Draft2:U.S. Manufacturing of Advanced Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaics Consortium
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The U.S. Manufacturing of Advanced Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaics (US-MAC) Consortium consists of industry, national labs, and universities dedicated to strengthening U.S. leadership in manufacturing cadmium telluride (CdTe).
DOE's role
DOE, specifically National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is a key stakeholder of US-MAC.
Mission/Objectives
US-MAC is focused on developing the underlying science, technology, and supply chain to advance cadmium telluride (CdTe) manufacturing and commercialization.
Cooperation between the members will define a technology road map and allow stakeholders across the full development chain to work together to improve performance, reduce manufacturing costs, diversify product applications, and mobilize the wider CdTe photovoltaic (PV) community.
US-MAC strives to:
- Leverage resources, stimulate R&D investment, and accelerate innovation
- Cut CdTe technology costs in half within 5 years
- Extend solar panel life from 25 to 50 years
- Reduce CapEx and increase CdTe's rate of production with new processes
- Meet all U.S. PV demand and enable export across the world
- Increase world market share of U.S.-manufactured CdTe PV
- Develop markets for rooftops, building integration, defense applications, and solar everywhere.
Stakeholders
As part of an effort to help address America’s and the world’s needs for clean energy, the Wright Center for Photovoltaics at The University of Toledo (UToledo), Colorado State University and the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have teamed with US-based companies to form the US Manufacturing of Advanced Cadmium Telluride (US-MAC) photovoltaics consortium.
Partners
US-MAC’s partners include:
- 5N Plus
- Arizona State University
- Colorado State University
- Consolidated Research Systems
- Direct Solar LLC
- JPHB Cleantech LLC
- First Solar
- JPHB Cleantech LLC
- Lucintech
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- nexTC Corporation
- Nious Technologies
- Pilkington North America
- Sivananthan Laboratories
- Tauscience
- Toledo Solar
- University of Delaware
- University of Utah
- Wright Center for Photovoltaics at the University of Toledo
- Uriel Solar
See Partners and Leadership for more information.
Industry Advisory Board
The industry advisory board provides guidance to the executive board including:
- R&D directions and priorities including identification of necessary research thrusts, capabilities, and topic areas
- Project proposals to be undertaken by US-MAC
- Identification and recruitment of new research institutions whose participation would add value to the consortium.
Executive Board
The executive board works on behalf of US-MAC to further its goals, and makes final decisions on US-MAC research directions, workshops, and other events subject to oversight by sponsors.
The executive board comprises representatives from the founding organizations—Colorado State University, NREL, and the University of Toledo—plus a representative elected by the industry advisory board. First Solar is a founding member and was selected to serve as the chair of industrial advisory board for the first 3-year term.
History
The US-MAC Consortium evolved over time from a series of workshops focused on advancing cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) technology.
For nearly 20 years, while manufacturing was being developed, the record photoconversion efficiency of CdTe PV devices did not improve significantly. Starting in 2012, however, efficiencies began to improve rapidly as new materials and approaches were incorporated into the device structure. See the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart.
A new CdTe workshop series was initiated in 2017 with the idea that experts working together could continue to advance the technology. The first workshop was hosted by First Solar and included a tour of its California Technology Center. The 2018 workshop was hosted by the Wright Center for Photovoltaics and Innovation and Commercialization at the University of Toledo. NREL and Colorado State University hosted the 2019 workshop, which was held on NREL’s campus. The 2020 Workshop was held virtually due to the global pandemic. The CdTe workshops have been quite successful in stimulating innovation; each year the number of participants has grown, more ideas have been shared, and new collaborations have been stimulated.
The concept of a consortium emerged from discussions during the 2019 workshop. Over the course of more than 1 year, the executive board members worked with the industrial board members to define US-MAC’s mission. The mission is to develop a technology road map and work with stakeholders to further improve performance, reduce manufacturing costs, diversify product applications, and mobilize the wider CdTe PV community, all with the goal of increasing world market share of U.S.-manufactured CdTe PV. The memorandum of understanding establishing US-MAC was fully executed on March 11, 2021.
Contact
https://www.usa-cdte.org/contact-us.html
Related links
External links
Are there any links for more information outside of Powerpedia and the official site's homepage?
References
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