The Future of Solar Power: Unraveling the Latest Trends in Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics

“Several factors have contributed to the introduction of the PERC in low-cost large-volume fabrication and to the efficiency improvement to values between 22% and 23.4% in production.”

– Stefan W. Glunz and Pierre Verlinden

Source: NREL

The solar power industry has come a long way, driven primarily by the rapid development of crystalline silicon solar cells. With constant advancements in efficiency and production cost reduction, it’s clear that solar energy is the way of the future. Stefan W. Glunz from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and Pierre Verlinden from Amrock Pty Ltd provide an in-depth analysis of the significant trends and changes in the solar photovoltaic industry, highlighting the evolution of industrial cell architecture and the development of production technology.

In recent years, the industry has transitioned from the traditional aluminum back surface field (Al-BSF) cell to the more advanced passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) structure, which has led to better electrical and optical properties. With an efficiency improvement of up to 23.4% in production, the PERC technology has become increasingly popular, thanks to innovations such as rear surface passivation, selective emitter processes, and reduced front metallization finger width.

In addition to the rise of PERC technology, other high-efficiency cell structures like interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cells and heterojunction solar cells (SHJ) have entered mass production. Although these technologies currently have limited market share, their high efficiency potential makes them strong contenders for future growth as the demand for higher module efficiency continues to increase.

Furthermore, the development of production technology has seen substantial changes between 2010 and 2020. The silicon PV industry experienced a rapid decrease in manufacturing cost (more than -15% per year on average) and continued increase in efficiency (+2% relative per year) and module power. This progress was driven by increased collaboration between manufacturers and the adoption of innovative techniques, such as the use of monocrystalline silicon wafers and cleaner production environments.

As the solar photovoltaic industry evolves, it’s essential to stay updated on the latest trends and breakthroughs in crystalline silicon photovoltaics. With the ongoing advancements in efficiency and production cost reduction, solar power is undoubtedly on track to become an even more vital component of the global renewable energy mix.