Date: 10 September 2010
The solar cells produced in an industrial environment achieve peak efficiency of above 18 percent. In combination with improved module technology, record efficiency of 17.6 percent was achieved on the surface of the aperture and confirmed independently by ESTI (European Solar Test Installation).
The innovative high-performance cells used in the champion module feature a front side that corresponds with the current standard in industrial manufacturing. The backside, on the other hand, has been passivated by using a combination of different dielectric layers that feature local contacts, better known in the industry as the PERC structure.
Commercially available multicrystalline silicon wafers from its subsidiary SCHOTT Solar Wafer GmbH in thicknesses of 180-200 µm are the starting material. This made it possible for the researchers who work for the Mainz-based company to produce cells in the standard size 156x156mm² that offer efficiency of more than 18 percent in pilot production. Conventional silkscreen printing technology was then used to create the contacts. According to the solar manufacturer, this technique successfully links new manufacturing steps with a mature and cost-efficient production sequence.
New approaches to increasing performance were used during manufacturing of these modules to reduce both optical and electrical losses while the solar cell was being turned into a module. Confirmed efficiency of 17.6 percent that the world that has never seen before was achieved using a conventional layout involving 60 multicrystalline cells. The Chairman of the Board of Management of SCHOTT Solar AG, Dr. Martin Heming, noted: "Today, the photovoltaic industry is still pursuing two basic approaches when it comes to lowering costs even further: improving the production processes, on the one hand, and increasing efficiency, on the other. SCHOTT Solar has always been the leader in the area of production processes. Now, thanks to this innovative approach to industrial manufacturing of high-performance cells and modules, we will also rank among the leaders when it comes to achieving higher efficiency."
Technical data on the record module made of multicrystalline silicon solar cells:
Efficiency: 17.6 percent (pertains to the aperture area)
Open circuit voltage: 38.3 V
Density of short circuit current: 8.94 A
Module output: 258.0 W
Module surface: 1.4701 m2 (Aperture area)
Technical data on the high-performance cell made of multicrystalline silicon:
Efficiency: 18.2 percent
Efficiency: 18.2 percent
Density of short circuit current: 36.2 mA/cm2
Cell output: 4.43 W
Cell surface: 243,34 cm2
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