Concepts for high efficiency multi-crystalline silicon solar cells, part 2

Informazioni relative al progetto

MULTICHESS 2

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: JOU20179

Progetto chiuso

Data di avvio 1 Ottobre 1992

Data di completamento 31 Marzo 1996

Finanziato da

• Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of non-nuclear energy, 1990-1994

Costo totale € 0,00

Contributo UE Nessun dato

Coordinato da

European Renewable Energy Centers Agency - Eurec Agency EEIG
Belgium

Exploitable results

Concepts for high efficiency multi-crystalline silicon solar cells - part 2: multichess 2

If the wide-scale market penetration of photovoltaics (PV) is to be achieved, then the currently high production costs for this technology must be reduced. This must not, however, compromise the high efficiency of the product. The polycrystalline technology developed through this project has made a significant contribution towards the achievement of this goal. High efficiency and low cost are two of the most important elements in solar cell manufacture. In addition, efficiency and cost of solar cell modules are sometimes conflicting parameters because cheaper fabrication technologies and techniques often lead to lower efficiency. The purpose of this project was to develop a new technology that generates a good compromise between low cost and high efficiency for polycrystalline ingot-type silicon solar cells. On the one hand efficient laboratory cells were made using micro-electronic technologies to assess the limit of intrinsic possibilities. On the other hand, there was a trade-off with cost using industrially orientated technologies and techniques for some stages of manufacture. The goals of this project were to achieve, firstly, a best efficiency of 15.5-16% on 10 by 10 cm cells in the laboratory. Secondly, to achieve an industrial efficiency of 15-15.5% on 10 by 10 cm cells. Finally, the direct cost goal was 1.25-1.5 ECU/Wp.