Advanced PERC and PERL production cells with 20.3% record efficiency for standard commercial p‐type silicon wafers

Abstract

Following intensive research and development, Suntech Power has successfully commercialised its Pluto technology with 0.5 GW annual production capacity, delivering up to 10% performance advantage over conventional screen-printed cells. The next generation of Pluto involves the development of improved rear surface design based on the design features of passivated emitter and rear locally diffused cells. Cells with an average efficiency over 20% were fabricated on 155 cm 2 commercial-grade p-type wafers using mass-manufacturing processes and equipment, with the highest single-cell efficiency independently confirmed at 20.3%. This is believed to be a record efficiency for this wafer type. Further optimisation work on contact pattern and rear surface passivation suggests the potential for further efficiency increase approaching 23%.

Eliminating Light-Induced Degradation in Commercial p-Type Czochralski Silicon Solar Cells

“…Furthermore, p-type Cz silicon solar cells are going from strength to strength with continual improvement in solar cell efficiencies. Since 2012, record efficiencies on industrial p-type Cz solar cells have increased from 20.3% to 22.7% [69,70]. As a result, p-type Cz silicon is likely to continue to have a significant market share well into the future, with the most recent International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics (ITRPV) predicting a market share of approximately 30% over the next ten years [5].…”

Photovoltaic Devices

“…Figure 16.4(a) shows the schematic diagram of a passivated emitter with rear locally-diffused (PERL) silicon solar cell, which holds this record. Using standard, commercial-grade p-type silicon wafers recent work has led to the development of a commercial version of the PERL cell with a record production-level AM1.5G efficiency of 20.3% [10]. Rear contact solar cells (Figure 16.4b) have all electrical contacts located on the back side of the cell.…”

Study of a New Structural Photovoltaic Module

“…Meanwhile, to further promote the photovoltaic technical upgrading and achieve grid parity, the PV market imposes higher requirements on the module efficiency. Therefore, module manufacturers are continuously making in-depth study to improve cell efficiency, optimize material combination and innovate circuit design, such as black silicon [2,3], passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) [4,5], reflective ribbons [6], halved cells [7][8][9], shingled cells [10] and multi-busbar technology [11,12]. The shingled module is welcome for its high efficiency by incorporating more cells in a limited module size.…”