A 24.63% conversion efficiency for a heterojunction (HJT) solar cell based on a standard M2 wafer was achieved by the National Solar Energy Institute (INES) in collaboration with the Enel Green Power renewable energy business of Italian state-owned power company and gas distributor Enel.
“The result was confirmed by the German Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin (ISFH).”
The Italian company said the bifacial cell’s front-side efficiency was raised by around 0.7% using an improved busbar-free screen printing metallization process based on heterojunction processes developed between Enel and INES, using manufacturing equipment provided by Swiss specialist Meyer Burger.
The increase in efficiency was made possible by combining busbarless technology – which enables more light to fall onto the cell surface – and a treatment developed by INES and Enel which further improved cell passivation.
Enel Green Power started production of heterojunction modules at its 3Sun module factory in Catania in October. The 200 MW facility manufactures bifacial solar panels with an output of up to 400 W and efficiency of more than 20.5%. This facility will produces the new product too.
The Japanese company, Kaneka, still holds the record for heterojunction cell efficiency, at 26.7% on a slightly smaller device.
Reference- PV Magazine, Enel online newsroom, Kaneka website