Photovoltaics International Papers

Passivated-contact solar cell designs, such as TOPCon or silicon heterojunction solar cells (SHJs), enable cell efficiencies greater than 24%, and are promising candidates for the next revolution in mass production after the passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC). Plated metallization (Ni/Cu/Ag or Cu/Ag) fits well with new constraints on low-temperature processing and the combination of low material costs and highly conductive bifacial metal grids for these types of solar cell.

For the work reported in this paper, a new model of the screen-printing process was set up in order to improve the understanding of the screenprinting process, with a focus on the interaction between Ag paste and the screen.

Different types of PV backsheet provide modules with varying levels of protection in warm, humid conditions. Haidan Gong, Minge Gao and Yiwei of Wuxi Suntech’s PV test centre detail the results of research undertaken to better understand the properties of different backsheet materials in tropical conditions.

Half-cell modules are gaining an increasing market share because of their potential for increasing module power without requiring any changes to cell technology. However, it has emerged that different cell separation technologies can produce similar electrical performances of the half cells, yet lead to an entirely different mechanical behaviour of the cells.

The market share of bifacial solar modules is rising, because of the additional power yields of up to 20% per year, which reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Many manufacturers have bifacial PV modules in their portfolios, with a majority of them employing bifacial passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC+) technology. In this paper, it is shown from the results of studies that rear-side-related potential-induced degradation (PID) effects can occur in addition to the conventional front-side shunting type (PID-s).

The recent trends in crystalline Si-based bifacial cell development are having a major impact on interconnection technology. This paper presents an overview of various bifacial interconnection technologies.

This paper outlines how a blend of physics-based analysis and statistical data science methods can aid continuous improvement and yield optimization in high-volume solar cell fabrication.

PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in 2019 were a stark contrast to 2018, when major policy changes in China impacted the upstream supply chain. This paper looks in detail at not only a significant recovery in capacity expansions throughout the year but also new trends in the capacity scale of announcements and a marked shift in wafer sizes and cell technology.

Organic/inorganic lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have received global attention because of their excellent photovoltaic performance and ease of fabrication. PSC’s have reached over 24% power conversion efficiency demonstrating that the lead halide perovskites are the most promising class of materials for next-generation thin-film photovoltaics. The unprecedented increase in the device performance from 3.8% to 24% in less than 10 years is mostly due to compositional engineering of mixed cations, and anions, as well as improved processing protocols has made PSC the fastest development of a new material in the PV field. Though the efficiencies on Lab scale are staggering, the full potential of this burgeoning technology cannot be realized without addressing the following challenges: fighting the degradation of the material is the highest focus for the moment and has several fronts for improvements including within larger scale cells or modules. The other main challenge of the new class of material is the toxicity risks due to the presence of lead. The research community is actively working on the mitigation and reduction of the associated risks. The exceptional properties of this material combined alongside its inherent relative lower costs have already triggered the interests of industries and start-up worldwide while on a European regional level, EPKI for European Perovskite Initiative was formed gathering all the significant players in the field.

Photovoltaics International’s annual analysis of PV manufacturers, research and development (R&D) spending in 2018 includes 21 companies that were public listed on various stock exchanges around the world. R&D spending data was taken from audited annual financial reports and converted to US dollars at the time of the reports being published. The analysis in this 2018 report is intended to provide a good representation of global R&D spending trends in the PV wafer, cell and module segments of the upstream solar market.