Objective Since the silicon wafer still accounts for a substantial part of the cost of solar modules, reducing the silicon consumption per watt peak is one of the most effective ways of reducing the overall cost of PV systems. In this project we propose a methodology to produce a high-efficiency solar module with a very limited amount of Si. The methodology is based on two technologies: the first one for the fabrication of the solar wafers, the second one for the processing of this new material.For the fabrication of the ultra-thin solar wafers, a material, for instance a metallic material, with a high coefficient of thermal expansion, is deposited on the substrate at high temperature. The system is then cooled down, and the difference of thermal expansion induces some stress in the silicon substrate. When the stress exceeds the mechanical strength of silicon, a crack propagates parallel to the surface, and the top layer (which thickness reaches in this case around 50 µm) of silicon is detached from the parent substrate. The thin silicon layer and the metal layer are rolled due to some remaining stress. This stress can be annihilated by dipping the sample in a chemical bath.The processing of this material into a solar module is not trivial and the second technology developed in this project proposes to glue the ultra-thin wafer to a definitive glass superstrate. The Si material is then processed into a solar cell, and encapsulated into a module. The module and the solar cell process are integrated and are performed at low temperature (heterojunction-based interdigitated back contact) to be compatible with the glass thermo-mechanical properties.The project directly addresses a core issue of photovoltaic research and proposes an elegant, low-cost and very innovative solution to solve it. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloidsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyphotovoltaic Programme(s) FP7-ENERGY - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Energy Topic(s) ENERGY.2010.2.1-1 - Further development of very thin wafer based c-Si photovoltaics Call for proposal FP7-ENERGY-2010-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP - Collaborative project (generic) Coordinator INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM EU contribution € 1 002 505,00 Address KAPELDREEF 75 3001 Leuven Belgium See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Christine Van Houtven (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (10) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Bosch Rexroth B.V. Participation ended Netherlands EU contribution No data Address KRUISBROEKSESTRAAT 1 5281 RV BOXTEL See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Ronald Suurd (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ASSOCIATION POUR LA RECHERCHE ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT DES METHODES ET PROCESSUS INDUSTRIELS France EU contribution € 358 675,00 Address BOULEVARD SAINT MICHEL 60 75272 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Florence Thepenier (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV Germany EU contribution € 752 400,00 Address HANSASTRASSE 27C 80686 Munchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Walter Krause (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data FERRO (HOLLAND) BV Netherlands EU contribution € 72 600,00 Address ROER 266 2908 MC CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Harald Kerp (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data DOW SILICONES BELGIUM Belgium EU contribution € 225 000,00 Address RUE JULES BORDET PARC INDUSTRIEL ZONE C 7180 Seneffe See on map Region Région wallonne Prov. Hainaut Arr. Soignies Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Guy Beaucarne (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data APPLIED MATERIALS ITALIA SRL Italy EU contribution € 312 700,00 Address VIA POSTUMIA OVEST 244 31048 San Bagio Di Callalta See on map Region Nord-Est Veneto Treviso Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Alessandra Paggin (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data FUNDACAO DA FACULDADE DE CIENCIAS DA UNIVERSIDADE DE LISBOA FP Portugal EU contribution € 457 923,00 Address CAMPO GRANDE EDIFICIO C1 PISO 3 1749 016 Lisboa See on map Region Continente Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Livia Moreira (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data SEMILAB FELVEZETO FIZIKAI LABORATORIUM ZARTKORUEN MUKODO RESZVENYTARSASAG Hungary EU contribution € 217 350,00 Address PRIELLE KORNELIA UTCA 2 1117 BUDAPEST See on map Region Közép-Magyarország Budapest Budapest Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Anita Farkasinszki (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data 4PICO Netherlands EU contribution € 142 700,00 Address Jan Tinbergenstraat 4B 5491DC Sint Oedenrode See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Hendrik Postma (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Ferro GmbH Germany EU contribution € 175 800,00 Address Gutleutstrasse 215 60327 Frankfurt See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Matthias Metzner (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data