Cluster
SMARTIES cluster
Advanced crystalline silicon technology Cluster
The the projects funded under the Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL5-2023-D3-02-11 call formed the SMARTIES cluster (Sustainable Materials And Research Towards Innovative Engineering Solutions for Silicon Solar Cells). The sister projects are commited to collaborate on all possible levels, i.e. via their respective websites, their newsletters, social media accounts and promoting key events. Mutual event participation, joint event organisation, and regular meetings are encouraged as well as sharing information on different channels to foster an synergistic and supportive community.
TERASUN
Towards Terawatt Production of c-Si Solar Photovoltaics
Contact person + Email address
Johannes Seif, IDENER – Project Coordinator
johannes.seif@idener.ai
BURST
Breaking Limits Using Record Enabling Silicon Technology With Photonic Management
Contact person + Email address
Udo Römer, ISFH – Project Coordinator
u.roemer@isfh.de
Project Information
The BURST project aims to enhance the power conversion efficiency of interdigitated back-contact (IBC) c-Si technology by achieving efficiencies of at least 26% with thin cells and 27% with thick cells, without relying on critical materials like indium or silver. The project focuses on advanced light management, superior passivation schemes, and Ag-free metallization to maximize light absorption and prevent recombination. The high-efficiency BURST cells will be assembled into mini-modules, with detailed analysis of costs, environmental impact, supply security, and circularity to demonstrate the technology's advantages in relevant environments.
SiLEAN
Silicon solar cells with Low Environmental footprint and Advanced interfaces
Contact person + Email address
Karsten Bittkau – Project Coordinator
k.bittkau@fz-juelich.de
Project Information
To meet the growing energy demand, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower electricity costs, highly efficient and cost-effective photovoltaic (PV) technologies with low carbon footprints are essential. SiLEAN is a 3-year project addressing key challenges such as the high energy and material requirements for Si wafer manufacturing, limited current generation, and the use of scarce materials like silver, bismuth, and indium. In the project, a lean process chain will be developed for the next generation of silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells. Our strategy involves utilizing epitaxially-grown wafers that require less energy, developing alternatives to the highly absorptive hydrogenated amorphous silicon for passivation and carrier-selective contacts, creating indium-free contact layers and silver-free metallization concepts, and implementing bismuth-free interconnection methods. Our goal is to achieve solar cell efficiencies greater than 25.5% and module efficiencies over 23.5%, while reducing Si wafer and contacting costs by 50% and lowering the carbon footprint by up to 75%.