PHOTON International The Photovoltaic Magazine

BP Solar joins quest for solid-state molecular organic PV module

SolarAMP LLC, a PV startup, says it has established a »joint effort« with BP Solar to develop the first commercial solid-state molecular organic PV module.

The agreement involves no money, but gives SolarAMP access to BP Solar's thin-film expertise at its testing labs in Toano, Virginia, about 300 km from SolarAMP's base in Raleigh, North Carolina (see PI 1/2002, p. 21). In return, BP Solar has the first option on marketing any commercial product that is developed.

William Conklin, managing principal of SolarAMP, says that during the basic research stage its scientists were able to show that an organic molecular-based cell was possible without liquid electrolytes as used with Graetzel dye-sensitized cells. Instead, they were successful in coming up with light-absorbing molecular rods. In the advanced technology phase with BP Solar, scheduled to last 12 months, SolarAMP is hoping to develop a commercial sample. Conklin says that if BP Solar decides not to pick up the option to use the SolarAMP technology before the end of the relationship, his firm will be free to license it to other companies. He thinks a product could be ready for shipping by 2004. The work with BP Solar will be on a fixed substrate, possibly with a clear suspension that could be used for windows. But Conklin says SolarAMP is also looking at a project with another company to develop a flexible module, which could be stored away at night in places where vandalism and theft are concerns. He declined to name the company.

Conklin thinks the commercial sample, with 10 to 20 molecules stacked, would have an initial efficiency of at least 5 percent; the goal is a product with a 10 to 15 percent efficiency. Accelerated testing, he claims, shows the technology is »very resistant« to wide temperature ranges, moisture, and oxygen, and would be »extremely competitive in terms of life of the panels.« The current target is 25 years. Based on cost models, Conklin contends that per-watt costs could be one-half to one-fifth of current expenses. »We are not looking for just an incremental drop,« he says. »We are looking for a disruptive drop to the industry cost curve.«

Peter Bihuniak, vice president of technology at BP Solar, confirms the agreement with SolarAMP. »It's important to us,« he says, noting that BP Solar does not currently have an organically based development program. »We'll be rendering SolarAMP's demonstrations into measurable devices,« he says, adding that the demonstration of solid-state capability is »more valuable [to us] than a relatively high efficiency.«

SolarAMP was founded in Oct. 2000. Conklin says the company, backed by venture capital, was »slightly under« its goal of raising $1 million for the advanced technology phase.

Another company working on a dye-sensitized cell not requiring a liquid electrolyte is Toshiba Corp. of Japan, which applied for a US patent last Oct. 30.