Since May 2008, the company has been developing high-efficiency solar cells based on heterojunction technology.
Hohenstein-Ernstthal/Neuchâtel,
At this week’s PVSEC photovoltaics conference, Roth & Rau AG will be presenting the latest development results achieved at the Roth & Rau research line and in its pilot line. Since May 2008, the company has been developing high-efficiency solar cells based on heterojunction technology. To this end, the company agreed a cooperation with EPFL/IMT at the Université de Neuchâtel. Since then, the two parties have worked together to transfer the results of the Institute’s research then available into industrial processes and to systematically enhance these results. For the first time worldwide, the research line at Roth & Rau Switzerland AG has achieved output efficiency rates of 20% using 156mm industrial monocrystalline silicon wafers based on heterojunction technology. The pilot line in Hohenstein-Ernstthal, where the processes are already being scaled up for mass production systems, can also point to superb results. These are due to be presented at the PVSEC conference. “The high level of output efficiency offered by heterojunction technology, combined with its excellent temperature coefficients (>5% additional energy yield per module), address the key cost factors in the photovoltaics market. I am delighted that Roth & Rau has managed to bring this technology from the research stage through to production maturity in such a brief period”, commented Dr. Dietmar Roth, CEO of Roth & Rau AG, with regard to the current progress with the project.
Heterojunction technology is a technology already known of, but which has to date only been put to industrial use by a single company. Heterojunction cells are based on a low-temperature production concept. They are characterised by superb passivation properties, leading to very high output efficiency rates and excellent temperature behaviour. This high-efficiency technology offers Roth & Rau’ customers the possibility of achieving substantial cost savings when investing in expanding their capacities, thus securing Roth & Rau’s market leadership in this attractive production system segment.
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