Maxwell, SunDrive claim HJT cell 'innovation' after recording 26.07% performance in mass production setting

• Heterojunction (HJT) devices producer Maxwell Technologies and also Australian solar innovation startup SunDrive have actually claimed a breakthrough in mass production HJT technology after recording a conversion effectiveness of 26.07% with a commercial-size solar PV cell.

The firms stated the result "shows the future possibility for HJT solar cell performances going beyond 26% in mass production".

Checking a M6 (274.3 cm ²) cell, the trial has actually been formally confirmed by German's Institute for Solar Energy Research (ISFH).

The two firms recorded a conversion effectiveness of 25.54% in September last year and also 25.05% throughout testing in May. They claimed the latest result was down to renovations in open-circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current (Isc) as well as fill element (FF).

They took on Maxwell's latest generation chemical vapor deposition (CVD) tools for microcrystalline silicon layer deposition and also a physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating process to create high wheelchair clear performing oxide (TCO) layers.

Maxwell stated it believes HJT will be the "essential technology for the sustainable future of the PV sector" and that the mass production performance of HJT cells could be enhanced better with a repetitive upgrading process.

The two parties stated they would continue to collaborate on discovering even more services for the HJT industry in the fields of microcrystalline, TCO, metallisation as well as module interconnection.