The People’s Republic of China path towards cheap silicon PV modules has been successful up to now. Impressive cost reductions have been achieved by Chinese manufacturers in the last decade. This to a big extent through state-funded massive investments in capacity scale-up, devised to attend unsustainable subsidized markets worldwide, this frequently resulting in oversupply and dumping.
In despite of this, solar PV electricity only accounts for less than 1% of the global electricity supply and a maximum penetration of 5% in the next 10 yrs. is envisioned by prospective agencies (Bloomberg New Energy Outlook, 2015).
We firmly believe that an innovative combination of advanced High Concentration PV (HCPV) technology and a close to the end-market business model, has the potential to become a paradigm changer holding the promise to achieve the ultimate pervasiveness of large scale solar electricity.
With its proven 18% learning rate at a systems level vs. 12% of silicon-based PV and 11% of CSP (Concentrated Solar Thermal), HCPV is currently the solar technology with the highest cost reduction potential. Furthermore, its conversion efficiency increases 1% every year with cells expected to reach 50% before 2020. This together with its best-in-class temperature coefficient and its dual axis tracking, already provides up to three times more energy per unit surface than silicon based PV in the highly sun-irradiated regions of the world.
Additionally, BSQ Solar’s technology has been especially conceived for high tolerance assembly processes, both at the module and sun tracker level. This, joined to the much lesser use of semiconductor solar cells in HCPV, allows the transfer of up to 80% of its production close to the end markets, and opens the path to a compelling and truly global alternative to the present Chinese-centered way of doing PV, presenting superior advantages in terms of, involved logistics, local job creation, and plant construction and maintenance.
To enable this vision, BSQ Solar is developing a modular low cost module assembly line, as well as the methodology for the optimal implementation of local manufacturing and supply chain, both at the module and sun tracker level. These manufacturing capabilities will be developed by the so-called Satellite Production Centers (SPCs). On the other hand, the most CAPEX demanding part, the HCPV compact receivers, containing encapsulated multi-junction high-efficiency cells and its optical coupling stage, will be produced by BSQ Solar and supplied to the SPC’s network.
Ultimately, the REPHLECT business model seeks to replicate the white box paradigm which introduced the absolute commoditization of the computer hardware industry, by leveraging the solar electricity technology providing the fastest learning curve and the best-fit solution for the solar-rich regions of the world.
