The PV industry currently faces the greatest challenge of its 30+ year lifetime. Incentives that drove torrid industry growth over the last several years are drying up. Prices for cells and modules have dropped precipitously as a result of over-capacity and over-production. Module buyers are now becoming more selective, preferring higher-value and higher-quality modules at low prices. As a result of these dynamics, hundreds of rapidly-growing cell and module manufacturing companies that have sprung up in the last decade face a daunting challenge: How to reduce costs faster than prices and return to profitability as the industry transitions to grid-parity?

The answer lies in substantial increases in cell and module efficiencies. In 2012, we expect rapid adoption of improved technologies that can quickly drive lower per watt cost at the module and system level. The winning technologies will have the lowest cost of implementation, greatest ease of integration into existing manufacturing processes, and deliver the reliability and bankability that system developers and owners expect.

In this discussion, DuPont will describe the total cost and performance benefits of high efficiency solar cells while concentrating on two particular technologies that have shown the most promising results in manufacturing.

This seminar will be useful for participants across the value chain, including cell & module manufacturers, those who design and specify modules for use in PV systems, and those financing PV projects.