NSF Workshop on PV Manufacturing  

Host: 

Highlights and Summary of Facilitated Discussion                      

Session III – Partnerships for Innovation

Moderator/Facilitator:  Dr. Martha Symko-Davies, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Dr. John Torvik, Novus Energy Partners

Photovoltaics from a VC Perspective

Overview

·         Tremendous shakeout underway, margins shrinking, huge markets to open as one approaches grid LCOE

·         New Companies  must have competitive technology (h, $/Wp, $/kWhr, CapEx), but also financing, bankable product, plan for warranties, economies of scale

·         Most likely will have to self-finance initial projects

·         No silver bullet technology: all could contribute in natural markets

Investment Opportunities

·         Silicon:  Improving Si utilization key

·         Thin Film: Efficiency primary driver, non- vacuum processing

·         Balance of Systems (BOS): Inverter technology, Module weight reduction, installation

Dr. Harin Ullal, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

National R&D Thin Film Photovoltaic Teams: A Success Story

Overview

·         Gov-Academia-Industry Consortium (1993-2006), Order $30M/year

·         3 R & D teams: a-Si, CdTe, CIGS

·         Met Annually, research topics decided by consensus, industry vote counts 3:1

·         Non-proprietary research, all members participate in team activities

Lessons Learned/Results

·         Bring everyone into the room, but do not micro-manage

·         Contributing to leading companies in each technology (First Solar, Uni-Solar, Global Solar)

·         Excellent interaction among 3 sectors

Dr. Tom Smerdon, University of Colorado

Effective Intellectual Property Management

Overview

·         Reviewed forms of IP: Copyright/Patent/Trademark/Trade Secret

·         Protecting Patentability: When to file disclose

·         Key Ingredient: Proof of concept Research.  Not required for IP, required for commercialization

Dr. Robert Collins, University of Toledo

Overview of the Wright Center for PV Innovation & Commercialization (PVIC)

Overview of PVIC: Subset of State of Ohio ’s Third Frontier Project: 10 year, $1.6B

·         Academics: Toledo (Thin Film), OSU (Multi-junction/Nano), Bowling Green (OPV): $18.6M total investment over 3 years

·         Companies: 13 founding, 30 current participants

·         Areas of Emphasis: (1)Imagine-(2)Incubate-(3)Demonstrate-(4)Market Entry- (5)Growth & Sustain

Center Projects: ~50/50 split between proprietary and non-proprietary

·         University research (IP owned by university; accessible to partners)

·         Collaborative research (joint ownership of IP)

·         Service research (IP owned by industry member)

Examples

·         Areas #1 - #2 Photon Management for Advanced Thin Film PV

·         Areas #2 - #3 Novel Approach:  Process Development in Roll-to Roll and Rigid Substrate PV Guided by Monolayer Sensitive in Situ Mapping Optics

·         Area #3 - #4 Example:  Low Cost PV Systems – Solar Kits

·         Area #5 Progress in Education at Univ. Toledo : New School and Professional Masters Program

Session III: Partnerships for Innovation – Panel Discussion