French Energy Partners Join IMEC's c-Si Solar Cell Research Program
Total SA, GDF Suez SA and joint subsidiary Photovoltech have joined IMEC's industrial affiliation program (IIAP) on next-generation crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells. The multi-partner R&D program is focused on significantly reducing silicon use in c-Si cells, while also increasing conversion efficiency.
Aaron Hand, Executive Editor -- PV Society, 9/22/2009
IMEC (Leuven, Belgium) has joined forces in a new way with two major energy companies, as well as the solar cell manufacturing subsidiary that the three entities formed jointly. Total SA (Courbevoie, France), GDF Suez SA (Paris) and joint subsidiary Photovoltech (Tienen, Belgium) have joined IMEC's industrial affiliation program (IIAP) on next-generation crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells. The multi-partner R&D program is focused on significantly reducing silicon use in c-Si cells, while also increasing conversion efficiency — both of which will reduce costs.
Photovoltech was launched in late 2001 as a spin-off from IMEC, with most of its financial backing coming from Total and GDF Suez. All three companies will dedicate researchers to the IIAP, combining researchers from energy companies, solar cell manufacturers and material and equipment suppliers with IMEC's solar experts on developing advanced solar manufacturing processes and testing them on a semi-industrial pilot line.
In conjunction with the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference (PVSEC) taking place in Hamburg, Germany, this week, IMEC has made announcements about its latest research successes, including a mechanically stacked multijunction solar cell and a large-area solar cell using copper front metallization and achieving an 18.4% efficiency. In Semiconductor International's September print cover story, IMEC detailed the areas requiring technical breakthroughs in c-Si solar cell manufacturing, and the need for further collaboration.
While Luc Van den Hove, IMEC's president and CEO, noted the importance of the new agreement in terms of growth in the renewable energy market, the company executives pointed to the benefits of gaining access to promising IMEC research. "This agreement with IMEC, a world-class research center and historic partner of our branch Photovoltech, will give us access to promising new technologies for silicon solar cells," said Philippe Boisseau, president of gas and power at Total. "It will strengthen our skills and our scientific and technical commitment in new energies."
Henri Ducré, member of the GDF Suez executive committee in charge of the Energy France business line, said, "This program reinforces our partnership with IMEC and will allow us to develop key competitive positioning in the crystalline silicon solar cells technology."
Johan Nijs, general manager of Photovoltech, pointed out market pricing challenges along with the need to improve electrical, optical and mechanical characteristics of solar cells. "Collaborating with an outstanding R&D center like IMEC offers unique opportunities to meet these challenges," he added.
