. ↑ "HelioVolt Receives $8 Million Investment from New Enterprise Associates". Solar Headlines. 2005-06-20.
  9. ↑ "HelioVolt Completes $77 Million Series B Funding Round". Venture Capital Reporter. 2007-08-16. Archived from the original on 2008-02-11.
  10. ↑ "HelioVolt raises $101M — biggest solar investment yet?". VentureBeat. 2007-10-21.
  11. ↑ "Nanostructure Discovery by HelioVolt CEO Propels Solar Thin-Film Commercialization". nanotechwire.com. 2005-01-11. Archived from the original on 2008-04-20.
  12. ↑ "Austin-based solar energy company HelioVolt suspends operations". Austin American Statesman.
  13. ↑ "Assets of HelioVolt's failed solar panel plant in Austin heading to auction". Austin Business Journal.
  14. ↑ "Green Energy Efficiency Innovations | Environment Saving Technologies".
  15. ↑ "HelioVolt, NREL Win R&D 100 Award for Thin Film Solar Printing Process". Compound Semiconductors Online. 2008-07-24.
  16. ↑ "HelioVolt, NREL Win R&D Magazine Editor's Choice for Most Revolutionary Technology". Compound Semiconductors Online. 2008-10-23.
  17. ↑ "Let the Solar Revolution Begin". Solar Today. 2009-03-01.
  18. ↑ "Rapid reactive transfer printing of CIGS photovoltaics". SPIE. 2009-08-25.
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