Suniva: Making Efficient Solar Cells

When it comes to solar cells, efficiency matters. That’s the mantra at Georgia based solar manufacturer Suniva. The company builds high-efficiency silicon based solar cells and some pretty high-power producing solar modules. The selling point: Suniva manufactures its cells at a low cost, which a key factor to making solar power a viable technology.

Renewable sources like sunlight and wind are free. But the technology used to capture the energy they produce is still more expensive than traditional power generation methods like coal-fired power plants. And there’s debate over the reliability of these resources because the wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn't always shine. Yet many utility operators think demand will rise for renewable energy, and when that day comes, it may be more affordable due to improved technology and production efficiency.

John Baumstark, Chairman and CEO of Suniva, believes that day is at hand. He says Suniva cells have an efficiency rate of 19%. And with constant advances in solar manufacturing technology, Baumstark thinks that number will rapidly increase. Good cell efficiency reduces the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), meaning the more electricity solar cells generate, the less it costs to produce and distribute energy.

Professor Ajeet Rohatgi of the Georgia Institute of Technology's University Center of Excellence in Photovoltaics (UCEP) developed the research that became the foundation for Suniva. UCEP is funded by the Department of Energy and continues to work closely with Suniva’s R&D team.

The company says its solar modules are “Buy America” compliant, with more than 80 percent of materials from the U.S. Suniva ships its products within the 50 states as well as to Europe and China. The company's website is www.suniva.com.