The World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC) combines the world’s most important PV conferences with the European PV Solar Energy Conference (EU PVSEC), the Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (IEEE PVSC) and the International PV Science and Engineering Conference (PVSEC). Thus, it provides the ideal platform for international exchange.
Highly efficient solar cells thanks to PVD coating
Soon, highly efficient solar cells will be essential to achieve the targeted climate goals and the shift away from fossil energy sources. N-type cell technologies such as TOPCon and heterojunction are the main concepts available for investing in production at gigawatt scale now. Solar cells with more than 24 percent or over 25 percent efficiency are already on the market. And the potential is not yet exhausted: the next leap to 28 – 30 percent efficiency is expected to be achieved in a few years with tandem technologies. This is a combination of two stacked solar cells for higher efficiencies in mass production.
The potential of the three technologies can only be leveraged with PVD coatings1. Thus, both heterojunction and TOPCon technology have already been able to challenge the previous standard (PERC cells) for significant market shares. A significant contribution to this has been made by the mechanical engineering company VON ARDENNE, which has already placed coating systems with an annual production capacity of 14GW on the market.
VON ARDENNE also has a pioneering role in tandem technologies: As one of the world’s leading companies in vacuum coating technology and a specialist in scaling, the company is working with its partners on rapidly transferring this technology from the development and pilot stage to high-volume production for gigawatt factories.
Now, VON ARDENNE is presenting the latest results of its development work on heterojunction, TOPCon and tandem solar cells at WCPEC-8 in Milan.
VON ARDENNE develops and manufactures industrial equipment for vacuum coatings on materials such as glass, wafers, metal strip and polymer films. These coatings give the surfaces new functional properties and can be between one nanometer and a few micrometers thin, depending on the application. Our customers use these materials to make high-quality products such as solar cells and solar modules, architectural and automotive glazing, lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells or components for sensors and optics. Systems and components provided by VON ARDENNE make a valuable contribution to protecting the environment. They are vital for the manufacturing of products that help decrease energy consumption or generate energy from renewable resources.
With more than 60 years of experience in electron beam technology and over 45 years of expertise in magnetron sputtering, VON ARDENNE is a pioneer and worldwide leading provider of PVD thin-film coating equipment and technology and vacuum processing technology. We supply our customers with technologically sophisticated vacuum coating systems, extensive expertise, and global service. The key components are developed and manufactured by VON ARDENNE itself.
VON ARDENNE GmbH
Am Hahnweg 8
01328 Dresden
Telefon: +49 (351) 2637-300
Telefax: +49 (351) 2637-308
http://www.vonardenne.de
Corporate Communications
Telefon: +49 (351) 2637-9000
E-Mail: bauer.ingo@vonardenne.biz
