* SCHMID to offer production equipment for PERC solar cells
* Efficiency of over 20 percent possible immediately
* Standard production lines can be retrofitted easily
SCHOTT Solar AG is licensing its technique for manufacturing so-called PERC solar cells to SCHMID Group. The PV equipment manufacturer from Freudenstadt, Germany, will then be able to offer production equipment for high-performance cells on the basis of PERC technology very shortly. This equipment allows manufacturers to immediately achieve cell efficiency of over 20 percent. Both companies signed a licensing agreement today at the industry exhibition Intersolar Europe in Munich.
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PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact) is a technique on backside passivation of crystalline silicon solar cells that SCHOTT Solar has further developed for use in industrial mass manufacturing. Improvement of the backside alone can already increase efficiency by a full percentage point. Existing manufacturing lines can be retrofitted with SCHOTT Solar’s PERC technology rather easily. The technique can be applied to various types of wafer materials like mono and polycrystalline, and also quasimono. It can also be combined with high-efficiency technologies for the front sides of cells to open up even greater potential for further increases in efficiency. These also include the advanced metallization techniques and selective emitter technologies that SCHMID Group offers.
SCHOTT Solar is one of the very few solar companies on the market that are in a position to offer the PERC technology. SCHOTT Solar had already introduced a monocrystalline screen printed cell that achieved record efficiency of 20.2 percent on the basis of PERC in the fall of 2011. As part of a very fruitful collaboration, the well-established selective emitter technology that SCHMID markets was combined with SCHOTT Solar’s PERC technology. This cell was manufactured using only industrially tested techniques. The Fraunhofer ISE in Freiburg confirmed this value by performing independent tests in August 2011. In addition, by working together closely with several other manufacturers, SCHOTT Solar was able to demonstrate an increase in efficiency with PERC in a variety of different cell types.
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SCHOTT Solar is an international supplier of high quality solar technology. The company‘s corporate headquarters are in Mainz, Germany. SCHOTT Solar is divided into two areas. In the area of Photovoltaics, SCHOTT Solar focuses on manufacturing and marketing premium quality solar modules, and also project business with large photovoltaic installations. In the area of Concentrated Solar Power, the company manufactures receivers for parabolic trough solar power plants and ranks as the world’s market and technology leader. Customers, partners and financiers appreciate the products SCHOTT Solar offers for their high quality and durability. This can be attributed to company’s experience since 1958, intensive R&D work and tests that are often considered to be twice as rigid as the industry standard. With manufacturing facilities in Europe, the United States and Asia, SCHOTT Solar is able to respond to key markets in a flexible manner. Furthermore, SCHOTT Solar maintains a local sales presence in all of the world’s most important solar markets. Here, the company greatly benefits from the international network of its parent company, SCHOTT AG. In the fiscal year 2010/2011, the SCHOTT Group of approximately 17,000 employees generated global sales of 2.9 billion euros.
About SCHMID Group
SCHMID Group provides highly efficient system and process solutions for the entire solar wafers, cells and modules supply chain. Starting with the single machine right up to the turnkey factory, including guaranteed performance parameters, such as production capacity and degree of efficiency. Innovative process technologies are developed in own technology centers in partnership with universities and research facilities and are made ready for the market.
