Objective
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The primary aim of this project is to capitalise on the high performance laboratory achievements in conjunction with an innovative low temperature approach to form passivated rear metal contacts, to produce commercial devices. It has already been shown, both theoretically through modelling and experimentally through laboratory devices (using microelectronics techniques), that solar grade substrates with diffusion lengths of only 200 microns are adequate for achieving 20% efficiency in commercial devices provided high temperatures are avoided in commercial substrates with high oxygen content. The technical challenge is therefore to develop a low temperature approach for passivation and formation of the rear metal contact.
TECHNICAL APPROACH
The project is divided into four tasks.
(i) Task 1 - A new cell structure formed by making a solid phase epitaxial rear point contact to the Laser Grooved Buried grid solar cell in a 1 year phase to demonstrate process in laboratory using standard commercial substrates. The process will be further developed throughout the duration of the project. A schematic of the new structure is shown below.
(ii) Task 2 - To develop the production technology by transferring the laboratory process to an industrial environment and demonstrating the process at pilot production level.
(iii)Task 3 - A key input to tasks 1 and 2 will be the systematic measurement of opart processed devices and final cells to allow optimisation of the processing. Models describing the cell are largely in place but specific data for the new structure need to be generated.
(iv) Task 4 - A continuous cost appraisal will be carried out throughout the project. Cost models already exist and these will be updated with the details of materials consumption, labour use and capital expenditure alongside efficiency improvement to ensure that the new processes and structures are fully cost effective.
EXPECTED ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXPLOITATION
An increase in solar cell efficiency from the present 17% to 20% is expected to reduce module and BOS costs giving rise to an significant growth in the PV market. BP Solar through its 10 MWp pa production line in Madrid expects to implement the process improvement at the earliest opportunity.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics microelectronics
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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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.
Topic(s)
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.
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.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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.
Coordinator
TW167XA SUNBURY-ON-THAMES
United Kingdom
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.