The Schmid Group has reached a new efficiency record at 20.74% for its PERC solar cells which features the passivated selective emitter layer and backside passivation.
The cells with a screen printed 3 busbar frontside were made were of Cz-Si wafers. For Schmid’s recently introduced multi busbar interconnection concept with optimized front side metallization an even higher efficiency potential of 21% is expected. This is emphasized by the fact that Schott Solar has reached an independently confirmed efficiency record of 21% for the first time ever on p-type Cz-Si wafers with industry dimensions of 156mm x 156mm.
In July Schmid specified a corresponding production line for the SCHOTT Solar licensed process. The effectiveness of the APCVD generated Al2O3 passivation layer is absolutely comparable to PECVD coatings but comes without the expensive vacuum technology. The operating expenses for Schmid’s Al2O3 Passivation are, with under $0.02/Wafer, unbeatable – alternative processes like PECVD or ALD machines would cost three to five times as much.
The company offers two APCVD machine generations, in which the first generation has 96 successful machines in operation in the PV industry since 2004. For the PERC process the new machines are fitted with ceramic transport rollers, to further improve the already low operation costs by thermal efficiency. With five tracks the system reaches a throughput of up to 4,000 wafers per hour and is available with two to five injector heads for multiple consecutive coatings. SCHMID also offers a diffusion furnace for PSG and BSG.
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