| [March 08, 2017] |
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1366 Technologies Achieves 19.9% Efficiency Using Direct Wafer® and Hanwha Q CELLS Q.ANTUM Cell Technologies
Silicon wafer manufacturer 1366
Technologies today announced a new performance record for its Direct
Wafer® technology with the achievement of 19.9% cell efficiency through
1366's ongoing technical partnership with Hanwha Q CELLS. The result,
which was independently confirmed by the Fraunhofer (News - Alert) ISE CalLab, clearly
demonstrates the rapid efficiency gains that are possible with 1366's
kerfless, drop-in 156 mm multicrystalline wafers and Hanwha Q CELLS
Q.ANTUM passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) cell process.
"Our efficiency is improving at a rate that's nearly double that of the
rest of the industry. Late last year, we exceeded the cell efficiency of
the high-performance multi (HPM) reference group in a head-to-head
comparison, and we continue to make progress. This latest milestone
demonstrates the rapid gains still possible with our Direct Wafer
process because our technology is not limited by the inherent weaknesses
of ingot-based wafer manufacturing," said Frank van Mierlo, CEO, 1366
Technologies.
1366's technical roadmap now shows a clear path to cell efficiencies
significantly higher than sawn HPM, making Direct Wafer products
superior for both their cost and technical advantages. These higher
efficiencies are possible because of the intrinsic benefits of 1366's
manufacturing process, which include:
-
A high-purity growth environment: Hot
zone materials in the Direct Wafer process are much cleaner than slip
cast crucibles and coatings used in directional-solidified ingots.
Further, ingots are held near their melting point for more than one
day allowing significant in-diffusion from the dirtier materials. With
a wafer growth process that limits in-diffusion to just a few seconds
and stable efficiency ove growth periods greater than four weeks,
1366's technology eliminates impurity build-ups that reduce wafer
performance.
-
A better microstructure: The
multicrystalline growth process is known for creating dislocation
clusters in the ingot that dramatically impact wafer quality. Because
the Direct Wafer process grows a wafer one at a time, under the same
conditions, dislocation clusters are avoided to create a more uniform
wafer with better passivation, boosting efficiency.
-
A doping gradient: The ability to modify
dopant concentration between the front and back of a wafer creates a
powerful tool - a doping gradient - that enables more efficient
collection of electrons and a boost in efficiency. The feature is only
possible using Direct Wafer technology - there is no cost-effective
way to manipulate dopant concentration with standard sawn wafers
(multi or mono).
1366 Technologies' Direct Wafer Technology
1366
Technologies' Direct Wafer process forms multicrystalline wafers
directly from molten silicon instead of today's multi-step, energy- and
capital-intensive process. The result is a uniformly better wafer,
created at one-half the cost. The technology also has the enormous
benefit of being a "drop-in" replacement for the majority of the
photovoltaics market, making it seamless for cell and panel
manufacturers to readily adopt the technology without adding a single
new piece of equipment.
ABOUT 1366 TECHNOLOGIES
1366
Technologies aims to deliver solar at the cost of coal. The company
combines breakthrough technology innovations with lean manufacturing
processes to make a new class of silicon wafers, the building blocks of
solar cells, at a fraction of today's cost. Developed by a veteran team
of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs, the company's novel approach
breaks the historic efficiency and cost tradeoffs of photovoltaics. 1366
Technologies is headquartered in Bedford, MA. For more information,
please visit www.1366tech.com.
ABOUT Hanwha Q CELLS
Hanwha Q
CELLS Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:HQCL) is one of the world´s largest and most
recognized photovoltaic manufacturers for its high-performance,
high-quality solar cells and modules. It is headquartered in Seoul,
South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology &
Innovation HQ) with its diverse international manufacturing facilities
in Malaysia and China. Hanwha Q CELLS offers the full spectrum of
photovoltaic products, applications and solutions, from modules to kits
to systems to large scale solar power plants. Through its growing global
business network spanning Europe, North America, Asia, South America,
Africa and the Middle East, the company provides excellent services and
long-term partnership to its customers in the utility, commercial,
government and residential markets. Hanwha Q CELLS is a flagship company
of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 firm and a Top 10 business
enterprise in South Korea. For more information, visit: http://www.hanwha-qcells.com/.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170308005330/en/
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