Giant Single-Crystal technology for Premium solar cells

NorSun produserer énkrystall-halvledere for nisjemarkedet premium solceller. Fabrikken på Årdalstangen bruker lokal vannkraft og vi jobber tett med våre kunder for å minimalisere silisiumforbruk og maksimalisere solcelle-virkningsgrad. Pga dette er våre silisium-wafere sertifisert med det laveste CO2-fotavtrykket i verden. I GiSCP-prosjektet vil NorSun sammen med SINTEF og internasjonale kunder og leverandører gjennomføre en serie samarbeidsaktiviteter relatert til produksjon av dislokasjonsfrie Czochralski énkrystall silisium-ingoter. Ny kunnskap og teknologi relatert til (i) nye varmesoner for gigant-ingoter, (ii) ultra-høy trekkehastighet og (iii) multippel recharging med avansert dop-kontroll, som vil bli utviklet og demonstrert i småskala produksjonstester. Etter 1.5 år i prosjektet har vi designet ny 32" varmesone, utviklet og implementert nytt sikkerhetssystem med ny høyeffektiv kjølekappe, og utviklet prosess for å trekke 5 krystaller med økt diameter og bruk av Ga-doping.

NorSun manufactures single-crystal semiconductors for premium niche market solar cells. The production facility in Årdalstangen uses electricity from the local hydropower plants and we work closely with customers to minimize silicon consumption and maximize solar cell efficiency. Due to this, our silicon wafers are certified with the lowest CO2 footprint in the world. The solar cell market is expected to grow exponentially during the next decades. Moreover, experience indicates that the solar module price will continue to fall according to the learning curve (>99.7% price drop since 1976). The increased attention on the climate situation will likely enforce additional regulations that will favour sustainable solar modules from NorSun’s market niche. We are also confident that, as in other energy related segments, value creation and employment will not only take place in China. NorSun will continue to leverage its competent workforce, CO2 footprint, competitive electricity price, very cheap cooling water, and long-term relationships with high-tech solar cell companies. We are confident that we can meet the competition, as proven through 12 years of continuous operation, and thus realise our opportunities in the fast expanding solar industry and do our part in the green transition of Norwegian industry. In the GiSCP project, NorSun together with SINTEF and international customers and suppliers will carry out a series of joint innovation activities related to manufacturing of dislocation-free single-crystal Czochralski silicon ingots. New knowledge and technology related to (i) new hot-zones for giant ingots, (ii) ultra-high pull speed from new active cooling devices, and (iii) multiple recharging and advanced dopant control will be developed and demonstrated in small scale production tests.