Progress in Solarex´s crystalline silicon PVMaT program

Author

Wohlgemuth, J.H. ; Whitehouse, D. ; Koval, T. ; Creager, J. ; Artigliere, F. ; Tomlinson, T. ; Cliber, J. ; Buckman, A. ; Perry, M. ; Narayanan, S. ; Shea, S. ; Roy, M. ; Kelly, G. ; Brisson, M. ; Dominguez, R. ; Conway, M.

Author_Institution

Solarex Corp., Frederick, MD, USA

fYear

1997

fDate

29 Sep-3 Oct 1997

Firstpage

1055

Lastpage

1060

Abstract

The objectives of this NREL sponsored photovoltaic manufacturing technology program (PVMaT) are to advance Solarex´s cast polycrystalline silicon manufacturing technology, reduce production cost, increase module performance and expand production capacity. To meet these objectives Solarex has: (1) modified the casting process and equipment to grow larger ingots; (2) developed and installed wire saws to cut thinner wafers at lower cost; (3) increased cell efficiencies; (4) improved the automation of module assembly; and (5) developed frameless module mounting systems with low cost module electrical interconnection. This paper presents the progress made during this three year program

Keywords

casting; elemental semiconductors; semiconductor technology; silicon; solar cells; NREL sponsored photovoltaic manufacturing technology program; Si; Solarex; automated cell handling; back surface field; cast polycrystalline silicon manufacturing technology; casting; cell efficiencies increase; chemical texturing; crystalline silicon PVMaT program; frameless module development; frameless module mounting systems; ingots growth; low cost module electrical interconnection; module assembly; production capacity expansion; production cost reduction; selective emitter; solar cells; thin wafers cutting; wire saws; Casting; Costs; Crystallization; Manufacturing; Photovoltaic systems; Production; Sawing machines; Silicon; Solar power generation; Wire;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1997., Conference Record of the Twenty-Sixth IEEE

Conference_Location

Anaheim, CA

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

0-7803-3767-0

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.1997.654270

Filename

654270