»High-throughput technology« doubles process speed for contacting PERC solar cells

The Freiburg, Germany-based Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is presenting a newly developed system for laser processing of wafers for solar cell production at the »Laser World of Photonics 2022« trade fair in Munich, which opened on Thursday (April 26). The technology is said to enable the local opening of insulating layers for contacting PERC (passivated emitter and rear contact) solar cells, even for large cell formats with an edge length of 210 millimeters (M12/G12), with a throughput of up to 15,000 wafers per hour. According to Fraunhofer ISE, current systems can process such large formats in particular only with limitations and with not even half the throughput, which is why they represent a limiting factor in production.
The system, which is based on the »polygon scan« technology of the project partner Moewe Optical Solutions GmbH, positions the laser extremely quickly and thus enables processing »on the fly«, i.e. while the wafers move under the laser scanner at high speed. PERC cells processed with a demonstrator system have »the same high efficiency as cells produced according to current industry standards,« Fraunhofer ISE says without naming specific figures.
Fabian Meyer, team leader of Laser System Development at Fraunhofer ISE, sees considerable potential in the »high-throughput technology«: The concept is »a groundbreaking development for the improvement of structuring processes in the photovoltaic production chain« and makes »an important contribution to increasing productivity and reducing costs«.
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