The project, begun on September 1, is intended enhance performance and decrease costs of thin-film silicon modules within the next three years.
“I am very pleased that Oerlikon Solar's research efforts are being recognized through this project selected for a FP7 grant by the DG Energy of the European Commission,” said Dr. Juerg Henz, CEO of the Trubbach (Switzerland)-based company.
“Driving down costs while raising the efficiency is key to economically viable solar power. With this impressive consortium of experienced research and industry leaders we will continue our path in making thin film silicon the competitive, clean and sustainable energy source of tomorrow,” he said.
The goal of the project is to demonstrate high performance processes and equipment for thin film silicon PV modules produced with lower costs, reduced material use, and an even improved environmental-friendly production process.
The project tackles the major influences on Micromorph® module efficiency and production cost by assessing the influences of glass, gas, transparent conductive oxide (TCO) and silicon deposition as part of the production process.
In addition to Oerlikon Solar, other participants in the research are the Photovoltaics Laboratory of the Institute of Microengineering at EPFL IMT-Neuchâtel (Switzerland), the Universities of Northumbria (UK) and Patras (Greece), Bosch Solar Thin Film (Germany), Heliosphera (Greece) and Linde (Germany).
According to a written statement from Oerlikon Solar, having industry and university partners as part of the project transfers new developments and improvements directly into production plants where the full impact on module efficiency and costs can be evaluated.
Achieving the goals of this project will further increase the competitiveness of thin film silicon Micromorph® technology not only compared to other photovoltaic technologies but also with other energy generating technologies, the company said.
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