The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has granted Natcore a license to develop its patented black silicon technology. Natcore expects to deliver the first commercial black silicon product in 2012.

Natcore Technology Inc. patent agreement with NREL includes developing equipment, chemicals, and solar cells based on Natcore's patented black silicon technology. The New Jersey based Natocre also agreed to a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to develop commercial prototypes.

Black silicon refers to the color of the surface of a silicon wafer after it has been etched with nano-scale pore. The absence reflected light from the wafer surface results in a black silicon wafer.

There are several benefits for using black silicon. It can reduce the processing cost of cells by 4 to 8 percent. The black silicon will also prevent the reflection of low-angle morning and afternoon better which means an increase in the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell during the morning and afternoon hours. A solar panel made from black silicon will produce more energy than a panel made from thin film coating.

"This technology will play an important role in moving forward the availability of solar technologies," William Farris, NREL vice president for Commercialization & Technology Transfer, said in a statement.

"It is one more step to help bolster the Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative to make solar energy cost competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade."

Natcore's process to "passivate" or treated to keep the cell from trapping the light-generated electric charges as they migrate toward the contacts of the solar cell will make black silicon cells more effective.

"Double the output, halve the cost," says Natcore President and CEO Chuck Provini. "That's our mantra. To make solar cells cost-competitive, we must reduce their cost and increase their output. The combined NREL-Natcore technologies will reduce cost by eliminating the need for thermal oxidation. And they'll increase output by enabling cells to be more productive throughout all daylight hours."