Resource World Magazine

58 www.resourceworld.com j u n e / j u l y 2 0 1 5 alTERNaTivE e n e r G y r e V i e W Developments in Alternative Energy by Jane Bratun new disCOvery prOMises reCOrd- setting sOLar pOwer Output at nO additiOnaL COst Solar energy promises clean, limitless energy. Unfortunately, solar energy can't compete with fossil fuels because of solar energy's relatively low power output, toxic manufacturing processes and, of course, limited daylight hours. The last disad- vantage is a challenge to be overcome by battery developers like Elon Musk, while the other listed impediments seem set to be resolved. In fact, one small publicly-traded research and development company, Natcore Technology [NXT-TSXV; NTCXF- OTC], located in Red Bank, New Jersey and Rochester New York, could overcome all the challenges faced by solar energy. Solar cell power output is determined by a cell's efficiency, which relates to the amount of sunlight converted to electrical energy. Contrary to commercial solar cell efficiencies developed early in this century that barely reached into the double digits, the solar panels being put onto residen- tial rooftops today typically reach around 17% efficiency. But it's still not enough. At these rates of conversion, solar energy can compete with conventional power rates only in the most expensive areas of North America and the world. To obtain higher efficiencies, Panasonic Corp. [PCRFF-OTC] (formerly Sanyo) has developed a back-contact heterojunction (an electrical junction between two dif- ferent materials) with intrinsic thin layer (HIT™) cells that set the world record for silicon cell efficiency at 25.6%. The "back- contact" part means those gridlines that you normally see on the front of a solar cell are placed on the back of the cell, leaving more area on the front to absorb sunlight. Put it all together, and you have a solar cell of such high efficiency that it could revolutionize the global energy paradigm. Unfortunately, it is so complicated and expensive to produce that no one has been able to put it into affordable mass produc- tion, until Natcore scientists tackled the problem. Natcore has become well known for using a novel and proprietary laser-pro- cessing system to greatly simplify silicon solar cell production. By rapidly and accu- rately cutting channels into the silicon to specific depths, Natcore's lasers cut out many expensive steps, equipment and materials used in solar cell production. After announcing their first success in late 2014, they applied their technology to making a back-contact cell a few weeks later. And then they discovered, because of the specifics of their laser process, it was actually much easier for them to create the HIT-structure that had confounded every- one else. "We believe we can provide what's needed to take HIT-structure cells to a 25% efficiency or greater," notes Chuck Provini, Natcore's CEO. "Furthermore, it's actually easier for our process to make a sil- icon HIT-structure cell with back contacts. The Natcore cell would sharply lower the cost per watt and the environmental dam- age that is associated with traditional solar cell manufacturing." The result is that Natcore's new technology presents the promise of para- digm-shifting solar cells with record-level efficiencies, but at production costs that promise to be about the same as today's most common, inexpensive commercial cells. Natcore's business plan is also a model of innovation. Rather than compete in the cut-throat, ultra-competitive world of solar cell manufacturing, where companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars to fight over fractional advantages in costs or efficiencies, Natcore is going to license its technology to any and all comers. In addition to earning license fees for its technology and royalties from manufacturers who build the laser- processing equipment, Natcore also plans to earn a royalty on every solar cell produced using its technology. Not much of a royalty, mind you, just a small fraction of the out- sized economic advantage provided by its laser processing application. But that small fraction could add up to hundreds of mil- lions of dollars in annual revenue…all for a company that sports a market cap of only around $40 million. Natcore's next step is to produce back- contact HIT-structure cells with efficiencies well into the teens, a level that promises to result in the company's first joint ventures with major players in the industry. "We've made huge, and very rapid, progress in the lab recently," says Brien Lundin, Natcore's Chairman. "Importantly, though, our first commercial agreement will fundamentally transform the com- pany from research and development to real-world revenues." The world will be grateful if this finally results in clean, lim- itless and affordable energy. But none will Scientists working on solar cell prototypes in the clean room. Photo courtesy Natcore Technology.

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