U.S. PhotovoltaicManufacturingConsortium

Introducing the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium

The Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (PVMC), headquartered in New York State, is an industry-led consortium for cooperative R&D among industry, university, and government partners to accelerate the development, commercialization, and manufacturing of next-generation solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Through its programs and advanced manufacturing development facilities, PVMC is a proving ground for innovative solar technologies and manufacturing processes.

Founding Organizations

Created as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) SunShot initiative, PVMC is a partnership between SEMATECH and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) of the University at Albany.

Through PVMC, SEMATECH and CNSE will spearhead a unique research and development collaboration across industry, academia, and government to accelerate the development, commercialization and manufacturing of next-generation copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin film PV manufacturing technologies. Additional R&D in metrology and wafering methodologies will be conducted in partnership with the University of Central Florida (UCF).

A Focus on CIGS Technology

PVMC is focused on the research and development of CIGS (copper indium gallium di-selenide) technology — an innovative, cost effective, way to harness the power of sunlight into electricity.

Thin film solar technologies use layers of semiconductor materials that are only a few micrometers thick and these materials can be deposited on flexible or light substrates. Thin film photovoltaics have been shown to be much less expensive to produce in larger volume and enabling them to compete with modules based on crystalline silicon. CIGS has the highest potential of known material alternatives to crystalline silicon.

The Membership Model

Companies and organizations from across the solar PV industry supply chain have expressed their commitment to support and participate in PVMC, including federal laboratory, university, and company research partners; PV industry companies including material, equipment, and metrology suppliers as well as module producers and integrators; and utility companies and other end users. PVMC offers several tiers of participation, from full membership in all activities, to program area participation, to participation in selected custom activities.

Members will have shared access to world-class facilities, tools, and talent located at the advanced manufacturing development facilities of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) of the University at Albany and New York State.

In addition to formal membership, PVMC will offer opportunities to participate in industry-wide events and learn more about PVMC's programs.