NextBase · Project

Ultra-High-Efficiency Solar Cells and Modules at Lower Manufacturing Cost

energyTestedTRL 6

Imagine solar panels where all the wiring is hidden on the back, so the entire front surface just soaks up sunlight — no metal strips blocking the light. NextBase pushed this design to over 26% efficiency, meaning more electricity from the same rooftop area. They also figured out how to manufacture these premium cells faster and cheaper, targeting costs below 0.35 euros per watt — bringing what was once a lab curiosity closer to a factory production line.

By the numbers

>26.0%

Target cell efficiency on 6-inch wafers

>22.0%

Target module efficiency

<0.35 €/Wp

Target module cost

>10 wafers/hour

Cell processing throughput demonstrated

>740 mV

Open-circuit voltage achieved in demo devices

>82%

Fill factor achieved in demo devices

Consortium partners

Countries represented

The business problem

What needed solving

Solar panel manufacturers face a ceiling: conventional cell designs top out around 22% efficiency, and customers increasingly demand more power per square meter — especially for space-constrained rooftops and high-value installations. Producing premium back-contact cells has been possible in the lab but too slow and expensive for competitive manufacturing. The industry needs a way to make ultra-high-efficiency cells at scale without blowing up production costs.

The solution

What was built

NextBase built and demonstrated interdigitated back-contact silicon heterojunction (IBC-SHJ) solar cells on 6-inch wafers targeting above 26.0% efficiency, with independently certified measurements. They also developed a new industrial manufacturing tool capable of processing above 10 wafers per hour, and demonstrated device-level performance with open-circuit voltage above 740 mV and fill factor above 82% using multiple contact stack technologies.

Audience

Who needs this

Solar cell and module manufacturers seeking premium high-efficiency product linesPV production equipment companies looking for next-generation tool designsCommercial solar EPC contractors needing maximum output from limited roof spaceUtility-scale solar developers optimizing energy yield per hectareBuilding-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) companies needing high-efficiency aesthetically clean panels

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Solar module manufacturing

enterprise

Target: PV module manufacturers looking to upgrade product lines

If you are a solar module manufacturer competing on efficiency ratings — this project developed interdigitated back-contact silicon heterojunction cells achieving above 26.0% cell efficiency and above 22.0% module efficiency, with a production throughput above 10 wafers per hour. That means a premium product line with measurably higher output per square meter, manufactured at a target cost below 0.35 €/Wp.

Commercial & industrial solar installations

mid-size

Target: EPC contractors and large-scale solar installers

If you are a solar installer dealing with limited roof or land area — modules based on this technology deliver above 22.0% efficiency, generating more power per square meter than conventional panels. For space-constrained commercial rooftops or industrial sites, fewer high-efficiency modules can match the output of a larger conventional array, reducing balance-of-system costs.

Solar cell equipment manufacturing

enterprise

Target: PV production equipment suppliers

If you are a capital equipment supplier for solar cell production lines — NextBase developed a new industrial manufacturing tool and low-cost processes for IBC-SHJ cells with throughput above 10 wafers per hour. Integrating or licensing this equipment design could differentiate your product offering in the growing premium solar cell market.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to produce these high-efficiency modules?

The project targeted a module cost below 0.35 €/Wp, which would make IBC-SHJ technology cost-competitive with mainstream solar technologies. Actual production economics would depend on scale-up investment and material sourcing at volume.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

Yes — one key deliverable was demonstrating IBC-SHJ cell processing with a throughput above 10 wafers per hour, and the project specifically developed a new industrial manufacturing tool for these cells. The consortium included 6 industry partners to ensure manufacturability.

What about IP and licensing?

The project was a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) with 15 partners across 8 countries, including 6 companies. IP is likely shared among consortium members under the grant agreement. Interested parties should contact the coordinator at Forschungszentrum Jülich to discuss licensing options.

What efficiency levels were actually demonstrated?

The project targeted cell efficiency above 26.0% on 6-inch wafers, certified by an independent lab such as Fraunhofer ISE CalLab. Module efficiency was targeted above 22.0%. Demo cells also achieved open-circuit voltage above 740 mV and fill factor above 82%.

How does this compare to standard solar panels?

Mainstream commercial panels typically achieve 20-22% cell efficiency. NextBase targeted above 26.0% cell efficiency — a significant jump that means more power from the same panel area. The back-contact design also eliminates front-side shading losses from metal grid lines.

Is this technology ready for deployment now?

The project ended in September 2019 and demonstrated working devices at the targeted performance levels. Moving from demonstrated prototypes to full commercial production would require further investment in production line scale-up and certification.

Consortium

Who built it

The NextBase consortium of 15 partners across 8 European countries (Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway) is well-balanced for technology transfer, with 6 industry partners (40% of the consortium) and 2 SMEs alongside 3 universities and 6 research organizations. Coordinated by Forschungszentrum Jülich, a major German research center, the project had strong industrial participation to validate manufacturability. The geographic spread covers key European solar manufacturing markets, and the mix of equipment makers, cell producers, and research labs suggests the results are designed to move toward production rather than stay in the lab.

FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JULICH GMBHCoordinator · DE
MEYER BURGER RESEARCH AGparticipant · CH
CSEM CENTRE SUISSE D'ELECTRONIQUE ET DE MICROTECHNIQUE SA - RECHERCHE ET DEVELOPPEMENTparticipant · CH
COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESparticipant · FR
INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUMparticipant · BE
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNEparticipant · CH
ENEL GREEN POWER SPAthirdparty · IT
FYZIKALNI USTAV AV CR V.V.Iparticipant · CZ
UNIRESEARCH BVparticipant · NL
HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM BERLIN FUR MATERIALIEN UND ENERGIE GMBHparticipant · DE
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFTparticipant · NL

How to reach the team

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (Germany) — reach out to the solar energy or IBC-SHJ research group for licensing and collaboration inquiries.

Order a report on this consortium See FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JULICH GMBH profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the NextBase team about licensing this high-efficiency solar cell technology? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and help you evaluate the business fit.

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