Heraeus Photovoltaics, Meyer Burger join forces to pave the way for new heterojunction solar cell technologies

Heraeus and Meyer Burger are developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Best Known Methods (BKM) for the heterojunction solar cell production at Meyer Burger.

Heraeus Photovoltaics and Meyer Burger have formed a cooperation to further drive the development of heterojunction (HJT) solar cell technology. With efficiencies above 23 %, heterojunction solar cells are regarded as one of the most promising successor to replace current technologies and are expected to triple their market share in the next ten years. Heraeus Photovoltaics and Meyer Burger will work together to enhance the development of metallization pastes for heterojunction solar cells, which have specific requirements for the metallization since they have to be produced at significantly lower process temperatures than conventional solar cells.

Heraeus will deliver modified low temperature silver pastes on polymer basis, which cure at temperatures below 200°Celsius, while Meyer Burger provides a new HJT pilot production line for performing joint trial runs with Heraeus and Meyer Burger experts. Together they are developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Best Known Methods (BKM) for the heterojunction solar cell production at Meyer Burger.

Common silver pastes used for HJT cells are stored at minus 40°Celsius and need additional time for defrosting. Once defrosted, they can’t be re-used. Heraeus metallization pastes are much more customer and environmentally friendly: The paste can be stored at room temperature, which eradicates the infrastructure for freezers. Also, the waste is eliminated, since opened metallization pastes can easily be re-used again.

The further development of low temperature metallization pastes also results in large efficiency gains of above 0.1%, significant savings in the use of the precious metal silver as well as higher customer satisfaction due to simplified handling of the metallization paste.

“Heraeus Photovoltaics and Meyer Burger are both developing pioneering technologies for the renewable energies industry. Together we will join forces and exchange our expertise to spearhead the development of technologies for high-efficient heterojunction solar cells,” says Andreas Henning, Chief Technology Manager at Heraeus Photovoltaics.

Heraeus exhibits its full range of products and services at the 11th SNEC International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference & Exhibition 2017 in Shanghai.