Towards 20% efficient silicon solar cells manufactured at 60 MWp per annum

Author

Bruton, Tim ; Mason, Nigel ; Roberts, Stephen ; Hartley, Oliver Nast ; Gledhill, Sophie ; Fernandez, J. ; Russell, Richard ; Warta, Wilhelm ; Glunz, Stefan ; Schultz, Oliver ; Hermle, Manin ; Willeke, Gerhard

Author_Institution

BP Solar, Eur. Technol. Centre, Sunbury-on-Thames, UK

Volume

1

fYear

2003

fDate

18-18 May 2003

Firstpage

899

Abstract

The LGBG technology for high efficiency cells has grown in ten years from pilot line to 60 MWp per annum manufacturing capacity. Many improvements to the manufacturing process have been achieved in labour productivity through automation, increased laser grooving speeds and the introduction of in-line processes. Progress has been made in increasing the solar cell efficiency on monocrystalline silicon solar cells from a base line of 16.2% in present production to 17% in the new facility. Pilot line cells have demonstrated 18.3% efficiency and modelling has shown 20% cells are achievable in production. A small area cell with LGBG contacts has been made with an efficiency of 20%.

Keywords

automation; elemental semiconductors; productivity; semiconductor device manufacture; semiconductor device models; silicon; solar cells; 16.2 percent; 17 percent; 18.3 percent; 20 percent; LGBG technology; Si; automation; in-line processes; labour productivity; laser grooving speeds; manufacturing capacity; pilot line cells; silicon solar cells; solar cell efficiency;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 2003. Proceedings of 3rd World Conference on

Conference_Location

Osaka, Japan

Print_ISBN

4-9901816-0-3

Type

conf

Filename

1305428