Towards 20 percent mc-si industrial solar cell efficiency

Objective

TOPSICLE is an R&D project to develop a low-cost industrial process for super high-efficiency multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) cells and modules. This project will result in an efficiency of 20% for a 4cm² mc-Si cell, 19% for a 156cm² mc-Si cell and 18% for a full size 36-cell module. The peak power of that module will be 101 Wat. a road map will be made to realise cost effective 20% mc-Si PV modules on an industrial scale. To reach these goals the consortium will develop processes for
1) manufacturing high-quality cast ingots,
2) slicing high-quality thin mc-Si wafers,
3) manufacturing super high-efficiency mc-Si solar cells techniques.

TOPSICLE will strongly contribute to the White Paper targets (3GWp installed in 2010, <2.5€/Wp, 3Mtn/yr CO_2 reduction) and will increase Europe's competitive position considerably. The results of TOPSICLE will reduce the energy-pay-back time of the mc-Si based PV systems to 2-3 years.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › chemical sciences › inorganic chemistry › metalloids
• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › energy and fuels › renewable energy › solar energy › photovoltaic

Programme(s)

• FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002"

Topic(s)

• 1.1.4.-6. - Key action Economic and Efficient Energy for a Competitive Europe

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE OF THE NETHERLANDS

Address

Westerduinweg 3
1755 ZG Petten
Netherlands

Participants (6)

BP SOLAR ESPANA SA

Spain

Address

5,p.i Tres Cantos Zona Oeste S/n
28760 Tres Cantos

NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTRE

United Kingdom

Address

Albert Street
NE24 1LZ Blyth

RWE SCHOTT SOLAR GMBH

Germany

Address

Carl-zeiss-strasse 4
63755 Alzenau

SCANWAFER AS

Norway

Address

Oernesveien 3
8160 Glomfjord

UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID

Spain

Address

C/ Ramiro De Maeztu 7
28040 Madrid

UNIVERSITAET KONSTANZ

Germany

Address

Jacob Buchhardtstrasse 29
78457 Konstanz