Low-cost multicrystalline silicon solar modules with 16% encapsulated cell efficiency

A production process for multicrystalline silicon solar cells has been developed. The technology, involving screen printing and large volume batch processing, is simple and contains cost-effective processing steps. A module consisting of 36 cells, each 100 cm/sup 2/ area, generates a peak power of 56.5 W under standard test conditions (global AM 1.5, 25/spl deg/C, 1000 W/m/sup 2/). This corresponds to an encapsulated cell efficiency of 15.7%. The cell to cell standard deviation is less than 0.3%. Key factors in reaching these high efficiencies are embedded in cell processing and module fabrication. The cell processing employs bulk passivation, gettering, selective emitter surface passivation, reduced metal coverage and improved optical matching of cell and module. The module is fabricated with improved module lay-up and interconnection geometry.