Project description
Creating a sustainable CZ manufacturing sector in Europe
As photovoltaics (PV) and solar energy are quickly becoming the most important sources of green electricity, the EU is launching an ambitious PV industry plan to encourage and enhance PV production across Europe. However, the manufacturing of CZ ingots and wafers has been identified as the weakest link in this EU plan, as the majority of the CZ industrial ecosystem is located in China. The EU-funded Euro CZ factory is bringing together researchers, universities, large industrial companies, SMEs, and other stakeholders to reignite and reinvigorate the CZ ingot and wafer industry, as well as its crucial European supplier ecosystem. The project will collaborate to develop key sustainable, circular and efficient CZ manufacturing technologies.
Objective
Silicon-based solar cells were developed in the West, but the industrial ecosystem is now in China. PV is quickly becoming the world’s most important source of green electricity, and the geopolitical situation has led to large subsidies for PV industries in USA, India, and Europe. CZ ingot and wafer production has been identified as the weakest element of EU’s ambitious PV industry plan; in particular, CZ ingot manufacturing for PV outside of China is very small and is presently either halted or not yet in operation.
The vision of EuroCZ-factory is to bring the CZ ingot and wafer industry with its ecosystem of suppliers back to Europe. We have built a strong consortium of large industrial companies, start-ups and SMEs, research institutes, universities, and trade associations from all over Europe that combines a broad spectrum of CZ ingot and wafer competence with leading-edge manufacturing and digitalization experience. PVA TePla (DE) will develop and optimize their new giant CZ crystal puller with new automation technology installed at Fraunhofer CSP (DE), equipped with brand new hot-zone technology from start-up CZ-Tech AS (NO). Core Innovation (EL) and SINTEF (NO) will develop a digitalization framework to leverage CZ with the latest advances in AI and industry 4.0 features, equipped with machine learning tools from THM (DE). SINTEF will develop waste heat recovery and FerroGlobe (ES) recycle waste materials. BASF and Rena (DE) will develop new synthetic chemicals for wafering. Ingot and wafer producer Kalyon (TR) will share production data and perform large-scale production demos with the new chemicals and with advanced ceramics tools by SME TechnoSupport (BU). UKN (DE), Gunam (TR), and CEA (FR) will qualify wafers by cell processing and advanced characterization. Ingot and wafer startup Sunwafe (ES) will contribute with cost modelling and customer requirements. Solar Power Europe (BE) will assist with dissemination and technology implementation opportunities
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2025-02
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
7034 Trondheim
Norway
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.