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View Full Version : Substrates used in new-age solar cells.


Sparty
12-23-2010, 01:07 AM
Most of us are familiar with Silicon based solar cells... I just wish it would stop raining for a bit so my 5KW system could kick in... I installed a 24 panel system of Hyundai cells and on a bright, slightly cloudy day, get just over 5KW output. Interestingly I get more when there is a slight haze than in direct sunlight... Something to do with the diffusion effect according to my mate a film director.

But what I am on about today is the emerging choke points for the newer types of solar cells that use copper, indium, gallium, tellurium and selenium coatings on thin ribbons of steel.

These newer types of cells are beginning to approach the efficiencies of the silicon cells and can convert around 13% of the light that hits them into electricity. Not bad, when compared to silicon cells ~15%, given the cheaper price points.

But as with nearly everything associated with the use of metals with exotic names ... there is or could be an emerging supply problem with at least some of the substrates used.

Lets start with the biggie: Copper, hardly an exotic metal, but there appears to be an interesting supply side squeeze emerging with one investor (or group) holding over 70% of the London Metals Exchange (LME) supply.

But what of the minor metals, indium, gallium, tellurium and selenium, and how do we invest in them?

I spent a good part of last week searching through the ASX for companies with them as part of their resource base...

Here is what I found:

Indium: CQT, INL
Gallium:
Tellerium: CDU
Selenium: CDU

I searched several of the large databases and most of the substances weren't mentioned at all. I then went through a lot of the individual companies and found just one that had significant quantities of Selenium and Tellurium and a huge amount of copper. Pleasingly I have been a long term investor in them....

Read about:

Tellurium and Cudeco (http://www.australian-shares.com/forums/discussion/comment/6848/#Comment_6848)

Cudeco's Selenium (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CCAQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cudeco.com.au%2Fpdf%2F846401. pdf&rct=j&q=site%3Awww.cudeco.com.au%20selenium&ei=N58STaP4EMLIcfPXrK8K&usg=AFQjCNGqBkzgFUm_NCxGvtbxVRX1D3vDlQ&cad=rja)

http://australian-lithium.com/images/criticality-0-5years.gif (http://www.energy.gov/news/documents/Critical_Materials_Summary.pdf)

From http://www.energy.gov/news/documents/Critical_Materials_Summary.pdf

http://www.energy.gov/criticalmaterialsstrategy
(http://www.energy.gov/criticalmaterialsstrategy)Full paper

Sparty
12-23-2010, 01:55 AM
As per the image above the USA's DOE doesn't see a supply side crunch looming for Lithium... and that is why I highlighted Galaxy Resources' value adding program... where $1 worth of Lithium becomes $500 of product.

http://www.australian-shares.com/forums/discussion/6323/galaxy-value-add-takes-1-of-lithium-to-500-of-product/#Item_1

Sparty
12-23-2010, 02:20 AM
Two Australian companies have substantial Yttrium supplies... they are Lynas Corp and Alkane resources.

Alkane has three times more Yttrium than Lynas.

Re Lynas see: http://www.australian-shares.com/forums/search?Search=lynas (http://www.australian-shares.com/forums/search?Search=lynas)

Re Alkane see: http://www.australianrareearths.com/alk-news.html

Note that ALK has a very high percentage of the high risk metals especially Dysprosium.
http://www.australianrareearths.com/images/alk-terbium-dysprosium.gif