News
CrystalClear consortium sends out press
release
(November 2006)
The CrystalClear consortium has sent out a press release to
draw attention to some key results of its research. The text of the
release is quoted below.
European consortium develops efficient, clean and low-cost
solar cells
A European consortium of companies and research groups has boosted
the efficiency of silicon solar cells, proven the sustainability of
solar electricity and defined clear ways to low cost.
Within the framework of CrystalClear, a large European project
on the development of low-cost, highly efficient silicon solar
modules, a consortium of companies and research groups has reached
important milestones. Together with another European project,
Topsicle, researchers increased the conversion efficiency of
large-area multicrystalline silicon solar cells to a record value
of 18%. In parallel, the consortium developed a process for
manufacturing of extremely thin solar cells, allowing very
efficient use of the high-purity silicon starting material. On
large area multicrystalline silicon wafers of only 150 micrometer
(0.15 mm) thickness a conversion efficiency over 16% was
demonstrated, while monocrystalline silicon cells of 130 micrometer
showed 17.6%. Cell processing was done using industry-compatible
processes. High efficiency values are particularly important
because efficiency is a key parameter to lower the manufacturing
costs of solar modules. Materials and process equipment represent
important cost components in the final product. Efficient cells and
modules require less material per unit of electrical product power
and the throughput of process equipment is effectively increased,
thus contributing to cost reduction. The use of very thin silicon
wafers is another effective way to reduce materials cost,
especially when combined with a high efficiency.
The consortium has performed detailed cost calculations showing
that the technologies now successfully under development may be
produced at around 1 € per watt of module power, which is about
half of today's cost. Condition is that manufacturing is done in
large volumes. The consortium has also prepared a technology
roadmap that outlines all the necessary steps still to be taken to
arrive at this 1 € per watt cost level. The results underline the
vitality and potential for low cost of the crystalline silicon
technology, which currently has a market share of over 90% and
appears to be ready for the future.
Last but not least, CrystalClear has carefully analyzed the
environmental impact of solar modules and complete systems as they
are installed today. In contrast to a persistent misunderstanding,
today's solar electricity systems have a so-called energy payback
time (the time needed to generate the energy that was consumed for
manufacturing and installation) of only 2 years in Southern Europe
and 3 to 3.5 years in more northern parts. Moreover, the
researchers showed that there is a concrete potential for further
shortening by a factor 2. This energy payback time has to be
compared with a technical lifetime of 25 years or more, which means
that solar electricity is highly sustainable and indeed effective
to reduce CO2-emissions.
Activity Report 2005 and Implementation Plan months
25-42 submitted to the EC
(February 2006)
The Periodic Activity Report of 2005 and the Implementation
Plan for months 25-42 have been submitted to the European
Commission. A re-organization in Subproject 4, dealing with solar
cells, was essential to put focus on the research fields with the
highest potential for obtaining the expected aims of cost
reduction. Furthermore, a first draft of the CrystalClear
technology roadmap has been made available.
At the beginning of the 3rd year of this project the expectations
are high for obtaining important results. Because the consortium
needs to gradually focus on the most promising options for further
development in the second half of the project it is important to
provide "proofs of principle" that facilitate prioritization and
selection.
Third General Assembly meeting was held in Madrid,
Spain
(February 2006)
The General Assembly of 2006 was held on the 2nd and 3rd of
February in Madrid, Spain. UPM hosted this event where over 50
delegates representing the 16 CrystalClear partners as well as 3
representatives of the European Commission were present. Research
results of the last year were presented and discussed and the plan
for the coming 18 months was outlined. A visit to the
Thyssen-Bornemisza museum as part of a team-building activity was
scheduled in between the meetings of the first and the second
day.
Timing of this General Assembly meeting was chosen such that it
would allow a discussion on the draft Periodic Report on 2005 and
the Implementation Plan for the next 18 months, both due on the
14th of February. All participants would like to thank Carlos del
Cañizo of UPM for the fantastic organization of our 3rd annual
meeting.
