EFG manufacturing line technical progress and module cost reductions under the PVMaT program

Abstract

The authors describe here the progress made in the Phase 4A2 PVMaT program carried out at ASE Americas on technology improvements for module manufacturing cost reductions of edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG) wafer-based photovoltaic products. This work is directed at tasks necessary for cost effective scaling up of EFG technology from the current 4 MW and toward meeting long term high volume manufacturing goals and cost targets of around $1/W. Current PVMaT program objectives are to lower costs through: yield improvements in crystal growth and laser cutting; reduction of EFG solar cell thickness from 300 to 250 microns; raising of the average cell efficiency from 13.5% to 15% through manufacturing line improvements and new technology introduction; reduction of environmental waste in cell processing; and simplification of processes and reduction of costs in the cell interconnect and module assembly area. The authors discuss in detail the cost reductions achieved to date.