PIVOTRY RADIOMETER:  SEPTEMBER 2010

Pivotry Radiometer is a free monthly newsletter about new developments in the solar renewable energy industry and based upon the "game changers" from the Pivotry Perspectives Workshops conducted by Wayne Chang, Ph.D.  You are welcomed to share this newsletter with others.

 Pivotry Radiometer is in four sections this month:

 1.       New Materials

Cesium has been identified as new material for developing an innovative solar device that combines photovoltaic (PV) and thermal electricity generation for solar concentrator systems.  In August this year, Stanford University announced new solar cell technology that can potentially double the efficiencies of existing photovoltaic and thermal conversion technologies (ref-1.1).  The process is called "photon enhanced thermionic emission", or PETE and involves a thin layer coating of Cesium onto semiconductors such a GaN or GaAs.  The researchers claim the PETE process can get 50% efficiency or more for solar concentration PV applications, but if combined with a thermal conversion cycle, then almost 60% efficiency can be reached.

 2.       Hybrid Systems and Integration

At the recent Solar Buildings Research Network (SBRN) Industry and Stakeholder Meeting, Montreal, Quebec (August 25, 2010), a number of successful solar demonstration projects were showcased for building integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV), and BIPV and solar thermal systems (BIPV/T).  This university-led research network was comprised of 25 professors from than 10 universities across Canada (ref-2.1).  The SBRN performs research and demonstration projects in the area of technologically advanced solar-optimized buildings.  Alouette Homes built a house (EcoTerra^TM House) with an energy system designed by SBRN researchers which includes a BIPV/T roof linked to a hollow core thermal storage system.  A first time that such an integrated roof was built as a system in a factory and assembled on-site (ref-2.2).  The owners of such houses benefit from significant energy efficiency and conservations features since it was designed as a net-zero energy building.

 3.       Photovoltaic Technology Roadmaps and Standards

The SEMI Standards PV Silicon Materials Task Force is developing Standards for solar grade Si feedstock materials (ref-3.1).  This standard includes specifications for bulk silicon used for manufacturing solar cells and standardized test methods.  It will also allow polysilicon and cell manufacturers to specify such things as donor concentration, dimensional (rods, bricks) and packaging on purchase orders for feedstock materials.  Based on inputs from polysilicon suppliers, a standards voting ballot is now available, and the official committee adjudication process will take place in Dresden, Germany (October 19, 2010) at the European SEMI Standards PV Committee meeting.  For the current (and mature) Si solar PV industry, there are only rudimentary standards in place, and these specifications will improve the overall quality of feedstock materials needed in the market.

 4.       CULTURE Perspectives

From the eight keys to a new corporate culture (ref-4.1), Business is an Ecosystem (not a Battlefield), Corporations are Communities (not Machines), Management is Service (not Control), Employees are Peers (not Children), Motivate with Vision (not Fear), Change is Growth (not Pain), Computers are Servants (not Masters), and Transform "Work" into Play (not Toil).  There are many contrasting opinions about these eight keys, and a couple of questions surface; So why don't more companies make the transition to a different culture which could be better?  Why do companies wait…until the market environment changes and then they are "forced" to culture shift (and expend extra energy, time and money)?

 REFERENCES & LINKS

1.1 http://news.stanford.edu/pr/2010/pr-new-solar-method-080210.html

2.1 http://www.solarbuildings.ca/

2.2 http://www.solarbuildings.ca/c/sbn/file_db/SBRN_Demonstation_EcoTerra_Final1.pdf

3.1 http://www.pvgroup.org/NewsArchive/ctr_039439

4.1 http://www.amazon.com/Success-Secrets-Silicon-Valley-Effective/dp/0812929764

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This newsletter is based upon information that we consider reliable, but we do not represent that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such.