Grouping by bulk resistivity of production-line mono-crystalline silicon wafers and its influence on the manufacturing of solar cells modules

Abstract

Weak light performance of crystalline silicon solar module presents a clear dependence on the type of cell used, mainly wafer resistivity and shunt resistance. This paper shows that a proper wafer and cell classification can provide a further optimization opportunity. This means a well-controlled product fabrication and production line yield improvement without an additional cost. For these reasons a resistivity boron-doped Czochralski silicon (Cz–Si) wafer classification has been implemented as the first stage of a photovoltaic monocrystalline silicon solar cell production line which allows to process solar device batches with similar raw material properties. This new production stage leads to a narrower solar cell efficiency distribution and a tailored power photovoltaic module fabrication. After that, solar cell devices have been sorted by shunt resistance criterion. Their behaviors under weak light conditions have been carefully studied at cell and module levels. Finally, one and two diode models have been used to justify the obtained results.