The strategic cooperation between the two technology leaders ROFIN-BAASEL Lasertech GmbH & Co. KG and centrotherm photovoltaics AG is proving worthwhile in the selective emitter technology area: Dongfang Magi Solar, a Chinese customer of centrotherm photovoltaics, is achieving an average efficiency of more than 18.5 percent, and charges of up to 18.7 percent, through the deployment of the recently installed upgrade package entailing a laser-based selective emitter. These cell efficiencies are significantly above the levels of around 18 percent that are otherwise standard on the market.
“Our cooperation with ROFIN is proving very fruitful. Deployment of the ROFIN laser, which requires only minor additional investment costs, significantly improves solar cells’ efficiency”, was how Dr. Peter Fath, CTO of centrotherm photovoltaics AG, commented on the strategic cooperation that has existed since September 2009. “This reduces manufacturing costs per watt peak, and allows our customers to extend their cost leadership.” Very low consumption costs for laser technology comprise a further advantage. For this year, centrotherm photovoltaics anticipates that selective emitter technology will hold a sales potential in the double-digit area in millions of euros.
centrotherm photovoltaics has meanwhile proved higher efficiencies in mass production through upgrades at further cell manufacturers. The selective emitter is currently being retrofitted at several Asian customers. In addition, turnkey projects for production lines for mono- and multi-crystalline (“Si”) silicon solar cells with selective emitter technology have been successfully concluded. Several millions of highly efficient selective emitter solar cells have already been manufactured in ongoing three-shift production.
