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Fraunhofer ISE Produces More Efficient PV Cells
Albuquerque NM (SPX) Dec 05, 2008 The world-renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) has continued progress in producing high-efficiency solar cells using Aerosol Jet printing equipment developed by Optomec. ISE's most recent results were presented at the Crystal Clear "Workshop on Metallization for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells" held in Ultrecht, The Netherlands. The Aerosol Jet printed solar cells achieved efficiencies of over 20% when combined with Light Induced Plating (LIP) and Annealing, versus an average efficiency for screen-printed mono-crystalline front junction silicon solar cells in the range of 16-18%. The narrower, higher integrity collector lines produced by Aerosol Jet deposition systems have higher conductivity and a lower shadowing effect, thereby increasing cell efficiency. In addition, because the process is non-contact, Optomec's Aerosol Jet system can print on thinner wafers and with less breakage than screen printing. The Fraunhofer study states, "So far, the front side metallization holds the main potential for a further increase in cell efficiency. The main targets are the reduction of the metallized area to reduce shading losses, a low contact resistivity to a lowly doped emitter, and a high line conductivity to transport the current as loss-free as possible out of the cell. "The cells fabricated in this work combine the advantages of a new advanced front side metallization with an already established rear contact process, which are both industrially feasible. The front side grid was aerosol jet printed and light induced plated achieving line widths below 45 micron. On solar cells with an 110V/sq emitter record cell efficiencies of 20.3% were measured. In fact in a recent work, Fraunhofer ISE has found that the optical width of an aerosol jet printed and plated contact embedded in a module is only 43% of its geometrical width further reducing fill factor and providing increased cell/module efficiencies." The study goes on to highlight that the shape of these collector lines helps to promote the reflection of light back onto the solar cell: "In fact in a recent work, we have found that the optical width of an aerosol [jet]-printed and plated contact embedded in a module is only 43% of its geometrical width." For volume production applications, Optomec has developed a high-throughput 40-nozzle Aerosol Jet deposition head that prints a solar cell every 2.5 to 3 seconds. Additionally, the non-contact nature of the Aerosol Jet system enables high-yield printing on thinner photovoltaic wafers. Related Links Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) Optomec All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com
Perpetual Energy Systems Launches 422 kW DC Solar Energy Project
Harrison NY (SPX) Dec 05, 2008Perpetual Energy Systems (PES) has announced the launch of its newest project hosted at the City of Willits Water Treatment Plant. The project guarantees a reduction in energy costs and has the capacity to generate approximately 530,000 kilowatt hours AC (kWh) per year to meet 100 percent of the plant's current power needs. |
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