RED BANK, N.J., Oct. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Because Natcore
Technology Inc. (TSX-V: NXT; NTCXF.PK) has added a meaningful
number of new shareholders recently, the company would like to
update new and existing shareholders about their progress in
bringing their solar energy applications to commercialization.
Focused on the photovoltaic/solar industry, Natcore currently
holds 16 granted patents and 21 pending patents. While the company
is focused on earth-bound solar applications, their proprietary
technology could address applications as mundane as coatings on
eyeglasses or the inside of water heaters to sophisticated tandem
solar cell technology used on satellites.
Because it is important for a small company to remain focused,
Natcore recently convened a meeting of their scientific team,
including their advisory board, to their lab in Rochester, NY with one purpose in mind: to
review all of their technologies and potential applications,
identify which of these applications the solar industry wants and
needs, and prioritize that list in terms of applications with the
most direct path to commercialization.
Included in this solar brain trust were Dr. David Levy, Director of Research &
Technology; Dr. Dennis Flood, Chief
Technology Officer; Professor Andrew
Barron, Charles W. Duncan,
Jr.-Welch Professor, Professor of Materials Science at
RICE University; Dr. David Carlson, former Chief Technology of BP
Solar and Dr. Daniele Margadonna,
Chief Technology of MX Solar.
As a result of this meeting, Natcore identified three
technologies (Black Silicon, Selective Emitter and Liquid Phase
Deposition Passivation) needed by the industry that could reduce
manufacturing costs, increase performance, or accomplish both. The
company's technology could be instrumental in delivering these
applications to the industry in a relatively short time frame.
- Black Silicon is the etching of nano-sized pores into a
solar cell surface either through gold or silver
nanoparticles. The resulting surface acts as a replacement
for the antireflective coating of traditional solar cells.
Natcore's scientists have become quite adept in manufacturing
traditional solar cells in their lab. They have also been
able to manufacture black silicon cells with the same or similar
efficiencies. They are now quantifying, both internally and
through third-party studies, the cost savings that this application
would bring to solar cell manufacturing by using black silicon
instead of the traditional anti-reflective coating. They
expect to have these numbers shortly.
- Selective Emitter is a process whereby varying the
thickness of doping on a cell will improve the energy output and/or
reduce resistance. This application has the potential to increase
efficiencies by 3%-5% relative to current standards. Natcore has
demonstrated that their Liquid Phase Deposition films can provide a
manufacturing-friendly process needed and wanted by the
industry. They have also invented technology that allows us
to easily pattern these films, a requirement for using them for a
selective emitter.
- Liquid Phase Deposition Passivation is Natcore's
proprietary process that allows surface passivation without
utilization of a CVD furnace. This potentially allows the
passivation of some high efficiency solar cell designs in a simpler
and more cost effective way than can be done currently.
These three technologies are stand-alone applications, although
the common thread that makes them work is Natcore's Liquid Phase
Deposition technology. Natcore feels that they will be able
to begin the marketing phase with the Black Silicon application
shortly.
In addition to these three shorter-term projects, Natcore is
pursuing two major long-term applications in a tandem solar cell
and a flexible solar cell. These last two technologies,
although not as close to commercialization, could truly change the
solar industry by nearly doubling the efficiency of today's best
cells or cutting manufacturing costs by up to half.
The fact that China is no
longer aggressively subsidizing their solar industry has created an
opportunity for technology to bring much-needed advantages to an
equal playing field. Incremental improvements in power output
or incremental reductions in cost will have a great impact to the
cell manufacturer, and Natcore's goal is to provide those
improvements.
Another critical issue is the fact that manufacturing a solar
cell involves highly toxic materials. At some point as the
industry continues to mature, this issue must be addressed.
Natcore's technology is relatively benign compared to current
industry standards. Their Liquid Phase Deposition process
eliminates the use of vacuum furnaces (offering significant energy
savings) and silane gas (which is highly explosive and
dangerous). Natcore feels that they are at the leading edge
not only in improving efficiencies and reducing costs for the solar
industry, but also in addressing the toxic waste issues inherent in
current solar cell manufacturing.
Natcore's management hopes this update provides investors with a
better understanding of how far their research and development has
come, and where they hope to be in the near future. Interested
parties are encouraged to contact the company directly for more
information.
Statements herein other than purely historical factual
information, including statements relating to revenues or profits,
or Natcore's future plans and objectives, or expected sales, cash
flows, and capital expenditures constitute forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous
assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties
inherent in Natcore's business, including risks inherent in the
technology history. There can be no assurance that such
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on such statements. Except in accordance with
applicable securities laws, Natcore expressly disclaims any
obligation to update any forward-looking statements or
forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference
herein.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Contact: Chuck Provini
732-576-8800
SOURCE Natcore Technology Inc.