Guy Beaucarne

Improved spectral response of silicone encapsulanted photovoltaic modules

In this work the benefit of using optically superior silicone encapsulant materials over the incumbent ethylene vinyl acetate is demonstrated. Optical characterization of the two materials demonstrates improved transmission in the UV region of the solar spectrum. Single cell mini-modules were prepared using two different manufacturers of screen printed textured monocrystalline Si PV cells. Spectral response measurements demonstrate a 0.74–1.03% relative increase in short circuit current density when silicones are used rather than ethylene vinyl acetate, clearly in the region of improved UV transparency. IV measurements demonstrate a 0.31–1.45% improvement in current for silicone.

Editorial to the Proceedings of the 6th Workshop on Metallization and Interconnection for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

For the sixth time experts and specialists from all over the world discussed the latest status, trends and new directions in the field of metallization and interconnection for crystalline silicon solar cells on May, 2 and 3, 2016, in Constance, Germany. The first Workshop on Metallization for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells was held in 2008 in Utrecht, The Netherlands to provide a forum for metallization specialists worldwide. With workshops in Constance, Germany, 2010 and Charleroi, Belgium, 2011, and again Constance in 2013, 2014 and 2016, the Metallization Workshop is now established as a forum with valuable contributions on various metallization and interconnection topics. About 145 participants from all over the world came to discuss the results of 31 presentations. The presentations are available on www.metallizationworkshop.info as pdf documents. These proceedings contain peer-reviewed papers relating to some of the workshop contributions. During the Workshop, the participants filled in a questionnaire about their views on the future of metallization and interconnection, and the results of that survey are also given in these proceedings.

Using a Monte-Carlo model to identify best filler arrangement in thermally conductive materials

A 2D Monte-Carlo model was built to calculate the probability of paths creation between the two interfaces of a TC material via direct contact between filler particles. This model allowed studying the impact of the filler size with respect to the distance between the two interfaces on the probability of direct TC paths creation. Calculation is carried-out considering one single filler size and the mixture of two fillers of different dimensions. We demonstrate that at low degree of filler loading, it is preferable to use large size filler compared to the volume to fill; when increasing filler loading, the trend reverses and it becomes beneficial to use smaller size filler for increasing probability of path creation. In case of two fillers of different dimensions, an optimum fraction of large size filler exists that depends on the filler loading level: at low filling level, the optimum corresponds to a high fraction of large size particles, this optimum displacing towards a lower fraction of large size filler when the filling level increases.

Investigation of the effect of compensation ratio (R C ) on solar cells fabricated with solar grade (SoG) czochralski silicon

Fabrication and characterization of monocrystalline silicon (Si) solar cells was performed on wafers containing compensated solar grade Si. The wafers used in these experiments were sawn from ingots grown with different compensation ratios. Efficiencies in the range of 17.0–17.8% were obtained from all the different groups of wafers. Efficiency was observed to decrease as compensation ratio increased. After processing, wafers were put under light to observe the effects of light induced degradation (LID). Degradation was seen on all cells, with the greatest impact on wafers with the highest compensation ratio (between 0.5–1% absolute drop in efficiency). Finally, processed wafers were selected from some groups to measure the bulk lifetime. The trend in bulk lifetime follows the trend in efficiency.