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HHI achieves 19.7 percent copper-contact cell efficiency

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has achieved a conversion efficiency of 19.7 percent on its copper-contact selective-emitter solar cell. This, it says, is a new world record.

HHI HiCo solar cell (Large area CZ Si + copper-contact selective emitter + full Al BSF).

HHI

The efficiency, which has been verified by the Fraunhofer ISE, was recorded on a selective-emitter cell using standard 156 mm commercial-grade p-type silicon wafers.

The Korean technology giant says it improved on existing LDSE (laser-doped selective emitter) technology from Australia’s University of New South Wales to achieve the new results.

In a statement released, it explains, "HHI now holds the world record with its copper-front-contact selective-emitter cell with a full-area aluminum-alloyed back electrode. The previous record for cells created with the LDSE process was 19.6 percent, achieved by a Chinese company on smaller 125 mm wafers."

The company adds that the LDSE process, which removes the need for silver via a laser-based selective doping process, combined with a plating technology to form copper contacts at the front, has helped improve cost by between 10 and 30 percent, when compared to six inch cells. "A key improvement by HHI with its new solar cell technology was to fit the deposition method of the front silicon nitride dielectric to prevent problems in the plating step," continues the company.

Recently, HHI says it restructured its R&D workforce, in order to bring its renewable energy researchers from wind, solar and energy storage under one umbrella. A new solar R&D center is being established at the company’s silicon cell and module production facilities in Eumseong, South Korea.

"We are convinced that the renewable energy business is not an option, but rather a requirement, for the continued growth of our company in these days of a global climate change," states Eun Chel CHO, head of HGERI.

No further information was immediately available.