NICE Solar Energy based in China has announced a 'world record' CIGS thin-film solar module total area efficiency of 17.6% using production equipment manufactured by Germany's Manz AG, a claim confirmed by TUV Rheinland. Founded in April 2017, NICE is a joint venture (JV) between Manz, China Energy Investment Corporation Limited and Shanghai Electric Group.
The company achieved this efficiency on a module surface area of 120 x 60 cm at its R&D facility in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany. It claims the efficiency for CIGS thin-film has scope for further improvement. The team said increases in efficiency on the module surface with even more efficient production processes will enable to make even more cost-efficient CIGS thin-film solar modules in the future.
The JV is now building China's 'largest' production site for CIGS thin-film solar modules with an annual production capacity of 306 MW and equipped with Manz production equipment.
This CIGSfab is under construction since the beginning of 2018, said Manz that's supplying its equipment for the facility along with a 44 MW research CIGSlab line after an order from Shanghai Electric Group and Shenhua Group in January 2017. Project delay on the part of the Chinese companies has been pulling down Manz's revenues for long (see €11.3 Million Net Loss For Manz In 9M/2019).