Improvements in cast polycrystalline silicon PV manufacturing technology
- Solarex, A Business Unit of Amoco/Enron Solar, Frederick, Maryland (United States)
The objectives of this NREL sponsored Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology (PVMaT) Program are to advance Solarex{close_quote}s cast polycrystalline silicon manufacturing technology, reduce module production cost in half, increase module performance and expand Solarex{close_quote}s commercial production capacity by a factor of three. To meet these objectives Solarex has: (1) Modified the casting process and stations and is now casting larger ingots in production; (2) Developed wire saw technology to cut wafers with less kerf loss and has transferred this technology to production; (3) Developed a laboratory process to increase cell efficiencies using back surface fields, mechanical texturing and gettering; (4) Modified the casting, wires saw and cell processes in order to fabricate larger (15.2 cm by 15.2 cm) wafers and cells; (5) Improved the automated assembly of modules, reducing labor requirements and increasing throughput; and (6) Developed a frameless module with a lower cost backsheet and a simple, low cost electrical termination system. Solarex is now in the process of developing the equipment necessary for automated handling of thin 15.2 cm by 15.2 cm wafers and cells. This paper will discuss the efforts during the first two and a half years of the program. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}
- OSTI ID:
- 564858
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961178--
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 394; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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