- 3D-Micromac has secured a multi-system order for EGP’s 3 GW HJT fab in Italy’s Catania
- Bottero will install the machine with 3D-Micromac’s patented TLS process, as the EPC service provider
- 3D-Micromac says the machine has a high throughput of more than 6,000 wafers an hour
German laser technology company for solar PV industry 3D-Micromac AG will supply its microCELL MCS high-throughput laser cutting solution to EPC company Bottero SpA for installation in Enel Green Power’s (EGP) 3Sun Gigafactory in Italy with 3 GW capacity.
EGP is expanding its 200 MW 3Sun heterojunction (HJT) cell and module fab in Catania, Sicily to a total of 3 GW capacity annually. On completion in July 2024, it will be the largest GW scale bifacial solar module fab in all of Europe (see 3 GW Bifacial HJT Modules Fab In Europe).
Dubbed TANGO (iTaliAN pv Giga factOry), the fab will produce high efficiency HJT solar cells and the microCELL laser machine from 3D-Micromac will be used to cut these cells. This machine has a throughput of over 6,000 wafers an hour (full cells) and the German company claims it can cut monocrystalline as well as polycrystalline silicon square, and pseudo-square wafers ranging between M2 to M12/G12 into half-cells or shingled cells without negatively impacting the yield.
Bottero picked 3D-Micromac for the ‘multi-system order’ due to the latter’s patented thermal laser separation (TLS) process used to provide ablation-free cell cutting for heat-sensitive HJT cells.
The German company launched the microCELL MCS system in October 2021 with plans to upgrade the same with additional lasers (see Advanced Laser Cell Cutting System Launched).
Claiming to have installed over 16 GW worth of TLS systems since 2016, 3D-Micromac’s CEO Uwe Wagner said, “As the Enel TANGO project shows, the future of the PV industry in Europe is very bright, and 3D-Micromac looks forward to being a strong partner in supporting the growth of the PV market in Europe, as well as around the globe.”
