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BIA-Brukerstyrt innovasjonsarena

Low stress furnace designs for high efficiency multi-crystalline silicon Solar cells

Awarded: NOK 0.58 mill.

Project Manager:

Project Number:

210814

Project Period:

2011 - 2013

Funding received from:

The main objective of the present project is to develop innovative furnace designs for multi-crystalline silicon ingot/wafer production so that the cell efficiency significantly increases. This goal is to be attained through the use of designs and casting procedures with the lowest possible stresses during solidification and cooling, while maintaining high yield productivity. The current approach using ingot characterization and interpretation as the main tool to suggest improvements of the furnace have i ts clear limitations and more fundamental understanding as well as a much faster model-based feedback loop is required to achieve these ambitious goals. Therefore the project will aim at developing further a powerful 3D crystallization model/tool and appl y it for designing innovative furnace solutions. Strong R&D challenges are related to the complicated phenomena within heat transfer, solid mechanics and process control. Among them, four main challenges have been identified: establish the 3D model as a p redictive tool, dislocation multiplication and effect of the grain structure, flexibility of the furnace design to handle different temperature regime and integration and effects on the downstream production line. The project will generate new knowledge o n crystallization and expertise in furnace development for PV industry. The success of the project will lead to furnace upgrading in Norwegian plants therefore strengthening the competitiveness of Norwegian PV industry.

Funding scheme:

BIA-Brukerstyrt innovasjonsarena