Ascent Solar just announced that its Copper, Indium, Gallium, Selenide (CIGS) monolithically integrated solar panel modules have achieved greater than 10% conversion efficiency. Ascent’s standard, 29 square centimeter modules were independently tested at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where they achieved conversion efficiencies as high as 10.4%.

In a press release, leaders from both Ascent and NREL offered commentary on the achievement:

Dr. Prem Nath, Sr. Vice President of Production Operations for Ascent Solar, stated, “This is a significant breakthrough in demonstrating our ability to manufacture monolithically integrated flexible CIGS modules with greater than 10% module efficiency in commercial production. Ascent’s high-volume 30MW commercial plant is scheduled to commence initial production at the beginning of 2010. Module efficiency of 10.0% is a vital element for our low-cost-per-watt manufacturing goal in high volume and will establish Ascent Solar as a leader in the production of lightweight flexible photovoltaics used for portable power and building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products.”

Dr. Harin S. Ullal, Senior Project Manager for the National Center for Photovoltaics at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory , stated, “Ascent Solar has made progress in advancing the state-of-the-art flexible, lightweight thin-film CIGS PV technology. NREL has independently verified module conversion efficiency of more than 10.0% for several thin-film CIGS monolithically integrated modules deposited on flexible, lightweight plastic substrates.”

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