Chinese solar manufacturer JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq:JASO) has signed strategic agreements with California-based Innovalight, Inc. to use the company's silicon ink manufacturing process.
JA Solar signed a three-year supply agreement for silicon nanoparticle ink from Innovalight for the production of JA Solar's recently announced SECIUM solar cells. This follows an announcement in September 2009, that JA Solar was beginning development of a commercial line using Innovalight's solar printing technology.
Pilot production of the SECIUM cells began in May with commercial volume production planned in the second half of 2010.
JA Solar has achieved conversion efficiency of 18.9% for its SECIUM solar cells.
JA Solar and Innovalight also announced that they have signed a strategic agreement to co-develop solar cells with an aim of exceeding 20% conversion efficiencies. Development will be performed at both Innovalight's headquarters in California and at JA Solar's R&D center in China.
Innovalight manufactures silicon ink and licenses a proprietary process technology to solar cell manufacturing companies. The company has received development funds from the U.S. Dept. of Energy.
Innovalight raised $18 million in series D financing in January 2010.
