The French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energy Commission (CEA) along with Swiss PV equipment manufacturer Meyer Burger Technology Ltd., have achieved a heterojunction technology module power rating record of 410 W for a 72 cell panel. The cells were manufactured on industrial Meyer Burger cell manufacturing equipment on CEA's National Solar Energy Institute's (INES) pilot line with an average HJT cell efficiency of 23.4%.
The CEA INES pilot line for HJT cell manufacturing integrates Meyer Burger's deposition equipment. The record module of 410 W was produced at the Swiss company's Thun located facility using the newest generation of SmartWire Connection Technology (SWCT) manufacturing equipment and materials.
"This result highlights the very high potential of heterojunction technology and the 15 years of expertise of the CEA INES team on heterojunction technology strengthened by its partnership with photovoltaic equipment supplier Meyer Burger," read an online statement.
Meyer Burger recently announced it will partner with Spanish PV module equipment maker Mondragon Assembly for its SWCT equipment manufacturing, following the decision to close down the Thun facility (see Meyer Burger Outsources SWCT Production).
Panasonic opts for Meyer Burger's SWCT
In a related development, Panasonic Solar has selected Meyer Burger's SWCT platform to connect its heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT) cells that will help it increase the strength of its high efficiency PV modules. Panasonic says it has started to supply HIT cells with partners in addition to PV modules and will expand its BtoB business with partners globally.
Delivery and installation of Meyer Burger's equipment is scheduled for Q2/2018 at Panasonic's R&D facility in Osaka, Japan. Later, it may be extended to other locations as well.