Imec, Total Extend Collaboration on Next Generation Silicon Solar Cells

Imec and Total have extended their collaboration to significantly increase the energy output of PV panels.
 
Total joined imec’s industrial affiliation program (IIAP) on next-generation crystalline silicon solar cells in 2009, which is a multi-partner R&D program bringing together companies along the value chain of solar cell manufacturing. Researchers from Total collaborate with the solar R&D team at imec, including imec experts, solar cell manufacturers, material and equipment suppliers and academia.
 
Future R&D will build upon research breakthroughs achieved in the previous collaboration, such as 22.5% large area two-side contacted n-type PERT solar cells. Imec and Total will continue with the development of advanced cell architectures aiming at +23% bifacial n-type cells, novel low-cost module interconnection concepts, smart modules and techniques to more accurately predict the energy production from solar cell modules under varying weather conditions. With this, the partners aim to significantly increase the energy output of PV panels, in this way bringing the cost of electricity from solar further down.