Company UAB "Saulės energija" was established in 1991. Lab personnel of Semiconductor Physics Institute in Vilnius, seeking to implement their research of many years in practice, established the enterprise. Working together with "Nuklon", enterprise designed and implemented into production the solar cell technology produced from monocrystalline silicon today known as MSI-13-96. Solar cells, average efficiency of which n = 13%, maximum n = 15%, were designed and produced in Lithuania. Solar cells were exported to Germany and Bulgaria.
Intensive research was carried out simultaneously for designing of the solar cells production technology of n = 20% efficiency. As a result of this research, which was based on self-formation principles, a new technology increasing the efficiency of solar cells up till n = 20% and reducing the production cost by one third was elaborated. An international consortium was established for the practical implementation of the work. Activity of the consortium was financed from the funds of the program CRAFT-5 of European Union (project HELSOLAR, contract ENK-CT-2001-35004). In the initial stage our enterprise acted as the project's coordinator. The results of the project will be patented and the technology designed will belong to "Saulės energija" and Dutch enterprise ISA in even parts.
Since 1996, UAB "Saulės energija" mastered themselves in the production of photovoltaic modules. Photovoltaic modules of different purpose are constantly exported to Denmark, Germany, England, and Holland. Already since 1997, we are implementing the orders of Swedish military industry.
The UAB "Saulės energija" produces photovoltaic modules for the Lithuanian market - solar power supply units for electronic equipment, yachts, tourism and equipment for teaching as well. Almost every Lithuanian university and several schools use our production.
Since 1999 UAB "Saulės energija" designs, outfits and supervises photovoltaic as well as hybrid small-scale solar-wind power stations. Demonstrational power stations of this kind are outfitted in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Kaunas University of Technology, Šiauliai University as well as in the number of high schools. Our production is included into recommended list of means for teaching approved by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Lithuania. We were actively preparing to participate in school renovation program financed by the World Bank. The number of new means for teaching as well as demonstrational small-scale power stations was prepared for the coming tender.
Considerable part of the small-scale power stations produced by us is outfitted for private people. The number of photovoltaic as well as hybrid solar-wind power stations was outfitted to supply security and alarm systems of such enterprises as "Euroelektronika", "Elsis" and "Fima". At the request of the Ministry of Communication of the Republic of Lithuania we outfitted 34 photovoltaic power sources at the traffic intensity monitoring stations.
We are carrying out monitoring of operating solar-wind power stations along with other partners from the EU by participating in the project MORES financed by the program ES CRAFT-5 (contract CRAFT-1999-71689). In 2004 the project REFLECT of the program CRAFT-6 was approved on our initiative (number of offer - 513046). According to this project we will design the solar cells of double-sided sensitivity together with other partners.
Total budget of all three projects financed by EU amounts in 6 million Euros.
Today UAB "Saulės energija" is the only enterprise in Lithuania producing photovoltaic modules as well as designing and outfitting small-scale hybrid solar-wind electric power stations.
Dr. Edmundas Žilinskas, Director of JSC "Saulės Energija"
Edmundas Žilinskas was born in November 12, 1954. In 1977 he graduated from Faculty of Physics at Vilnius University and worked there as researcher till 1979. After Vilnius University he worked as researcher at Kaunas Institute of Radio Measurements (1979-1989) and Institute of Semiconductors Physics at the Lithuanian Academy of Science (1989-1991) where earned his doctor degree in field of physics-mathematics. Edmundas Žilinskas is president of company UAB "Saulės energija" (Joint Stock Company "Solar energy") since 1991 till now.
E. Žilinskas has a significant experience in designing, installation and exploitation of small-scale PV and hybrid solar and wind power systems in Lithuania. A number of such systems allotted for teaching and demonstration were installed in country's colleges and universities under his leadership. Another field of the company's activity is installation of small-scale stand-alone PV power systems for weather monitoring posts at the highways, for feeding of electricity users at gas main, for remote guarded objects, for electrical shepherds and mostly hybrid power systems for various private users - for remote homesteads, summer cottages, etc.
E. Žilinskas mastered the techniques of PV modules designing and production, which are used now in the company UAB "Saulės energija". The company participated it the projects HELSOLAR and MORES of EC FP5 and was the coordinator of HELSOLAR project at the preliminary stage.
Apart from Lithuanian E. Žilinskas speaks Russian, English and German. He is author or co-author of over 140 publications and 10 inventions.