Industrial level silicon solar cell exceeds 20% efficiency

Developed using the company's PERC manufacturing process, the cell is designed to maximise conversion efficiency through structure and material optimisations while maintaining cost effective processing. Measuring 125 x 125mm², the PERC cell is compatible with industrial photovoltaic production. It is a Cz p-type silicon cell with a simple homogeneous emitter and Ag single screen printed front side contacts (65µm finger width), two busbars and an adapted Al back side metallisation. Imec says this holds the potential to reduce costs and increase efficiency in industrial production environments. "A simple and cost effective PERC cell is imec's answer to short term aspiration of the photovoltaic industry to reduce the cost per Watt peak of silicon solar cells," commented Dr Jef Poortmans, director of photovoltaics research at imec. "We are delighted to have achieved an efficiency of more than 20% for a standard PERC cell, featuring a large area, only a homogeneous emitter and Ag screen printed contacts."