Heliatek GmbH,
technology leader in the field of organic solar films, continues to set new
world records for organic solar cells.
The company has commissioned SGS, an accredited and independent testing
facility, with a measurement campaign of its latest organic photovoltaic (OPV)
cells. The result of this campaign is a new world record for OPV with 10.7 %
cell efficiency on 1.1 cm2. It also confirms the superior low light and high
temperature performances of OPV compared to traditional solar technologies.
The key to Heliatek's success is the family of small organic molecules -
oligomers - developed and synthesized at its own lab in Ulm, Germany. Dr. Martin
Pfeiffer, co-founder and CTO of Heliatek, explains: "Heliatek is the only solar
company in the world that uses the deposition of small organic molecules in a
low temperature, roll-to-roll vacuum process. Our solar tandem cells are made of
nanometers thin layers of high purity and uniformity. This enables us to
literally engineer the cell architecture to systematically improve efficiency
and lifetime."
The measurement campaign of SGS included efficiency measurements under
standard testing conditions (STC) of the solar industry as well as performance
measurements at low light and high temperatures of up to 80 °C. The test results
not only set a new world record for OPV with 10.7 % cell efficiency, but the
additional measurements highlight the superior performance of Heliatek's OPV
cells under real life conditions.
The measurement results for low light established that the efficiency not
only remains constant, but even increases gradually. At an irradiation of 100
W/m² the efficiency is 15 % higher compared to the standard efficiency measured
at 1,000 W/m². Additionally, the measurements at high temperatures confirmed
that the efficiency remains constant. This behaviour is unique for OPV
technology in contrast to traditional solar technology which efficiency drops 15
% to 20 % at elevated temperatures.
These technology advantages translate into a higher harvesting factor under
real life conditions. First outdoor tests have shown that the harvesting factor
of Heliatek's organic solar cells is 15 % to 25 % higher than crystalline and
thin film solar.
"When Heliatek was founded in 2006, the technology roadmap set out ambitious
milestones for efficiency, and yet we have hit every single one of them," says
Thibaud Le Séguillon, CEO of Heliatek. "Thanks to the close cooperation between
our research teams in chemistry and physics, we are now on our path to achieving
15 % efficiency within the next few years."
Heliatek is currently working on its first roll-to-roll manufacturing line
installed in Dresden, Germany, to go in production in the third quarter of 2012.
It has also kicked off a third financing round to raise €60 million from current
and new investors for a new roll-to-roll 75 MWp production line.