This report discusses the project results and lessons learnt to date for the UNSW Project, Investigate Metallised Encapsulant for Silicon PV Modules: A Path to Reduced LCOE for PV.
Report extract
Although silicon photovoltaic (PV) research and development has primarily focussed on reducing the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) through improvements in cell efficiency, it is becoming evident that larger reductions in LCOE may now be achieved through improved engineering of modules. Of particular are strategies that can increase both the electricity yield and durability of the modules.
This project aims to develop a new process for directly metallising encapsulant surfaces for silicon photovoltaic (PV) module fabrication that can reduce the LCOE of PV by:
- Improving the electricity yield of PV modules through:
- Reducing solar cell contact recombination via reduced cell metallisation fraction;
- Increasing current by improved optical performance; and
- Reducing resistive losses incurred in cell interconnection.
- Increasing module lifetime by increasing redundancy in interconnection and reducing induced stress in the silicon cells of the module.
- Reducing the cost of the cell interconnection process through decreased silver usage and the
use of low-cost bonding materials.