Waking a Sleeping Giant: Commercial PV Systems ( in German)

European research institutes are leaders in solar cell research, as evidenced by impressive results in TOPCon, SHJ, and IBC cells. Promising laboratory results paint a bright future for the technological development, with the next frontier involving the integration of clean room technologies into production lines. Additionally, innovative approaches by forward-thinking companies aim to conserve resources, such as silicon, silver, and process consumables, through consumption reduction or the use of alternative materials and processes. This session brings together pioneering approaches, alongside steady and robust R&D development on the journey from lab to fab. Solar device development is high-tech.

Quality assurance in wafer, cell, and module production hinges on efficient characterization processes. Precise measurements and identification of defective products are crucial for cost savings. Characterization enhances throughput and facilitate sorting based on performance metrics, making advancements in software and automation solutions imperative. Machine learning and digitalization play key roles in bolstering the robustness and efficiency of production lines and are widely adopted within the industry. In this session, companies will provide the latest advancements in the realm, while others will showcase how they track the quality of their products. The topic of quality assurance through tracked metrology will be discussed.

The rapid growth of photovoltaic (PV) technology has led to significant advancements in renewable energy production. However, with this growth comes the challenge of managing the end-of-life of PV panels and ensuring the circularity of materials. Current PV modules on the market are not designed for circularity (meaning easy to disassemble, repair, refurbish, and recycle). They cannot be "re-opened" and the only way for recycling is through destructive processes such as shredding. The irreversible design severely limits repair/ refurbish potentials, as well as the recovery of valuable materials. Despite the advancements in technological research, there is currently a clear lack of business incentives for manufacturers to implement design-for-circularity. This session aims to explore strategies and innovations in PV circularity, focusing on PV module design for circularity and the state-of-art PV recycling solutions.