SunDrive hits efficiency high with copper-based solar cell technology – pv magazine Australia

September 2, 2022 David Carroll

SunDrive has achieved an effectivity results of 26.41% on a full-size silicon heterojunction (HJT) photo voltaic cell that includes the corporate’s copper-based expertise utilizing large-scale manufacturing processes supplied by China-headquartered gear producer Maxwell Applied sciences.

Sydney-based SunDrive stated the outcome, which improves upon the 26.07% efficiency mark the corporate introduced earlier this 12 months, has been formally verified by the Institute for Photo voltaic Vitality Analysis in Hamelin (ISFH) in Germany.

The corporate stated enchancment of the HJT cell, with a complete space of 274.3cm2 (M6 dimension), had been noticed in all three key efficiency parameters together with open-circuit voltage (Voc), quick circuit present (Isc) and fill issue (FF), attributing the enhancements to “a number of gear and processing upgrades”.

SunDrive stated Maxwell’s newest technology chemical vapor deposition (CVD) gear incorporates bifacial microcrystalline silicon layer deposition, additional bettering the rear-side passivation and speak to resistance. As well as, extra clear conductive oxide (TCO) layers have been utilized utilizing Maxwell’s newest bodily vapor deposition (PVD) coating gear.

SunDrive stated fabricating the photo voltaic cell electrodes utilizing the corporate’s copper plating technology somewhat than conventional silver display printing had additionally performed a key function within the effectivity enhancements. SunDrive, which replaces the silver utilized in standard in photo voltaic cells with the cheaper and extra considerable copper, stated it has refined its copper plating chemistry and processing sequence, attaining characteristic sizes of lower than 10 µm with a side ratio shut to at least one.

“What we have now proven is that copper can successfully take silver’s place on these next-generation photo voltaic cell constructions, however extra importantly, efficiencies could be additional elevated past ranges attainable with silver,” the corporate stated.

With photo voltaic PV set to play a major role in the world’s transition to a clean energy future, SunDrive co-founder Vince Allen stated copper is the important thing to unlocking the floodgates of extra environment friendly photo voltaic cell constructions and its use rather than silver might enable photo voltaic expertise to achieve its full potential.

“The photo voltaic cells that may present nearly all of the world’s future power wants will probably be vastly totally different to the photo voltaic cells we have now at present,” he stated. “Effectivity, value and materials scalability are basic for continued development in photo voltaic adoption.

“Copper is round 100 instances cheaper per kilogram and round 1,000 instances extra considerable than silver. And other than the abundancy and price advantages of copper, we have now discovered we are able to enhance the effectivity above and past what’s attainable with silver.”

SunDrive will now push forward with plans to determine a pilot production line by mid-2023, with scale as much as market entry later within the 12 months.

Whereas no location has been recognized for the deliberate manufacturing facility, Allen stated Australia has lots of the substances required to host a photo voltaic manufacturing business.

“We recognise that international locations are more and more competing on this area, nonetheless with the best coverage setting, Australia has the potential to be a world photo voltaic manufacturing powerhouse,” he stated.

“We have now the necessity – we have now the quickest rising rooftop photo voltaic market on the planet and Australia will seemingly even be residence to the 5 largest photo voltaic farms within the subsequent decade. We have now the individuals – lots of the world’s high photo voltaic executives, scientists and engineers have been educated at Australian universities and we have now the power, at present’s business photo voltaic cells have been invented right here in Australia and Australia has held the effectivity world document for 30 of the final 40 years.”

Allen stated the nation can be blessed with sources deemed crucial for the clear power transition.

“Australia has the highest three world reserves of each main mineral required to make a photo voltaic panel which no different nation can declare,” he stated. “Australia additionally seemingly has the best alternative of any nation to not simply attain internet zero however to assist different international locations attain internet zero – it’s the sunniest and windiest continent on the planet with a particularly giant land mass and really low inhabitants density.”