Osazda Energy, a solar technology startup company founded by Sang M. Han, a department chair and Regents’ professor of chemical and biological engineering at UNM, has been awarded $1.1 million in U.S. Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II funding. The company will be developing a software platform aimed at optimizing the design of photovoltaic modules in the solar energy market.
Han expressed his enthusiasm about the funding, stating, “We have been working to improve PV module efficiency, reduce precious metal usage and thus manufacturing cost, and increase module lifetime through materials engineering and software-driven optimization. Our effort is finally bearing fruit.”
The project, titled “An Optimization-Based Design Ecosystem Targeting Performance, Reliability, and Stability of Photovoltaic Modules in Solar Energy Market,” aims to create a user-friendly software platform that will enhance the design of photovoltaic systems. This initiative will focus on designing metal contacts on solar cells to improve efficiency and reliability against environmental stressors, ultimately benefiting both the public and utility-scale solar farm owners.
Apart from the SBIR funding, Osazda Energy will also receive $50,000 for technical and business assistance to support their innovative endeavors.
In the past, Osazda Energy developed MetZillaTM, a composite silver paste technology, to address performance degradation in solar panels caused by cell cracks. This technology aims to reduce operation and maintenance costs, increase the value of utility-scale PV projects, and lower insurance premiums for module manufacturers ensuring performance over 25 years.
Osazda Energy's project was one of 50 initiatives funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, with a total allocation of $61 million. These projects encompass various fields, including the development of scientific instruments, advanced materials, and clean energy conversion and storage technologies, aligning with the Biden-Harris Administration's objective of achieving a net-zero emissions economy.
