SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES (SINGULUS) received an order for one SINGULAR PECVD tool for silicon wafer solar cell fabrication from the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS). SINGULAR is a coating tool for the application of anti-reflection coatings (ARCs) on crystalline silicon solar cells.
To reduce the cost of PV electricity and to obtain continuous improvements with respect to efficiency and/or manufacturing cost of PV modules, SERIS operates pilot lines for both silicon wafer solar cells and silicon thin-film solar cells. The SINGULAR is part of a multi-million dollar project headed by SERIS focusing on silicon wafer heterojunction solar cells and their mass production. The R&D project is jointly funded by the National Research Foundation of Singapore (NRF) and several international partners, namely SERIS and SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES including more international partner companies. The consortium brings together partners spanning from wafer, equipment and materials suppliers to device and module manufacturers.
Dr Ing. Stefan Rinck, CEO, SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG said: “SERIS is one of the leading solar research institutes in Asia, and SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES is proud to collaborate with Dr Thomas Mueller and his team on the heterojunction solar cell project. We believe that this project will see the successful commercialization of a technology based on our SINGULAR ICP-PECVD coating tool for antireflection coatings for new crystalline silicon solar cells, which will reduce the cost of solar cell production and make solar PV a cost-effective alternative source of energy.”
The SINGULAR tool already has demonstrated capabilities for silicon nitride ARCs, achieving excellent efficiencies and color uniformity for current solar cell technologies. In the SERIS project, these capabilities will be expanded to the deposition of active layers for heterojunction silicon wafer solar cells. The key of the tool is the PECVD inductively coupled plasma. The inductively coupled plasma excitation allows ideal control over film composition and density at high deposition rates.
The innovative tool concept is based on static inline production which combines the advantages of inline substrate transport and static processing. It allows coating of complex layers, like layer stacks or gradients by keeping a continuous substrate flow. The process variability, the small tool foot print and high reliability guarantee high cell efficiencies, excellent total cost of ownership and high uptime.
Background: Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore
SERIS is Singapore’s national institute for applied solar energy research. SERIS conducts industry-oriented research and development as well as use-inspired basic research in the field of solar energy conversion. The institute collaborates closely with industry. The mission of SERIS is to conduct research and development for a sustainable energy supply based on solar resources. The focus is on the development of materials, components, processes and systems for photovoltaic electricity generation and energy efficient buildings.
SERIS is globally active but focuses on technologies and services for tropical regions, in particular for Singapore, South and South-East Asia.
SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
SERIS is sponsored by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
Company Profile SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES continues to expand its activities in the segments Solar and Optical Disc. The goal is to attain a leading position in the silicon and thin-film solar technology as a machine supplier as well as a development partner for new cell concepts and to further extend the technologic leadership in the Optical Disc segment. In the past couple of months SINGULUS has noticed increased activities in the area of MRAM memory by large semiconductor companies. SINGULUS expects that the development of MRAM memory will be further progressing. SINGULUS’ vacuum coating machine TIMARIS is already being utilized by customers to research MRAM wafers. SINGULUS considers itself to be in an exceptional starting position for the upcoming growth market of MRAM memory.
In addition, the company reviews other sectors and work areas, where new market segments can be developed on the basis of the present know-how in the area of vacuum coating.
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstrasse 103,
D-63796 Kahl/Main, Germany,
Contact:
Maren Schuster, Investor Relations, Tel.: + 49 (0) 6188 440 612,
Bernhard Krause, Corporate Communications, Tel.: + 49 (0) 6181 98280 20 / +49 (0) 170 9202924