Workshop on the fundamentals of a-SiNx: H in industrial
solar cell processing organised by CrystalClear
(November 2005)
IMEC hosted this workshop on the 3rd of November in Leuven,
Belgium. With around 85 participants from all over the world this
workshop was intended to exchange knowledge and insights on the
passivating properties of amorphous hydrogenated silicon nitride
(a-SiNx:H). The 3 subjects of discussion were the different
deposition systems with their corresponding processes, bulk
passivation of silicon and surface passivation. As the large number
of participants showed, this is a topic of high interest and an
important research field, in CrystalClear as well as the rest of
the crystalline silicon PV community.
Positive reactions on CrystalClear presentation at
the 20st EU PVSEC in Barcelona (SP)
(June 2005)
Wim Sinke, project coordinator of the CrystalClear project had
the opportunity to present the CrystalClear project to a large
audience of experts present at the Twentieth European Photovoltaic
Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Barcelona (6-10 June
2005). A large number of interested experts attended the
presentation and was able to take the new CrystalClear project
brochure home.
Management reports on 2004 and detailed
18M impl. plan for months 13-30 submitted to
EC(May 2005)
The final versions of the Periodic Activity Report on
2004, the Periodic Management Report on 2004 and the new
detailed 18 months implementation for month 13-30, plan have been
submitted to the European Commission. It has been a very
intensive process but we expect to have learned enough to
be able to improve our internal reporting and re-planning
process for the next reporting period.
1st project results presented at 2nd General
Assembly meeting at FhG ISE, Freiburg
(DE)(February 2005)
The second General Assembly meeting, hosted by the Fraunhofer ISE
institute in Freiburg, Germany, was helt on 3 and 4 February 2005.
The Project Management Office, together with the Sub Project
Leaders and Team Leaders worked very hard to be able to
present the first results of the project to the General Assembly.
The two day event provided a very clear overview of the current
status of the project with presentations and discussion
on the 2004 project results on the first day and a
presentation of the financial status of the project after 12
months on the second day. As a special closing event
Fraunhofer ISE organised a very interesting tour through its
laboratories. Fraunhofer ISE, thank you very much for your
hospitality!
Succesfull CrystalClear integration workshop hosted
by RWE Schott Solar, Alzenau (DE)(October
2004)
On the 11th and 12th of October 2004
a workshop on project integration was held at RWE Schott Solar
in Alzenau, Germany. The workshop was structured to optimize
discussion and debate and was thus restricted to around 20
participants, with at least two delegates from each work
package.The workshop included presentations and discussions
about: the current status of thecost modeling activity (Carlos
del Cañizo, UPM), Life Cycle Analysis in PV technology (Erik
Alsema, UU), the current status of the Technology Road
Mapping activity (Nigel Mason, BP Solar/ Wim Sinke, ECN),
the Gender Action plan (Wim Sinke, ECN), t he
CrystalClear website (Wijnand van Hooff, ECN), the EPIA
Roadmap (Dr W Hoffmann, RWESS) and the current status of research
work in the different Sub Projects (Sub Project Leaders). The
f eedback from this meeting was very positive and it was felt that
such a workshop should be an annual event within the
CrystalClear project. RWE Schott Solar, thank you very much for
your hospitality!
Official project kick-off celebrated at the first
General Assembly meeting in Bergen (NL)(March
2004)
The official project kick-off meeting, combined with
the first General Assembly meeting, was helt on 4 and 5 March
2004 in Bergen, The Netherlands. All project partners were
represented with one or more representatives. Together with
the 3 representatives of the European Commission, a
EC assessor and a representative from the Senter/ EG-Liaison;
57 people participated in the discussions. Most prominent decisions
taken in this meeting were:
- Formal approval of the next General Assembly meeting
dates and locations
- Formal appointment of the Sub Project Leaders
- Formal approval of a basic design for the CrystalClear
logo
- Formal confirmation of the 'team leaders' (= authorised
contact persons for the project)
