Skip to main content
European Commission logo print header

A direct route to produce solar grade silicon at low cost ('SOLSILC')

Obiettivo

Objectives and problems to be solved: General objective of the project is to research and develop the new two-step high temperature plasma-process for solar grade silicon (sog-Si) production, to test the processing and efficiency of SOLSILC cells, to evaluate an approach for scale-up and to investigate relevant technical, environmental and economical aspects. After the SOLSILC project a pilot demonstration on scale (2 years) is anticipated, in order to achieve a market price of 10 Euro/kg sog-Si in a full-scale plant of 5.000 tm/y in 2005. The new sog-Si process was developed and studied by the Norwegian and Swedish partners and evaluated by the Dutch partners. The perspective of this process (low-energy, high yield, low impurities, experience with other metallurgical processes, direct route) is a low cost sog-Si of constant quality in sufficient quantities. The project relies on expertise of Si, Sic, metallurgical and PV cell processing of the R&D partners, in combination with the exploitation expertise of the market partner. Description of work: The work consists of process optimisation, product evaluation (PV cell efficiencies) and technical, economical and environmental evaluations of a follow-up approach. The work has been divided in technical work packages (at 3 R&D locations) and supportive work packages. Development of low-purity Si-process facility, including raw materials selection and supply and development of a Si refinement process for the removal of carbon.
2. Testing of low-purity Si-process. A test facility will be built to test and optimise the two- step Si production process. The work includes modification of a specific plasma torch.
3. Production of artificial solar grade silicon for preliminary testing of the process with respect to its performance in solar cells.%4. Material assessment of artificial solar grade Si to evaluate whether the material properties are compatible with a solar cell production process.
5. Development of high-purity Si-production process, including design and preparation of a 20 kg/hr test facility for both steps of the process.
6. Testing & optimisation of high-purity Si production process and production of high-purity sog-Si.
7. Material assessment of sog-Si with respect to a solar cell production process.
8. Design of high-purity Si-process pilot installation (1.000 tm/y) including cost engineering's. Technical feasibility and risk assessment, in relation to competing technologies and including identification of alternative routes. The supportive work packages are: economical and environmental assessment, exploitation and dissemination, and project management. Expected Results and Exploitation Plans: After 6 months a low-purity test facility is developed and built. After 12 months this low-purity process is tested and optimised, so that in 18 months a preliminary conclusion on techno-economic feasibility can be made. After 24 months the high-purity test facility is designed and constructed. A conclusion on the feasibility of the pilot plant will be drawn in 30 months. Finally the integral process feasibility is checked and the technology implementation plan is started.

Invito a presentare proposte

Data not available

Meccanismo di finanziamento

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinatore

SCANARC PLASMA TECHNOLOGIES AB
Contributo UE
Nessun dato
Indirizzo
Vaernavaegen 7
HOFORS
Svezia

Mostra sulla mappa

Costo totale
Nessun dato

Partecipanti (3)