Update on SLIVER solar cell technology and modules

The paper presents an update on the development of the new SLIVER solar cell and module technology. The SLIVER technology uses micromachining techniques to fabricate 50-micron thin monocrystalline silicon solar cells. Due to their design and fabrication process, the SLIVER cells are bifacial and exhibit the efficiency and the performance stability of the monocrystalline silicon solar cells. Among the main advantages of the SLIVER technology, the greatest are low silicon material usage, large wafer productivity, partial shadow tolerance and lower operating cell temperature. A new SLIVER cell design incorporating a reverse bias protection (RBP) is presented. The reverse breakdown voltage of the RBP SLIVER cell is 5.5 V and allows designing large SLIVER modules without inner-string bypass diodes. The paper also presents an update on the construction and commissioning of the first Pilot Plant to demonstrate the manufacturing of SLIVER cells and modules in an industrial environment.