Pilot production of concentrator silicon solar cells: Approaching industrialization

Using a simple process, high-efficiency silicon concentrator solar cells have proved to achieve up to 21% efficiency at 100×. The purpose of this work is to prove the feasibility of their industrialisation by setting up a pilot line and manufacturing a significant number of cells for a 100× concentrator system. The process has been successfully verified by modifying the antireflection coating, the annealing process and the back contact. This yielded an average efficiency of 18.5% at 100× with 70% of cells having an efficiency >18% and costs ranging from 0.31 to 0.41 €/W. A fast learning curve is shown which suggests optimistic results indeed for further industrialisation.