Imagine a solar panel that acts like a better sponge for sunlight, soaking up more energy while using fewer expensive materials. Instead of using rare and pricey metals like silver and indium, this project uses common materials like copper and zinc. It's like upgrading a car engine to get more miles per gallon while switching to a cheaper, more available fuel.
Solar manufacturers face high costs and supply chain vulnerabilities due to reliance on critical raw materials like silver and indium, while struggling to push efficiency beyond current limits.
A suite of high-efficiency SHJ cell components including copper metallization, indium-free TCOs, and nanophotonic cover glass, plus a Decision Support Tool for economic and environmental analysis.
If you are a PV cell producer dealing with high material costs and supply chain risks for silver and indium — this project developed copper-based metallization and AZO/SnO2 conductive oxides that reduce costs and risk while pushing efficiency toward 29.43%.
If you are a glass fabricator dealing with reflection losses and dirt buildup on solar modules — this project developed nanophotonic structures for cover glass that minimize reflection and improve anti-soiling properties to increase energy yield.
If you are an infrastructure developer dealing with uncertainty in technology ROI — this project developed a Decision Support Tool that merges environmental impact, lifecycle costing, and performance gains to guide technology roadmaps.
It replaces expensive critical raw materials like silver (Ag) and indium (In) with cheaper alternatives such as copper (Cu) plating and aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO).
Yes, the project specifically targets 'terawatt production scale' and includes a roadmap to move developed technologies toward TRL9.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not mentioned, but the project provides a Decision Support Tool to guide industry stakeholders on the most promising technologies.
The project aims to move from the current record of 26.81% toward the fundamental limit of 29.43% by improving light trapping and using interdigitated back-contacted (IBC) designs.
The project runs from 2024-06-01 to 2027-05-31, with the goal of creating a roadmap for technologies to reach TRL9.
The consortium consists of 7 partners across 6 countries, showing a strong European collaboration. With an industry ratio of 29% (2 industrial partners and 1 SME), the project balances academic research (2 universities, 3 research centers) with commercial application, ensuring that the developed Decision Support Tool is grounded in industrial reality.
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