Project Automate: Enabling Automation for <$0.10/W High-Efficiency Kerfless Wafers Manufactured in the US
Award Number: DE-EE0006808
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Solar Energy Technology Office
Date: 05/26/2016
Location(s): MA
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to 1366 Technologies to improve the quality and lower the cost of Direct Wafer™ kerfless photovoltaic (PV) wafer technology through further development of Direct Wafer™ processes.
The proposed project activities would include design, computer modeling, fabrication and in-lab strength testing of thin, framed PV wafers. These proposed activities would occur at 1366's existing research and development (R&D) and pilot manufacturing facilities in Bedford, MA. Assistance with fabrication would be provided by Jabil PV Certification and Test Laboratory in Petersburg, FL. All facilities in which lab work would occur have been purpose-built for the type of activities being proposed. Only minor modifications e.g. adding electrical outlets and re-configuring would need to be made to the 1366 R&D lab in order to add a machine vision system for in-lab testing. No change in the use, mission or operation of existing facilities would arise out of this effort. The facilities have all applicable permits in place, and would not need additional permits for the proposed activities.