NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aurora Solar Technologies Inc. (“Aurora”)(“Company”)(TSX.V:ACU) (OTCBB:AACTF) (FSE:A82), a leader in inline measurement and control technology for the photovoltaic manufacturing industry, is pleased to announce that it has qualified its Decima™ Gemini inline measurement system for use in the manufacturing of “BiSoN” bifacial photovoltaic cells.
Bifacial cells generate 10 to 30 percent more power than traditional one-sided cells by using both direct and reflected light incident on both their upper and lower surfaces. The BiSoN cell technology developed at ISC Konstanz has been licensed for volume manufacturing to several major and emerging solar cell manufacturers worldwide. ISC Konstanz and Centrotherm, one of the leading production equipment suppliers have also partnered in the “BiSoN Alliance” to promote the widespread adoption of BiSoN technology.
The industry predicts significant growth in the production of bifacial cells over the next 10 years with global production increasing to 30-40% by 2027 (ITRPV 2017). Because of certain material properties inherent to bifacial cell designs, Aurora’s patented Decima infrared measurement technology is the only non-destructive method capable of characterizing and monitoring the bifacial production process.
“We are excited to have qualified our Decima bifacial wafer measurement technology with ISC Konstanz,” said Gordon Deans, Aurora’s Chief Operating Officer. “This accomplishment provides our current and future customers confidence in the capabilities of our products and re-confirms our unique ability to accurately measure this advanced material structure for manufacturing quality control. We look forward to participating as an invited speaker in the 4th annual bifiPV workshop in Konstanz, Germany October 25-26, 2017.”
Dr. Radovan Kopecek, Managing Director, Advanced Cell Concepts at ISC Konstanz, said, “Aurora’s Decima measurement system shows a unique capability for measuring the sheet resistance of both the front side and the back side of our BiSoN bifacial wafers. In particular, no other method can accurately isolate the back side sheet resistance from the sheet resistance of the wafer ‘bulk’. This capability is very helpful for monitoring and process control during the fabrication of this part of a bifacial cell. Additionally, the Decima performs all of its measurements with high accuracy and repeatability. In summary, we believe that the Decima is an essential element to achieve a high level of quality and consistency in the production of bifacial cells.”
About ISC Konstanz:
The International Solar Energy Research Center Konstanz e.V. (ISC Konstanz) researches and develops crystalline silicon solar cells, PV modules and PV systems.
ISC Konstanz is financed through the fees paid by its full and sustaining members, through donations - and mainly public research contracts placed by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economy (BMWi) as well as industrial contracts.
ISC Konstanz has 50 employees and its team is constantly growing. Currently, ISC Konstanz is conducting 50 different projects dealing with new, cost-efficient silicon raw materials, optimisation of existing production steps and machinery, and development of new technologies for industrial solar cell and module production and of innovative PV systems. The financial volume of research projects will amount to approximately 5 million Euros in 2017.
About Aurora Solar Technologies:
Aurora’s mission is to deliver exceptional results to the photovoltaic industry through measurement and control of critical processes during solar cell manufacturing.
We measure and map the results of critical cell fabrication processes, providing real-time visualization of material properties and true production tool performance. Our products provide process engineers and production-line operators with the means to rapidly detect and correct process excursions, material faults, limit variations, and optimize processes, thereby eliminating yield-reducing and profit-killing product variation.
We are creating the standard for quality control systems for the global photovoltaic industry.
Headquartered in North Vancouver, Canada, and founded by experienced leaders in process measurement, semiconductor manufacturing and industrial automation, the Company’s shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and trade under the symbol “ACU”. The Company was formerly “ACT Aurora Control Technologies”. For more information, Aurora’s website is located at www.aurorasolartech.com.
For further information contact:
Michael Heaven, P.Eng., MBA
President & Chief Executive Officer
Aurora Solar Technologies Inc.
Phone: +1 (778) 241-5000
info@aurorasolartech.com
Investor Relations contact:
Nina Lafleur
Phone: +1 (604) 679-9964
info@aurorasolartech.com
Paradox Public Relations
Phone: +1 (514) 341-0408
info@paradox-pr.ca
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Some statements in this news release contain forwardlooking information. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forwardlooking statement.