26+ – Joint project: Options for industrial realization of Si solar cells with efficiencies above 26%

The energy conversion efficiency of solar cells is becoming more and more important for further reduction of the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of photovoltaics (PV). This project combines the expertise of two of the leading German PV research institutes to obtain efficiencies above 26% on silicon solar cells. A collaboration between ISFH and MBE has already achieved an independently confirmed efficiency of 25% as part of the project. An important building block for such highest-efficiency solar cells are carrier selective contacts. The process sequence that yields highest-efficiencies will be used as a platform by the industry partners to accurately evaluate their specific processes, and to evaluate additional improvements, e.g. concerning the optical properties of solar cells. These insights can also be incorporated into industrially-feasible solar cell concepts.