NREL develops "game-changing" solar cell furnace

Share

The new Optical Cavity Furnace (OCF) uses optics to heat and purify solar cells. NREL claims that the new furnace, which is expected to trump the traditionally-used thermal or raid-thermal-processing furnaces, provides "unmatched" precision and "sharply" increases cell efficiency.

Specifically, the researchers say they expect efficiencies to soon be boosted by four percentage points. "Our calculations show that some material that is at 16 percent efficiency now is capable of reaching 20 percent if we take advantage of these photonic effects," commented NREL Principal Engineer Bhushan Sopori.

In a statement released, the laboratory explains, "The Optical Cavity Furnace (OCF) combines the assets that photonics can bring to the process with tightly controlled engineering to maximize efficiency while minimizing heating and cooling costs."

The new furnace is said to use around half the energy of its standard counterparts, cost anything between a quarter to a half less, and, at a few minutes per solar wafer, has shorter process times.

It is comprised of an array of lamps in a chamber, which is lined with "super-insulating" and "highly reflective" ceramics. The geometric design has been described as both "complex" and "optimal".

NREL and its private-industry partner, AOS Inc., are reportedly currently building a manufacturing-size OCF capable of processing 1,200 wafers an hour. "Intrigued" by its potential, NREL says that "several" of the leading solar cell manufacturers have entered into cooperative research and development agreements.

Popular content

This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.

Share

Related content

Elsewhere on pv magazine...

Leave a Reply

Please be mindful of our community standards.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.

Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.

You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.

Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.