Siemens var tidigare världsledande i utvecklingen av Solpaneler.
De blev för några år sedan uppköpta av Shell.
Hittade det här på Shell's websida;
Harnessing the power of the sun
Solar energy is abundant, local and emission-free. But the current costs of turning sunlight into electricity remain too high for large-scale use. The most widely applied technology uses silicon and a highly complex manufacturing process. After many years making solar panels this way, Shell has ceased its activities in conventional silicon based solar in 2006, moving straight into the next generation “CIS” thin-film technology. We believe thin-film technology - albeit in the early phases of development - could prove to be the most commercially viable form of photovoltaic solar technology to generate electricity from the sun’s energy.
CIS Thin-Film Technology
Advanced CIS (Copper Indium Diselenide) thin-film technology could provide a real cost breakthrough for solar power. The production process is less complicated, with limited chance of breakage and no usage of expensive silicon. The CIS metal solutions are sprayed onto a glass sheet in layers, comparable with the way coated windows are made, eliminating the need for complex wiring and assembly. CIS modules are particularly well suited for urban areas. Their smooth black appearance makes them suitable for building integrated applications. Moreover, the technology has excellent performance under low-light conditions e.g. shade.
Shell Solar has played a major role in the development of first-generation CIS technology. Together with our joint venture partner Saint Gobain we continue to develop the next generation of CIS based thin-film technology. We have a 20 MWp of production capacity plant under construction in Saxony, Germany.
When built, the plant will manufacture solar panels, which when installed would power an equivalent of around 6,000 European households additional per year with clean energy. Generating the same amount of electricity from a coal-fired power plant would release about 14,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
For more information on Avancis, please visit: http://www.avancis.de/company.html