What is a photovoltaic (PV) solar cell?

Central to this solar revolution are Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells, experiencing a meteoric rise in both demand and importance. For professionals in the field, a deep understanding of the manufacturing process of these cells is more than just theoretical knowledge.

How does solar manufacturing work?

How Does Solar Work? Solar manufacturing encompasses the production of products and materials across the solar value chain. While some concentrating solar-thermal manufacturing exists, most solar manufacturing in the United States is related to photovoltaic (PV) systems.

How are PV solar cells made?

The manufacturing process of PV solar cells necessitates specialized equipment, each contributing significantly to the final product’s quality and efficiency: Silicon Ingot and Wafer Manufacturing Tools: These transform raw silicon into crystalline ingots and then slice them into thin wafers, forming the substrate of the solar cells.

How is the solar PV industry changing?

The solar PV industry is changing rapidly, with innovations occurring along the entire value chain. In recent years, a major driver for innovation has been the push for higher efficiency (Green, 2019).

How bifacial architecture can be used to produce HJT solar panels?

Project partners created a new assembly line of monocrystalline cells for the production of the panels with bifacial architecture. They installed a new production line for HJT cells. The newly-fabricated HJT solar modules are expected to enhance electricity production capacity by 15 % compared with the PV market mainstream technologies.

What percentage of the solar PV market is based on thin-film technology?

Currently, thin-film technology accounts for only 5% of the global solar PV market, while silicon-based solar modules still hold approximately 95% of the global PV module market (GlobalData, 2018).