SIPO Corp. (Moscow, Russia) is a Early Stage Venture Fund with investment focus in photovoltaics. Up to date SIPO portfolio comprises:

                                   Solar-Si - 7.5$/kg Solar Grade Silicon production
                                   Flexis – 40 µm c-Si wafer on graphite foil
                                   Spherix - spherical silicon crystals as wafer for solar-cell

The short description of the technologies is described below. For more information pls. refer to Oleg Manchuliantsev by Tel: +7 906 766-90-89 or E-mail: om@sipo.ru



“Solar-Si” developed original technology reduced Cost of silicon 3 fold to 7.5 $/kg, Capital Expenditure 2 fold to 50 M$ per 1 ton and installation time 3 fold to 12 months due to utilization of Fluorosilic acid (waist of fertilizer plants). Spherical shape of silicon open new opportunities for production solar cells on the single spherical crystal.


Since 1980 there were a lot of attempts to offer alternative to Siemens process on the base of fluorosilic acid. The most successful in it was MEMS. But the cost is still above 25$/kg.

Solar-Si approach comprises combination of state of art, well known processes from Russian nuclear industry and know-how from the R&D background of Solar-Si stuff. As a result:

• Cold process: temperature is between 600-800C;
• Enhanced output: due to increased production of silicon tetrafluoride;
• Clean process: due to recycling or sale the buy-products produced;

The technology worked out by “SOLAR SI” JSC consists of two main technological stages:

• Extraction of gaseous silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4);
• Silicon reduction from its tetrafluoride and its conversion into trade product form.

Technology and the purity of silicon were verified by the Federal Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Russian Federation (works of the 1-st round of investment). Documents acknowledging the feasibility of the technology:

• “Experimental verification of possibility of silicon production from manufacture wastes under the “SOLAR SI” JSC technology” Report as of June 28, 2007 (protected as “know-how”)
• Certification report # 01/100-07 as of June 28, 2007 by Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Federal Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety”
• Certification report # 02/100-05 as of June 28, 2007 by Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Federal Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety”

“Cold process”, proprietary extragents, equipment and know-how are resulted in:

• Cost of silicon = 7.5 $/kg (while Siemens process is 25-30).
• CapEx = 50 M$ per 1 000 ton.
• Installation time = 12 months.

Due to original method of separation Si from MgF2 – the final product is monocrystalline silicon in the form of spherical particles. Diameter of fraction can be chosen from the range 50-1500μ.

Current status:
Within first round of investments (from SIPO Fund) technology was verified, patented (December 2008) and prepared for pilot plant:

“Solar-Si” plans to establish silicon plants next to fertilizer plants as the sources of fluorosilic acid. Current capacities of fertilizer plants allow us to scale the production up to 5000 t/year in Russia, as well make expansion in USA, Canada, Brazil, North Africa and Asia.

Company looks for investments:

• 2-nd round = 5 M$ for 50t pilot plant
• 3-rd round = 49M$ for 1000t plant

For more information please refer to Oleg Manchuliantsev by Tel: +7 906 766-90-89 or E-mail: om@sipo.ru


SIPO Corp. (Moscow, Russia) developed technology that able to produce polycrystalline silicon (c-Si) solar-cell wafer with a thickness of 40 microns (µm) on the graphite foil. New technology allow to reduce silicon consumption 7-9 times.


Results
Flexis kerf-free wafering technology that uses capillary forces to deposit silicon on the graphite foil allowed to achieve the following results:

• Wafer thickness 8-60 µm (can be varied by speed)
• Grain size reach several centimeters
• With of the foil - 160 mm
• Length of the foil is more than 3 m

Advantages
The 40 µm solar-cell foil combines the advantages of the low polysilicone utilization of thin-film PV with the high efficiency potential of c-Si PV. SIPO Corp. expects that the new Flexis technology may lead to dramatic reductions in overall production costs for solar cells, ultimately leading to reduced costs per watt.

Application
The availability of 40 µm c-Si wafer is expected to allow PV cell manufacturers to explore new applications and formats with cost effective production. The high efficiency potential of 40 µm c-Si foil technology creates new opportunities for the Solar PV industry. SIPO Corp. expects that the flexibility of the 20 µm foils will allow for the development of diverse applications such as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and flexible PV.

SIPO, Corp. invites partners to further development solar cells on the base of Flexis wafers. For more information please refer to Oleg Manchuliantsev by Tel: +7 906 766-90-89 or E-mail: om@sipo.ru


SIPO Corp. (Moscow, Russia) developed technology that able to produce spherical silicon crystals as wafer for solar-cell with a diameter in the range 100-1500 microns (µm). New technology allow to reduce silicon consumption 5-7 times.


Advantages
The advantage of spherical form:

• No expenses for Cz process and wire cutting
• 3-4 times bigger working surface
• 5-7 times decrease in consumption of silicon

Spherical shape of silicon particles can deny tracking systems.


Spherical silicon particles conjugated with silver nanoparticles allow to enhance absorbance and increase photocurrent in comparison to conventional wafer silicon solar cell by the effect of surface plasmon resonance.

Application
The availability of spherical silicon crystals as for wafer is expected to allow PV cell manufacturers to explore new applications and formats with cost effective production. SIPO Corp. expects that flexible and easy to mechanical processing Spherix solar sells open new opportunities for electronic devices and build integrated photovoltaics.

SIPO, Corp. invites partners to further development solar cells on the base of Flexis wafers. For more information please refer to Oleg Manchuliantsev by Tel: +7 906 766-90-89 or E-mail: om@sipo.ru