Record 19 percent efficiency achieved with low-cost solar cells

California-based manufacturer of low-cost solar materials, Innovalight, has achieved record of 19

percent conversion efficiency for its silicon ink-based solar cells.

The conversion efficiency of a solar cell is the proportion of sunlight energy that a cell converts to
electrical energy. Although conversion efficiency of greater than 40% has been achieved in the lab
using multi-junction solar cells, the the average conversion rate for mass produced cells usually hovers
around the 15 percent mark. The trick is to strike a balance between manufacturing costs and
efficiency.

Innovalight's impressive record has been independently tested by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar
Energy Systems (ISE) in Germany.

The silicon ink-based technology is compatible with existing production systems. Innovalight's
proprietary Cougar platform gives crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturers the ability to improve solar
cell performance, reduce cost and boost output capacity by adding another basic step to already
installed manufacturing lines, which this year will process collectively around 4 billion crystalline wafers
into solar cells.

“We continue to push toward our goal of delivering over 20 percent conversion efficiency to our
customers,” said Dr Homer Antoniadis, chief technology officer at Innovalight. “Our patented solar cell
process with silicon ink is simple and optimized for use with silicon wafers and widely adopted industry
printing tools,” he added.

Currently, Innovalight is working with several solar cell manufacturing companies and is ramping up
silicon ink production.

In February, the company was awarded a key patent by the US patent and trademark office for the
manufacturing of crystalline wafer solar cells with silicon ink. Innovalight has filed for over 60 patents for
silicon ink and high efficiency solar cells using silicon ink processes.