Skip to main content
European Commission logo print header

Advanced strategies for substitution of critical raw materials in photovoltaics

Objetivo

STARCELL proposes the substitution of CRM’s in thin film PV by the development and demonstration of a cost effective solution based on kesterite CZTS (Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4) materials. Kesterites are only formed by elements abundant in the earth crust with low toxicity offering a secure supply chain and minimizing recycling costs and risks, and are compatible with massive sustainable deployment of electricity production at TeraWatt levels. Optimisation of the kesterite bulk properties together with redesign and optimization of the device interfaces and the cell architecture will be developed for the achievement of a challenging increase in the device efficiency up to 18% at cell level and targeting 16% efficiency at mini-module level, in line with the efficiency targets established at the SET Plan for 2020. These efficiencies will allow initiating the transfer of kesterite based processes to pre-industrial stages. These innovations will give to STARCELL the opportunity to demonstrate CRM free thin film PV devices with manufacturing costs ≤ 0.30 €/Wp, making first detailed studies on the stability and durability of the kesterite devices under accelerated test analysis conditions and developing suitable recycling processes for efficient re-use of material waste. The project will join for the first time the 3 leading research teams that have achieved the highest efficiencies for kesterite in Europe (EMPA, IMRA and IREC) together with the group of the world record holder David Mitzi (Duke University) and NREL (a reference research centre in renewable energies worldwide) in USA, and AIST (the most renewed Japanese research centre in Energy and Environment) in Japan. These groups have during the last years specialised in different aspects of the solar cell optimisation and build the forefront of kesterite research. The synergies of their joined efforts will allow raising the efficiency of kesterite solar cells and mini-modules to values never attained for this technology.

Convocatoria de propuestas

H2020-NMBP-2016-2017

Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria

Convocatoria de subcontratación

H2020-NMBP-2016-two-stage

Régimen de financiación

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinador

FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE RECERCA DE L'ENERGIA DE CATALUNYA
Aportación neta de la UEn
€ 720 000,00
Dirección
C/ JARDINS DE LES DONES DE NEGRE 1
08930 Sant Adria De Besos
España

Ver en el mapa

Región
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Tipo de actividad
Research Organisations
Enlaces
Coste total
€ 720 000,00

Participantes (14)