About the Roadmap |
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Abstract |
| Leading European crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cell manufacturers started an international technology roadmap for c-Si photovoltaics (PV). The aim of this roadmap is to inform suppliers and customers and set a basis to intensify the dialog about required improvements and standards. First results were already published by the cell manufacturers in September 2009 and a first roadmap document in March 2010 at the PV Fab Managers Forum in Berlin. Since then a yearly update was published. In addition non-European wafer, cell and module manufacturers are part of the active roadmap working group. Between 2011 and 2014 new technologies need to be implemented in production. Details of requirements for advancement of c-Si solar cell manufacturing will be described and technological barriers will be identified. This information shall enable future growth and significant cost reduction per piece. |
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Approach |
| To give guidance the roadmap focuses on essential developments for long term research. The topics are split up in three areas: materials, processes and products. |
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Products |
| Important features of the c-Si solar cell will change over next years. Due to this fact, the roadmap will determine and take into account future wafer and module developments. Issues like wafer dimension and cell architecture are defined in the roadmap. |
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Materials |
| Future wafer dimension developments and material trends are described. A replacement of some materials will be necessary to secure availability, avoid environmental risks, reduce costs and increase efficiencies. |
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Processes |
| To reduce production costs new technologies, materials and highly productive equipment including SPC are needed. The cost of ownership has to be reduced per piece not only per Wp since an increase of the cell efficiency on its own is not sufficient to reach the overall cost targets. By describing fundamental requirements the roadmap will be the guideline to support these developments. In order to speed up the introduction of new technologies and tools in PV production, tool manufacturers need to develop alpha and beta tools internally before introducing first production tools into the market. This is absolutely comparable to the semiconductor industry / ITRS road map. |
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