Objective
This project concerns the improvement of the cost effectiveness of monocrystalline silicon solar cells. This will be done by increasing cell efficiency, with the consideration that the increase in efficiency must not involve any increase in manufacturing costs above a certain level. Two new industrial cell structures will be developed and evaluated for the purpose, back etched screen printing (BESP) cells and Electro-Plated Grid (EPG) cells.
The project objectives included some very ambitious targets for efficiency levels. Nevertheless these targets were achieved in most cases, or were very close to being achieved. For example, a process was developed to manufacture large monocrystalline cells based on screen printing. This resulted in the production of solar cells with 17.3% efficiency, against a target of 18%. Another important achievement was the development of low cost concentration cells based on the one sun commercial LGBG type cells investigated. These have permitted the development of a PV concentrator module that is now in the demonstration stage, and is expected to lead to significant cost reductions. The improvements in efficiency levels represent a huge success: at the start of the project, the European crystalline silicon solar cell industry lagged behind its American and Japanese rivals. The results from this project, MONOCHESS II, have helped the industry in Europe to bridge that technology gap.
In the laboratory cells using the resources of microelectronics are to be developed, without regard to the cost, as a means of understanding high efficiency cell operation and of assessing the different processing steps to be included in industrial procedures.
The project is also concerned with the development of low cost concentration cells, also, and here cells of a novel structure: the Laser Grooved Buried Grid (LGBG) cells, having already demonstrated their feasibility for solar applications will be developed for concentration. As in the preceding case all the resources of microelectronics will also be applied to the understanding of the operation of the cell under concentration and of assessing the possible fabrication steps. The cooperation is based on the distribution of tasks among the partners and the share of the results. Beyond this it provides a unique environment, worldwide, for mutual intellectual enrichment.
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.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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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
3001 Heverlee
Belgium
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.