Zebra IBC cell with 24% efficiency transfers to large-scale production

• Netherlands based supplier Energyra today presented a brand-new back get in touch with module, which it has actually created in partnership with Dutch study institute TNO and also Germany's ISC Konstanz. A prototype module was unveiled the other day in a small discussion at Energyra's factory in Zaandam, Netherlands. The company is targeting large-scale production by the end of 2020.

Thus far, 2020 has actually seen lots of buzz and also positive outlook pertaining to PV manufacturing's go back to the European continent. Numerous jobs are in various phases of advancement, guaranteeing to bring gigawatts of PV module making capability, as well as cells and various other parts, to Europe over the coming years.

With a news yesterday specifying it intends to begin large-scale production by the end of this year, the IconIQ-Greenfab consortium could be among the first to take off. The consortium consists of Dutch module supplier Energyra, working together with study institutes TNO and also ISC Konstanz.

Energyra has formerly battled to obtain producing up and running at its 100 MW center in Zaandam. The company stated bankruptcy in April 2019, mentioning postponed delivery of manufacturing facility devices and also a scarcity of working capital. However, with renewed rate of interest in European production this year, together with a distinct 'high end' product offering the business is persuaded it can be effective this time around around. "The IconIQ solar panel incorporates 2 top quality innovations, and provides lots of advantages, such as lead-free, solder-free calling as well as substantially boosted effectiveness," claims Energyra Europe's Daniël Kuijk. "Our panel is not just lead-free yet additionally without fluorine and also polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS), which is not the instance for mainstream solar panels. To attain something like this, you require the entire worth chain."

The consortium wants to see a quick scale-up of production activities in Europe, approximating that an annual quantity of 5 GW would be required to make the industry cost-competitive with modules imported from Asia. They better note that such a growth can produce 15,000 jobs in PV and also related sectors, as well as substantially lowering the carbon footprint of the modules by decreasing long-distance transport in the supply chain.

" This special solar panel by Energyra as well as its partners offers a substantial opportunity to the EU's innovative production market and also its providers," commented Gaëtan Masson, co-chair of the European Solar Manufacturing Council, who spoke at the launch event in Zaandam. "It will likewise lessen the reliance of the EU on Asian imports, which has actually suffered significantly in the COVID dilemma."

Back get in touch with

The IconIQ module is based on ZEBRA interdigitated back call (IBC) cells, an idea created by ISC Konstanz aimed at lowering production expense for high efficiency back get in touch with technologies. The cells have been revealed to get to 24% in manufacturing, as well as while they still most likely price a little bit more than standard silicon PERC modules they supply additional benefits in operation.

" Back-contact innovation can come to be mainstream for rooftop, building assimilation as well as for product assimilation, as there are a number of benefits that plainly overcompensate the past draw-backs," commented ISC Konstanz's Radovan Kopecek. "One of the major draw-backs has actually been the higher cost of IBC innovation, which we have resolved now with our very effective, low-cost ZEBRA cell modern technology. Allow ´ s begin high volume PV production in the EU with integrating the very best modern technologies of EU ´ s leading institutes in the future."