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Day4 Energy Further Expands its Industry Leading Solar Electric Module Technology to Back Contact Solar Cells

Posted on: Monday, 21 September 2009, 06:00 CDT

BURNABY, BC, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Day4 Energy Inc. (TSX: DFE), a leading manufacturer of high performance, cost effective solar electric modules, today announced further extension of its patented Day4(R) Electrode technology to back contact solar cells. Application of the Day4 Electrode for the interconnection of back contact solar cells offers a number of unique benefits. The technology reduces the number of photovoltaic (PV) cell handling steps during the module assembly process to as low as one. The significance of this change goes beyond mere simplification of the manufacturing process. Reduction in the number of handling steps is expected to result in an improvement in manufacturing yields as well as allowing for commercial implementation of larger, thinner and thus less expensive solar cells. Additionally, Day4 Electrode's superior power collection properties permit the design of larger size back contact solar cells and as much as a ten-fold reduction in the amount of silver used in the manufacturing of high efficiency back contact solar cells.

At this time there are two main types of solar cells on the market. While conventional PV cells are designed with positive and negative electrical contacts positioned on opposite sides of the solar cell, back contact cells have both of these electrical contacts on the rear side.

"The successful extension of our unique manufacturing technology to back contact solar cells is yet another step toward establishing Day4 Electrode technology as a true next generation platform for the design and production of solar cells and modules" said George Rubin, president of Day4 Energy. Day4's technology has the potential to expand this already established market currently held by a leading solar module manufacturer.

"Over the course of the last few years the Day4 Electrode technology has been enabling superior performance and technical innovation with conventional solar cell design approaches. When combined with high efficiency back contact solar cell design, the Day4 Electrode enables a whole array of cost reduction and further efficiency improvement possibilities that can make a real difference in the overall economics of solar power generation" adds Professor Leonid Rubin, chief technology officer of Day4 Energy. Day4 has filed a patent application for this novel method of interconnecting back contact cells used in solar electric modules.

The Day4 Electrode is the industry leading next generation PV module technology that directly replaces the decades-old soldering methods that are widely used to manufacture solar panels. By improving connections to and between photovoltaic (PV) cells, the Day4 Electrode delivers quality solar electric products with higher performance, longer lifetime, improved aesthetics and lower cost. As a manufacturing platform Day4 Electrode further enables a series of innovations in the area of PV cell design that lead to both lower manufacturing cost and higher efficiency of PV cells specifically designed for interconnection with Day4 Electrode technology. The Day4 Electrode further enables more efficient design and manufacturing of next generation PV technologies.

About Day4 Energy:

Day4 Energy Inc. is Canada's largest manufacturer of high performance photovoltaic (PV) modules for residential, commercial and utility scale installations around the world. By fundamentally improving on the design and assembly of solar modules, Day4 Energy produces unique PV panels of high power density, increased lifetime and uncompromised aesthetic appearance. Day4 Energy partners with international technology leaders to develop and deliver IEC- and UL-certified solar products to customers throughout Europe and North America. Day4 Energy is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "DFE". For more information, please visit www.day4energy.com.

SOURCE Day4 Energy Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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