JA Solar just announced that it is working with Innovalight, Inc. to develop new, next-generation solar products that use silicon ink technology to achieve better performance and conversion efficiency. Innovalight, the originators of the technology, recently achieved a record of 18 percent conversion efficiency in tests with these products. JA Solar plans to introduce solar panels using this technology to the commercial market by 2010.

In a press release, leaders from both companies commented on the deal:

“Innovalight’s silicon ink in conjunction with JA Solar’s leadership in high volume solar cell manufacturing with demonstrated yield, conversion efficiency, and low production costs, provides a very promising solution to enhance the conversion efficiency of solar cells utilizing our existing solar cell manufacturing lines,” said Qingtang Jiang, JA Solar’s chief technology officer. “JA Solar will continue to invest in new technologies to stay at the forefront of the solar sector,” he added.

“We are delighted to be working with a solar industry visionary like JA Solar,” said Conrad Burke, chief executive officer at Innovalight. “JA Solar’s leadership in manufacturing and Innovalight’s silicon ink technology offer a very powerful platform for producing solar cells,” he said.