Low-cost approach to high-volume production and practical considerations to improving efficiency of single crystalline silicon solar cells for developing countries

The purpose of this paper is to report the work carried out in identifying low cost processes and production engineering techniques suitable for adoption in developing countries, making full use of the inherent advantages in their environment. The methods described in this work have routinely produced 13% plus efficiency solar cells in volume production. Innovative low cost processes such as coin stack etching for junction removal and a novel co-sintering method for reliable screen printed contacts have been developed. The net result has been an ultra-low cost multi-MW sized production line utilising optimum level of manpower and skills which are easy to obtain in the given Third World. A major feature of this exercise was also the successful development of critical processing equipment based on internally developed skills