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Super high efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin-film solar cells approaching 25%

Objective

Prime objective of the Sharc25 project is to develop super-high efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells for next generation of cost-beneficial solar module technology with the world leading expertise establishing the new benchmarks of global excellence.
The project partners ZSW and EMPA hold the current CIGS solar cell efficiency world records of 21.7% on glass and 20.4% on polymer film, achieved by using high (~650°C) and low (~450°C) temperature CIGS deposition, respectively. Both have developed new processing concepts which open new prospects for further breakthroughs leading to paradigm shift for increased performance of solar cells approaching to the practically achievable theoretical limits. In this way the costs for industrial solar module production < 0.35€/Wp and installed systems < 0.60€/Wp can be achieved, along with a reduced Capex < 0.75€/Wp for factories of >100 MW production capacity, with further scopes for cost reductions through production ramp-up.
In this project the performance of single junction CIGS solar cells will be pushed from ~21% towards 25% by a consortium with multidisciplinary expertise. The key limiting factors in state-of-the-art CIGS solar cells are the non-radiative recombination and light absorption losses. Novel concepts will overcome major recombination losses: combinations of increased carrier life time in CIGS with emitter point contacts, engineered grain boundaries for active carrier collection, shift of absorber energy bandgap, and bandgap grading for increased tolerance of potential fluctuations. Innovative approaches will be applied for light management to increase the optical path length in the CIGS absorber and combine novel emitter, front contact, and anti-reflection concepts for higher photon injection into the absorber. Concepts of enhanced cell efficiency will be applied for achieving sub-module efficiencies of >20% and industrial implementation strategies will be proposed for the benefit of European industries.

Call for proposal

H2020-LCE-2014-2015

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Sub call

H2020-LCE-2014-1

Coordinator

ZENTRUM FUR SONNENENERGIE- UND WASSERSTOFF-FORSCHUNG BADEN-WURTTEMBERG
Net EU contribution
€ 1 428 010,00
Address
Meitnerstrasse 1
70563 Stuttgart
Germany

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Region
Baden-Württemberg Stuttgart Stuttgart, Stadtkreis
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (11)

EIDGENOSSISCHE MATERIALPRUFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT
Switzerland
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
Ueberlandstrasse 129
8600 Dubendorf

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Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 1 267 981,25
UNIVERSITE DU LUXEMBOURG
Luxembourg
Net EU contribution
€ 474 313,75
Address
2 Avenue De L'universite
4365 Esch-sur-alzette

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Region
Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
UNIVERSITE DE ROUEN NORMANDIE
France
Net EU contribution
€ 451 980,00
Address
Rue Thomas Becket 1 Mont Saint Aignan
76821 Mont Saint Aignan Cedex

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Region
Normandie Haute-Normandie Seine-Maritime
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
France
Net EU contribution
€ 87 840,00
Address
Rue Michel Ange 3
75794 Paris

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Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PARMA
Italy
Net EU contribution
€ 268 250,00
Address
Via Universita 12
43100 Parma

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Region
Nord-Est Emilia-Romagna Parma
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM
Belgium
Net EU contribution
€ 595 021,00
Address
Kapeldreef 75
3001 Leuven

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Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,25
HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM BERLIN FUR MATERIALIEN UND ENERGIE GMBH
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 436 125,00
Address
Hahn Meitner Platz 1
14109 Berlin

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Region
Berlin Berlin Berlin
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00
LABORATORIO IBERICO INTERNACIONAL DE NANOTECNOLOGIA LIN
Portugal
Net EU contribution
€ 230 625,00
Address
Avenida Mestre Jose Veiga
4715-330 Braga

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Region
Continente Norte Cávado
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00
AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SR
Finland
Net EU contribution
€ 339 458,00
Address
Otakaari 1
02150 Espoo

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Region
Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
FLISOM AG
Switzerland
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
Gewerbestrasse 16
8155 Niederhasli

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 321 875,00
NICE SOLAR ENERGY GMBH
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 251 500,00
Address
Alfred Leikam Strasse 25
74523 Schwabisch Hall

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Region
Baden-Württemberg Stuttgart Schwäbisch Hall
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00