Title:	High Volume Manufacturing of High Efficiency Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells with Shielded Metal Contacts
Author(s):	O. Schultz-Wittmann, A. Turner, B. Eggleston, D. de Ceuster, D. Suwito, E. van Kerschaver, S. Baker-Finch, V. Prajapati
Keywords:	Bifacial, c-Si, n-Type, High-Efficiency, Passivated Contact
Topic:	Wafer-Based Silicon Solar Cells and Materials Technology
Subtopic:	Silicon Solar Cells Improvements and Innovation
Event:	32nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition
Session:	2CO.4.5
Pages:	456 - 459
ISBN:	3-936338-41-8
Paper DOI:	10.4229/EUPVSEC20162016-2CO.4.5
Price:	0,00 EUR
Document(s):	paper

Abstract/Summary:

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First Solar has launched mass production of high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells. The manufacturing sequence employs a new technology that eliminates recombination at the metal contacts. This “shielding” of the contacts allows a new degree of freedom for the metal grid design, i.e. the optimization is only a trade-off between shading and resistive losses. Contact recombination is so low that it doesn’t need to be factored in anymore. In combination with a fine line copper metallization process sequence, median efficiencies over 21% are achieved on a 100 MWp pilot line. 72-cell PV modules with standard soldering and interconnection technology have power bins (-0 to +5W) of 360 to 370 Wp.