High-efficiency solar cell growth soars; conversion technology is key

　　So-called high-efficiency solar cells accounted for only 14% of the overall c-Si cell market in 2011. In solar panels, c-Si cells are responsible for converting solar energy into electrical energy. Standard efficiency solar cells using older technology accounted for 86%.

　　However, if the industry adopts any number of conversion technologies to increase the suitability of solar energy, which seems to be the trend in the industry, the share of high-efficiency solar cells could rise rapidly, to 31% in four years. Most high-efficiency solar cell shipments in early 2011 came from California-based SunPower Corp. and Japan's Sanyo Electric, but several other manufacturers are expected to launch their own products within the year.

　　High-efficiency solar cells use advanced conversion technology to increase solar efficiency by 0.3% to 5%. For example, the efficiency of a module is generally 15%, which can be increased to at least 15.3% and to a maximum of 20%.

　　A major obstacle to the adoption of high-efficiency solar cells is their high production costs. If the panel efficiency is increased from 16% to 19%, the price may increase by 10-15%. Over the past two years, conversion efficiency has not been a primary concern as the photovoltaic industry strives to meet strong market demand for existing products. However, as solar prices continue to fall - by at least 25% annually - major module and cell suppliers are realizing that high-efficiency technology may become a key competitive weapon in the future, using it to achieve market differentiation and launch superior products. IHS believes that this strategy can also be used to slow down the decline in PV prices so that manufacturers can obtain reasonable profits.

　　With the support of research laboratories such as ECN and Fraunhofer, equipment manufacturers such as Applied Materials and Manz Automation AG, and battery material suppliers such as DuPont, the risks of adopting high-efficiency technologies are reduced and the cost-effectiveness is improved, and the feasibility of improving conversion efficiency is within the industry. perceptions are improving. DuPont recently acquired Innovalight and its Silicon Ink technology to expand its product portfolio.

　　Generally speaking, conversion technology is to allow more light or a wider spectrum of light to enter while reducing composite losses. Holes and electrons recombine before being extracted, resulting in energy loss. Although most conversion technologies have been around for a long time, and some have been around for one or two decades, it is only now that they are getting real attention and being put into wider commercial applications.

　　The most prominent feature of the new technology is the minimization of front-end metal contacts. While the contacts are important for solar cell operation, they also block light, necessitating conversion technology.

　　A range of solar conversion technologies are currently available, including wide side contacts, heterojunction cells, passivation layers, selective emission technologies, novel light harvesting technologies, small front-end metallization and bifacial cells. There are also technologies in the research and development stage, including hot carrier technology, 3D battery structures, and new energy conversion layers based on rare earth and silicon nanoparticles.

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