High efficiency for the trend reversal

The solar mechanical engineers have two problems: First of all, over capacities have put the brakes on the willingness to invest of their main customers in Asia. Secondly, some manufacturers in the Far East are now building their own production lines. The suppliers are therefore now reacting with the next technological step. They need to highlight investments for cells with over 20 per cent efficiency.

[297 kb]

PDF-Download to the topic: High efficiency for the trend reversal

The Mainz solar provider Schott Solar surprised the experts with this announcement. In September, the company will discontinue their production of crystalline cells and modules in Germany and concentrate purely on product development and the project business. "The market conditions have drastically worsened, due to over capacities and the massive price fall. A photovoltaic's production line no longer makes economic sense under these conditions," says Schott Solar boss Martin Heming, to justify the step.
This step is particularly surprising, since the Mainz company was seen as an important ray of hope for the German solar industry, which is in crisis. They have only just completed the development of the so-called PERC cells (Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact), which have already been celebrated as the industrial cell of the future by experts. With more than 20 per cent effectiveness, PERC puts standard cells made of silicon, which convert a maximum of 16 to 17 per cent of light into energy, clearly in the shade. The high efficiency of PERC is due to an additional barrier layer between the semiconductor and the contacts on the reverse side. This prevents the charge carrier getting lost at this critical point in the cell.
Fortunately, the new wonder cell of photovoltaics remains, in spite of Schott Solar's withdrawal. In June, the company licensed the technology to the Swabian mechanical engineer Schmid, who is now selling equipment for this all over the world. "Starting from now, we will offer the plants and the process, as an individual upgrade or complete turnkey line," says Schmid spokesman Christoph Kübler.