Project description
Innovative approach to reducing metal contacts in solar cells without sacrificing efficiency
HighLine Technology GmbH is a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems that is redefining the standard metallisation process in silicon solar cell production. The EU-funded HighLine project is supporting the company in developing its fine-line dispensing technology. This solution enables cell producers to precisely apply thinner contacts, reduces silver needs by 25 %, increases conversion efficiency by 1 %, and increases throughput by 50 %. The innovative technology should optimise both current passivated emitter and rear cells and future heterojunction cells despite the latter requiring more than double the silver.
Objective
HighLine Technology GmbH is a ISE spin-off from Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems with exclusive IP rights to redefine the standard METALLIZATION process to apply the small contact lines made of silver onto Si-solar cells.
With silver costs for metallization as the 2nd most expensive step in solar cell production, the PV industry is being responsible for >10% of the global silver demand.
When it comes to cell efficiency, mainstream PERC cells have achieved max 23.5% efficiency and €0.05/kW cost limits. The promising next step in cell technology/efficiency with Heterojunction cells (HJT) requires more than double the silver laydown compromising industry adoption despite its efficiency benefits above 26%.
Designed to streamline metallization for today (PERC) and future (HJT) cells, HighLine FINE-LINE DISPENSING TECHNOLOGY enables cell producers the precise application of thinner contacts at 25% lower silver needs, 1% efficiency gains and 50% higher throughput.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC-ACC-BF - HORIZON EIC Accelerator Blended FinanceCoordinator
79108 FREIBURG IM BREISGAU
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.